Writer's block, an owner's guide: A digression about procrastination

This was going to be a long discussion of copyright. I’ve deleted all that for the usual reason: it wasn’t about writer’s block. Writing it out was useful, of course, for me if not for you. And it did inspire some thoughts about procrastination.

One of the ways we can procrastinate is by looking ahead.

Now, positive visualization is great. You can get to a place much more easily if you’ve decided what place you’re headed for. Me, for example, I want to get to a place where I’m the author of two published books and a successful doctoral dissertation, all of ‘em about writer’s block. Because I know that, I can face steadily in that direction and push forward through the treacle and the solid rock and can course-correct for mission drift.

Looking ahead in that way is fine.

But if you’re one of those writers who (1) worry about whether or not it’s safe to reveal your brilliant idea to a producer who just might steal it, or (2) obsess about whether a script should be held together by two brads or three, and all the time while you’re thinking about this what you’re really doing is trying to ignore the knowledge that you have not written a single word of the darn thing… if you are living in the future and doing nothing about ever getting there, then you are in trouble.

Do you want to get off it and start being a writer? Do you want to tell people “I’m a writer” without the stomach-grinding knowledge that you can’t handle their next question?

Up to you. Being a some-other-day writer is a legitimate choice. “Today I write!” is also a legitimate choice, and I’ve tried both, and this one’s harder to do but easier to live with afterwards. Up to you.

If you do answer yes, I’d be honored if you’d let me help you:

(1) Sending your manuscript to editors(/ producers/ agents) is one of the things that you sometimes see successful professional-minded writers doing. Sending them fake-legalistic documents, which you know they won’t sign, is one of the things that you rarely see successful professional-minded writers doing. Now, when you approach an editor, do you want to look like a sane competent professional-minded writer, or not? Okay then.

(2) If there were a right answer, you’d already know it.

You’re welcome, I accept PayPal, and now go write something.

And your response?

Published on April 8, 2005 at 7:53 pm. Linking to this article? Thank you! The permanent address is http://www.todayiwrite.com/journal/a-digression-about-procrastination.html

Today I Write