Support for Indie Authors discussion

I have been stuck in procrastination mode for about the last two weeks, sure I've achieved some non writing related tasks, but I need to get focused again! Seriously I'm doing anything rather than sit down and actually write something, including writing this!

I need someone to tell me to shake it off and get focused again!!

Thanks and feel free to add me as a friend here on Goodreads, reading through your profiles and books and things will give me something to do if I'm still procrastinating tomorrow!!

Have a super day!

Actually, maybe this is happening as you need a bit of a break? Take a little while to chill out and then begin afresh.

If I'm wrong, then consider this a boot up your bum.
Stop posting on here and get stuck in!
;-p

xx

It's not a bad thing to take a break. After I finished my first book, I procrastinated starting the second book for about six weeks. I worked on other, non-writing author tasks like promotion and creating ads. Then, once I was ready to write again, I got to it. I think sometimes authors do need some down time to recharge our batteries.

My advice to you is to get plenty of exercise (ie., take long walks) - that recharges my batteries faster than anything. And, just as importantly, let your mind wander and give your imagination free rein to live inside your story with your characters.

Don't worry. Be happy. The writing time will come when it's ready. When you're ready. :)

1) Draft a friend to help you.

2) Write the friend a check for $500.

3) Make an agreement with the friends that if you do no email them 1000 new words written a day, they can cash the check.

4) Does wonders to bring inspiration.

Negative encouragement works...

Martin wrote: "1) Draft a friend to help you.

2) Write the friend a check for $500.

3) Make an agreement with the friends that if you do no email them 1000 new words written a day, they can cash the check.

4) ..."

Lol

I'm going to echo others. Perhaps you need a bit longer a break, I know a month was about perfect for me.
If that's not the case... Then get back to work!

I am right there with you. Usually, a reread helps. I reread what I've done, trying to keep the perspective of someone who hasn't read it before. Then when I get to the end, I keep writing. Rereading will get you back into your world and into your characters' heads. It will help you focus on what needs to happen next, and drive you forward.

Unless you're like me, and have reread the current draft like, 4 times and still have no clue how to get to the ending.

Good luck!

Jane wrote: "I have been stuck in procrastination mode for about the last two weeks, sure I've achieved some non writing related tasks, but I need to get focused again! Seriously I'm doing anything rather than sit down and actually write something, including writing this!

I need someone to tell me to shake it off and get focused again!!
"

Need? Why need? Maybe this is the problem. Perhaps you've turned writing from something you enjoy doing and look forward to to something you feel has to be done. This feeling that you need to do it may have turned what was once pleasant work into a dreaded chore. Relax. Let it come as it will come.

Others have said it so I will say it too... let yourself have a break. I did that, or tried to do that, in January. I wanted to go a whole month without writing. I made it about a week and missed it and dove right back in with renewed vigor.

That's excellent advice, Dwayne. :)

To be honest, I treat writing like a job, or brushing my teeth.

I do it everyday. There is no option. It is just a daily thing that happens because I must. I don't weigh weather it's ok or not to do it, I just do it. Twice a day in fact. I blog in the mornings and write fiction in the afternoon. It's only about 2 hours a day but it has resulted in 2 successful novels in the last year and a third with the editor already.

And that is only 10 hours a week.

If your goal is to publish. Be serious about it. What you write each day may not be your best. Give yourself permission to write first drafts that suck. Hammer through.

Finish things.

And if you need someone to hold that $500 check for you, PM me. ;)

Maybe a change of scenery would remove the distractions that have creeped into the writing process.

Maybe you're working on the wrong project at this time and you should try a project that excites your creativity again.

Maybe you're writing with no structure to the work and you need to impose deadlines and goals to reach each day.

Someone suggested rereading what you've already written, and I have to say I just went through an editing run because my current WIP was becoming a drag, and not only did it break the malaise, but it reminded me of a perspective on the work that had been forgotten as the words had come out.

I'm with TL on this maybe you just to take a break, breathe and see the world a little so you can inspire yourself before writing, if you force it in my opinion it will not end well.

maybe scribble in a notebook, take pictures etc could help you to get off the stupor

Martin wrote: "To be honest, I treat writing like a job..."

