Overcoming Procrastination: Cultivating Your Writing Habit
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Chapter 1: Understanding Procrastination
Procrastination can be a significant obstacle for many aspiring writers. It often stems from various fears, such as the fear of failure or the pressure to achieve perfection. Regardless of the underlying reasons, the outcome remains the same: a noticeable decline in creative output.
We often find ourselves making excuses and dodging tasks, which only serves to protect our insecurities. Yet, writing resides within us all; it’s fueled by our love for language and our yearning for acknowledgment. Every writer possesses thoughts, ideas, and insights they wish to share, and those who manage to quell their self-doubt often find the courage to write.
Commitment, continual practice, and celebrating small achievements pave the way to what each writer considers success. I recall a workshop for novice writers where we were tasked with quickly drafting a story about our lives a decade into the future.
As I wrote, the instructor later encouraged us to share our work. I felt my heart race, desperately hoping to remain unnoticed. Yet, I found myself called upon to read my piece aloud.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Suppressing my anxiety, I stood and began to read. To my surprise, the class responded with applause, and the instructor praised my work's structure and length. Someone even inquired how I had managed to write so much in such a brief time. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude.
However, that euphoria was short-lived. Soon, my old habits crept back in, and my writing came to a standstill. My self-employment took up all my time, offering a convenient excuse to avoid public writing.
I found myself lost in the depths of the internet, endlessly exploring free resources, signing up for webinars, and accumulating countless materials that promised to be invaluable. With a child still in university, I even volunteered to help edit their papers—another way to sidestep my fear of crafting original content.
Procrastination can manifest in various ways, and we often choose the form that best suits our tendencies.
Section 1.1: The Unproductive Writer
Every aspiring writer knows the struggle: a strong desire to write clashing with the challenge of producing quality content that garners attention. Often, this conflict arises from a lack of a consistent writing schedule. It’s all too easy to get sidetracked by emails or to read what others have written, making the task of writing seem far simpler than it truly is.
How often have you spent hours consuming articles on how to create content that you find difficult to produce?
Move forward, even just a little, every single day. In my journey, it took another year before I mustered the courage to submit an article to an editor. The choice to embrace writing is personal; each of us must carve our own path, and opportunities will favor those who dare to create.
Section 1.2: Rejection Is Part of the Process
It's essential to understand that rejection is merely a part of the business, not a reflection of your worth. Rather than viewing it as a personal failure, assess the reasons behind the rejection and make necessary improvements.
If we invest the right effort into our articles in terms of relevance, value to the reader, and presentation, the gap between acceptance and rejection significantly narrows. The notion that rejection signifies the end of your writing journey is misleading; think of it as akin to rejecting a less-than-perfect tomato at the store.
> “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
> —Ernest Hemingway
Chapter 2: Embracing Unique Perspectives
One of the remarkable aspects that enable so many of us to pursue writing is our distinctive thought processes. Even when approaching the same topic, each of us can produce 500 or 1,000 words that present varied viewpoints. Our individual perspectives are invaluable.
Yet, in our quest for flawless writing, we often lose focus, becoming distracted and uncertain about our direction. Compounding this challenge are everyday responsibilities like rent, groceries, and demanding jobs that occupy much of our time.
When distractions accumulate, finding time to write can feel nearly impossible. (See how easy it is to abandon your goals or not even begin?)
A strong focus in a specific direction can help cut through the clutter and distractions.
Section 2.1: Building Consistent Writing Habits
Establishing good writing habits is crucial for anyone serious about writing. Unfortunately, these habits can be elusive. Instant results are often inconsistent or completely absent, making it easy to give up when frustration sets in.
Someone once remarked, “Always advance from a position of strength.” Writers can cultivate that strength through determination, ongoing reading, occasional recognition, and relentless practice.
Anyone familiar with Stephen King knows about the nail he used to hang rejection slips—he had to keep using larger nails as the slips piled up. It's the cultivation of writing habits that ultimately distinguishes successful writers from the rest.
To build these habits for ourselves is the challenge we must embrace.
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