When the light comes in — A writer’s way to manage procrastination
Keep writing
Keep writing
Keep writing
… keeps the Procrastination monster at bay.
He’s not been fed for several days and he’s hungry. I can hear him groaning from the dungeon of half-written scripts and abandoned poems. Monologues that may never see the light of day. There was a time he was much more agreeable. He worked with me, not against me. We had what you might refer to as an unwritten agreement – Clive and me. Did I mention his name was Clive?
We met several years ago, me, an aspiring writer and him a stopper, or as he liked to be known as ‘a showstopper!’ He loved to turn up as I settled to write. Sporting a coat of cockiness, zipped with attitude, he’d wander across to my desk.
‘Greetings my scribbling friend. What you up to?’ he would enquire.
‘Just about to write a few lines.’ I’d say.
‘A shopping list?’
‘No … done that, something a little more creative, I’m hoping’.
He would roll his eyes and interrupt again.
‘Remember to add strawberry jam to the list? Last week, you forgot’
‘Ah yes, must do that before I start’ and I did.
Damn … damn …the writing flow disrupted before it begins. I settle to write …again. Pen poised, my brain mulling thoughts and ideas. A poetry day? Prose? Perhaps re-visiting the play with no ending?
‘Hello, it’s me again. Don’t forget to call Ellie today. You know she has been unwell.’
His voice has a way of guilt tripping, a skill most procrastinators cultivate over the years.
Thoughts move to poor Ellie. Should I call her now or wait until later? Later, I decide, after tea-time. She’ll be resting then.
Clive rolls his eyes and takes himself off for a little sulk. He inches his gangly frame towards the door. He never admits defeat. Today, he is not going to distract me. He reminds me of a spoiled child always wanting his own way. But today, it’s my time!
Where to begin?
There are several half written projects. A few incomplete missives like when the pen ran out of ink. Stories that have travelled to wild and exciting places but crashed landed before THE END. Abandoned characters with nowhere to go. Heroes swimming through seas of maybes and what-ifs, clinging on to life rafts of hope. Will they make it to the shores of happy-ever-after.
What if I start again? What stops me inviting them into another story, another time and place? What stops me asking, ‘What are you doing here? How did you get here? If you were to grant one wish, what would it be?’
‘Ha ha, you think you wave a magic wand, and everything is okay,’ he teases from behind my chair.
I hadn’t noticed him return on the autumn breeze.
Clive hates to see any creative writing progress. He regularly tries to thwart my writing efforts. If I didn’t know him, I’d say he’s a tad jealous when I sit down to write. A green-eyed procrastination monster, however, after several years of writing I’m getting his measure.
My timely strategies to manage procrastination and interruptions
Taking time to walk and think
Taking time to read and listen
Taking time to write … in short bursts.
Time works particularly well with Clive. When I tell him I’m only writing for 10 minutes, he doesn’t feel threatened and will happily allow me to scribble, jot down a few ideas, play with words and sentence structure. The arrangement permits Clive time to go off and do his own thing, whatever that is?
I confess, I love it when ‘the light comes in’ and the initial 10 minutes extends to 20, 30 or 40 minutes. Sometimes I’m surprised by what unfolds during the writing process. Being in writing flow is very satisfying.
The light comes in through conversations, inspirational quotes, blogs and reading the work of other writers. Listening to drama and podcasts bring forth ideas and different thoughts. Poetry, song lyrics and story telling are great sources of articles and essays. Bookshelf titles can form the basis of a good short story especially when mixing and matching book titles. Photos, pictures and postcards make great story prompts too.
Nature, one of our greatest teachers and storytellers delivers abundant writing material. As a regular walker, I’m grateful for Mother Nature’s gifts shared through sight, sound, light and colour. Swathes of snowdrops, woodlands, Red kites soaring in the skies. Seasons of changing moods and colours. What’s not to enjoy?
There’s a shadow hovering in the doorway …
‘I’ve had enough, I’m off,’ he shouts.
The gangly green eyed monster bounds down the corridor and into the garden.
I smile …smugly.
Keep writing,
Keep writing,
Keep writing.
This guest post was written by Mary Fraser, a creative writer and storyteller, during one of our recent WRITER’S HOUR events.
PS Want to learn how to manage procrastination, writers block, imposter syndrome and other issues that affect writers? Our new book Distinctive Voice – The fearless way to a wholehearted blog worth noticing can help you there.