So do I. And every job I've ever had came with vacation time.

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"
And we all know how that ended. Anyone want to clear up a hallway of blood?
Nope? Ah. Best rest before you break something then ;-P

Honestly, do stop beating yourself up.
There is no 'should' and no such thing as 'have to'.

Dwayne wrote: "Martin wrote: "To be honest, I treat writing like a job..."

So do I. And every job I've ever had came with vacation time."

Yes! I just sent my most recent novel to my editor on Sunday and I am currently vacationing. Kind of.

I call it research in the real world! Tonight, instead of writing, it is the rifle range!

Here's what I do to help with procrastination mode, Jane. First, turn off your phone. I know that seems insane...but hear me out!

If you have a free weekend to yourself coming up, tell yourself that you are DOING it. You are writing no matter what. By that I mean no hanging with friends and/or family, no dogging it, no sightseeing, nothing.

Tell yourself that you are writing your book and you're doing it for the good of all mankind. When I was writing my first novel, I'd go to a library (even though I didn't have to at all) to write in Google Docs. I'd stay there for well over five to six hours. I'd basically force myself to LIVE in the world of my creation.

That's what you need to do. It really helps. If you stay at home to work on it, sometimes that backfires. You get distracted very easily. So in closing...

1. Turn your phone off.
2. Become temporarily anti-social.
3. Go to a library or a quiet alternative to help you focus.
4. Write like it's the only thing you can even do in your existence.

Hope I helped in some way!

Like others are saying, I make myself sit in the chair. That is my job, getting my butt into the chair!
Then at some point my fingers are drawn to the key board, some days they start out by typing "I don't know what to write to day, yesterday John was doing this and Rosa was doing this what I hey doing today? Or what is happening today?"
Before I know it, my fingers are typing their actions and away we go!

Hardest part? The discipline to get into the chair. When the butt hits the chair, I do what I love.

Jane - I just read the first few pages of your book “One – He Always Leaves 1 Behind” on Amazon and my heart was beating a mile a minute. I didn’t want to know who snuck into the house and entered a girl’s bedroom at midnight. I was afraid of what was going to happen…but I kept reading anyway. Such is the sign of good writing. Time to get back to work and rescue the people in your next book! :)
-Kolleen

Hi all

Many thanks for all your advice and encouragement! Martin love the negative reinforcement idea, too funny! K thanks so much for your words, glad you liked the beginning of One!

I'm actually in between books that's when I find I procrastinate the most when I know I have to sit down and plan out the next book and take my vague ideas and jotted down notes and turn them into something that is a proper complete cohesive and well flowing story! I have OCD and I actually love the planning phase and yet I still seem to never want to start, don't know what's up with that!

I used to work as a teacher, now I substitute teach and it is now the school holiday break here in Melbourne, Australia, so I have two weeks that I want to make the most of before I have to go back to work and I really want to have achieved something while I have all this extra time.

Well it is 8 o'clock Friday morning here and I have my procrastination activity all set for today since I will be baking and decorating my Easter cake!

Wishing all you super people a super day!!

I like to handwrite to get the creative juices flowing. I also like to write out detailed character descriptions with backstory and what the character arc will be. I write their motives and internal conflict. I think that is how I set up the plot more than anything.

I also use the prodomo productivity method. Traditionally that involves setting a timer for 45 minutes and working undisturbed for that time, then doing something else for 15 minutes also on timer. I find 90 minutes work better for me with a timed 30 minutes where I walk on the treadmill or do housework. It must include not sitting so that by moving, I get refreshed.

The timer method helps me with procrastination because I must not check email, go online, listen to a tv in the room. I can only write. But it's time limited. That is not as overwhelming. Being overwhelmed causes me to procrastinate.

I cannot stress this enough to everyone reading this thread. Stay away from all things Internet when you write. I know it's a crazy practice, but it's essential. When I write for long periods of time, I turn it off. I act like I'm outdoors in the woods even when I'm comfortably indoors at home. Sienna, you have a good idea with your timer approach. That's constructive.

So many of my friends have said that they get distracted by being online or having that option available. Just don't let yourself fall prey to those trappings! Close it off when you're creating.

Noah wrote: "I cannot stress this enough to everyone reading this thread. Stay away from all things Internet when you write."

Good advice... for some. Keep in mind, Noah, writing is never a one-size-fits-all activity. I often have the Internet on when I'm writing. I keep this group on in the background and check on new messages, I am chatting with other people, looking things up and just to keep the cardinal sins rolling in, I also am blasting music into my ears.

Over the weekend I was in the home where I work and there was nothing going on and all the guys I provide care for were gone. I had no internet access. I did some writing, but the quiet of the house and the lack of other stimulation was too much. I grew tired could not focus.

So, really, the best advice when it comes to this is... if you find you work better under certain conditions, try to replicate those as much as you can. If you find that something is distracting, try to avoid it while writing. Find the work environment ideal for you, not what works for someone else.

I agree with Dwayne, I can procrastinate like the best of them and distractions are often the name of the game, yet I've often been very motivated to write after spending 10 minutes re-grouping and mucking about on goodreads. Sometimes stepping away is what works best for me.

Dwayne wrote: "Noah wrote: "I cannot stress this enough to everyone reading this thread. Stay away from all things Internet when you write."

Good advice... for some. Keep in mind, Noah, writing is never a one-size-fits-all activity..."

True enough. I simply find that the Internet is a harbinger of bad things, even when you have it on in the background. Next thing you know you're on YouTube watching music videos from your adolescence or stupid fail comps and it's three hours later from when you first started to sit down to write.

For me, when I'm writing a novel, I feel like I'm completely engulfed in the world that I'm setting out to create if I stray from the real-world distractions of digital instant gratification.

You'd be amazed what you can accomplish when you don't have any of your go-to sites open at all and you legitimately just write your book for hours on end with no room for any interference.

S.J. wrote: "I agree with Dwayne, I can procrastinate like the best of them and distractions are often the name of the game..."

Something writers need to keep in mind when offering advice about how to write -- we're all wired very differently and our brains work in different ways. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for all.

Apparently our brains work similarly, S.J. And I'm so sorry. Mine drives me nuts at times. I hope that's not the same for you.

Noah wrote: " I simply find that the Internet is a harbinger of bad things, even when you have it on in the background. "

And I'm sure some will agree with you. But, for some of us it can be beneficial.

Noah wrote: "Next thing you know you're on YouTube watching music videos from your adolescence or stupid fail comps and it's three hours later from when you first started to sit down to write."

And I'm sure that would be worrisome for some others, too. I used to be like that, myself. I find I work much better and the words flow much freer if I don't let myself feel guilty for not spending every minute writing. When I do get around to it, I get a lot done.

Noah wrote: "You'd be amazed what you can accomplish when you don't have any of your go-to sites open at all and you legitimately just write your book for hours on end with no room for any interference."

As I mentioned earlier, when I try to write with no distractions, I lose focus. Again, your advice is good for some, but not all.

Everyone works at their own pace and preference, absolutely, I just wanted to shed some light on the one thing that people don't really think about whilst writing. The Internet is amazing, for unlimited things, we all know that, but it can also suck precious time away from your life when you need to utilize it in a much better fashion.

I personally have had a few friends that have taken years and years to write their labors of love and when they wonder why it's taken them so long, they realize the World Wide Web was their time reaper.

But to each their own! I know some on here can't live without it, even for a day or two. And that's okay. I just feel that a lot more creativity and imagination would possibly be brought to the forefront if people weren't so hung up on the artificial side of today's world. That's only my opinion. I'm neither right nor wrong, just clarifying my stance more so on the subject.

"Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him," says Mister Micawber in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.
The saying was first coined by the English poet Edward Young in his poem, Night Thoughts, published in 1747:
"Be wise today; tis madness to defer;
Next day the fateful precedent will plead;
Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of life.
Procrastination is the thief of time;
Year after year it steals, till all are fled,
And to the mercies of a moment leaves
The vacant concerns of an eternal scene."

Hopefully, these two quotes will help bring your time of procrastination to an end.

I'm really bad at writing filler content (the stuff between the action which is really important, but BORING for me to write) I'm someone who wants to just skip to the action scenes and forget about the filler. So when I come to filler, I usually procrastinate. *sigh* Sometimes I take the day off and go do something fun like horseback riding or watching the newest Marvel movie.
But most of the time, I just have to sit down and start writing.
Good luck writing your book!

I stay connected because sometimes I need the internet to help me find just the word I need, but can't think of at the moment. I also like to do research as I'm writing, whenever I bump into something that I didn't know quite as much about as I thought I did.

Right now I'm writing a whole series of blog posts on this very topic! Not that I can pretend to be an expert or anything, but I've tried to go all introspective and work out what's going on in my mind when I'm struggling versus things going well.

I know this won't be true for everyone, I'm kinda strange after all :), but when I'm finding excuses to not write it's usually because I'm missing clarity in some area.

So now I try to be more active in understanding what's missing, what's holding me back, and pick a suitable tool or technique to unearth it. Maybe I can't properly visualize the scene, or don't have a clear picture of what my characters are after and what they are doing to get it, or struggling to line up the sequence of events and interactions into a cohesive whole, or simply don't know what happens next. Find it. Fix it! Then I find the words start flowing again.

I got stuck at the early planning stage on my current WIP. What finally knocked me loose was writing a heading for each of the main characters and interest groups and writing a few notes under each on what they wanted, what was driving them, and how they planned to go about getting what they wanted. Watch the conflicts unfold :)

Good luck, and I hope you had a productive long weekend.

Noah wrote: "But to each their own! I know some on here can't live without it, even for a day or two. And that's okay. I just feel that a lot more creativity and imagination would possibly be brought to the forefront if people weren't so hung up on the artificial side of today's world. That's only my opinion. I'm neither right nor wrong, just clarifying my stance more so on the subject. "

No, you are right. You are right for you and probably many others. I am just putting reminder out there that not everyone writes the same way.

As for whether we could live with or without the internet, I first started getting serious about writing back in the eighties and didn't have the Internet until around 1995. I read a ton of books about writing and nearly all of them said one must write in a quiet place with no distractions. So, I did a lot of my writing late at night and by candlelight, just to make sure I could see nothing but the table and the notebook (I wrote by hand then). And it took me ages to get anything done and I knew none of it was good enough to be published, so I didn't even try. I think it took about three years to finish one novel.

Gradually I moved to using computers and began to listen to music. Eventually I got onto the Internet. My writing speed increased and I found myself a lot more focused.

Now, I don't have a lot of novels out, yet. But, all the works I've published in the last year and a half total just over five hundred thousand words - about the same as five longish novels. And I have a ton of stuff I haven't finished, yet.

But, that's me. Not everyone could work like this with the constant distractions.

Dwayne wrote: "I am just putting reminder out there that not everyone writes the same way."

Couldn't agree more! I don't always remember, but whenever I give suggestions I try to emphasize "this is what worked for me, it might not suit you". I find some people get highly evangelical about their one-and-only-right-way and get into heated arguments about which way is "best". Sometimes fun to watch from the sidelines, but a fruitless argument to get into :)

Dwayne wrote: "Gradually I moved to using computers and began to listen to music. Eventually I got onto the Internet. My writing speed increased and I found myself a lot more focused.
"

That's funny, too. I've never been able to write with music on in the background, but last month I started listening to loud music on headphones and found it worked wonders for me. The headphones are important. I think they wrap me up in a bubble and blot out other distractions more effectively than anything else I've tried.

I feel like this constantly. Me in a nutshell. If you accomplish a minor task do you suppose it's still considered getting something done? I enjoy the days where I just completely have the ball rolling. I accomplish and get stuff done every time I start although yes I tend to procrastinate more than most. I guess you just have to be in the spirit to want to get stuff done or have the drive to do so.

Ian wrote: "I find some people get highly evangelical about their one-and-only-right-way and get into heated arguments about which way is "best". "

It happens, but in this case I believe Noah was trying to help, not to start an argument and I respect that. His advice is good for some, just not for everyone.

Ian wrote: "The headphones are important. I think they wrap me up in a bubble and blot out other distractions more effectively than anything else I've tried. "

Yes. The headphones will help to blot out unwanted noise and replace it with music I like. That helps me to focus. As for the Internet, yes it is, in a sense, a distraction, but I choose what to be distracted by and for how long.

Dwayne wrote: "Ian wrote: "I find some people get highly evangelical about their one-and-only-right-way and get into heated arguments about which way is "best". "

It happens, but in this case I believe Noah was trying to help, not to start an argument"

Oops, wasn't meaning to imply anything of the sort happening on this thread. Seen it happen in other forums and was just echoing your observation, which resonated strongly with me.

Yes, Dwayne is right. I was only trying to throw in my two cents and help motivate others in the process! The most important thing is that we all cross the finish line. It doesn't really matter if we crawl, walk or sprint to it...as long as we're happy with the end result!

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas about procrastinating!

I have to admit, (somewhat reluctantly because I love to think I'm always right and can be a little bit stubborn at times!) that I decided to take the advice given to take a little break, so I have not even attempted to do any writing the last few days, instead I baked and decorated a cake for Easter, tried making homemade chocolate, did some other book related but non writing related tasks, played with my doggies, enjoyed an Easter lunch with my family, and have enjoyed my little break.

So you guys that suggested that suggested the break were probably right, so many thanks!!

Good luck getting back into writing once your break is over :-) Hopefully you'll be nice and refreshed and ready to work again.

Everyone is different. This often works for me: Watching a particularly powerful movie or revisiting some great inspirational writing by an author I particularly admire. This often gets the wheels turning in the right direction. But sometimes you just have to sit down and start... writing.

Jane wrote: "...I decided to take the advice given to take a little break, so I have not even attempted to do any writing the last few days, instead I baked and decorated a cake for Easter..."

Good for you!

And have you heard the saying that you will find love if you're not looking for it? Well, I think the same can be true for writing. Sometimes my best ideas or the best hooks for stories come when I've got my mind on something else.

Ian wrote: "Oops, wasn't meaning to imply anything of the sort happening on this thread."

Okay. No problem, then! Carry on!

Noah wrote: "Yes, Dwayne is right. I was only trying to throw in my two cents and help motivate others in the process! The most important thing is that we all cross the finish line..."

Yes. I fully agree with that one. If it takes three months or ten years, the most important thing is to see it through.

What are you all still doing here? Get back to work! Sheesh!


;)

Christina wrote: "What are you all still doing here? Get back to work! Sheesh!


;)"

Dang the mods are mean around here.

I generally take a two week break between books as I also work full time (as most of us do!), but it's my chance to catch up on movies, TV and books that I don't get to do much of when I'm writing (which is generally before and after work and on my days off).

When I'm procrastinating, I usually sit down, start my music in the background (always have to have music softly in the background!) then I play a few hands of Mahjong and let my mind drift, as I find this helps me. Then I just sit and write and force myself to continue!! Really, for me, the only way I can beat procrastination is to put bum in chair, fingers on keyboard, start my music and knuckle down!

I had a hard time starting my last book, but persistence paid off and finally I got to the end of it!

Are you partly through writing a book? I have my procrastination phases and sometimes I realise it's because I'm not happy with the last few paragraphs I did and I can't face sorting it out. I get past it by:
1. Making myself a cup of coffee.
2. Sitting down and rereading my last few paragraphs.
3. Do some rewriting.
4. If that doesn't work, start again with the coffee...

I often find I regain my enthusiasm for whatever I'm working on. Hope this helps!

Of course, if you still wish to procrastinate, you may want to ponder this (inspired by a comment above)...

Why do Americans call it 'horse back riding'?
Where else are you going to ride it?? ;-P
In the UK it's just 'horse riding'.

Sorry; it amuses me. Carry on....

The weather around here turned toward summer just before spring started, so I've taken the laptop outside to write. It's turned into the most distracting experience ever and yet I'm somehow regularly churning out more pages/words than I have in a long time. Don't judge the distractions until you take a look at your progress, because you may find they help more than you realize.

As for the horseback riding question, I suppose when you can hook a horse up to a buggy, you could argue that you can ride the horse via the buggy (yeah, I know technically you're not riding the horse, but you might argue it anyway)

Ah! Thanks JJ. That sounds like a reasonable explanation :-)

Lucky you; sounds like you're having a lovely time there.