Procrastination
Folks keep suggesting scheduling writing time, setting specific goals, and sticking to them. This is always in response to me whining (and let’s face it, I do whine) about my procrastination habits.
These habits have been cultivated since grade school. I loved school and learning but I hated doing homework and studying. However since I tested well and found it all very easy I could get away without learning those daily habits of sitting down and working every day after school.
That lifestyle choice is coming back to bite me in the . . . writer’s chair.
The last couple days I have been trying to set myself goals. Planning a writing schedule out weeks in advance is no good for me. I ruled that out the first time my kids invaded my writing area to ask me for help with their homework or help build the Mystical Island of Metra’Nui or the phone call from work pleading with me to come cover someone’s shifts. These are the things I cannot plan for.
So I set my goals small and not too far in advance. For instance, this morning before work I knew I would have about an hour free after getting ready for work and before waking up my second daughter for school. I felt a 200 word goal was fair for this time period.
It felt good to finish it.
This evening’s goal was 500 words and between kids, cooking dinner, balancing the checkbook, and the monday night TV show line-up I am addicted to, I finished it. It was a lot harder tonight. Sleepiness encroaches and fight scenes do not come natural to me yet.
Opening My Big Mouth
I had this idea a couple days ago for a monthly event at the bookstore where I work. I thought an Open Mic night would be very cool. And a good opportunity to both read and hear others read their work. I still think it is a good idea.
I approached the lady in charge of arranging the events in our store and now I think I may be running this new event. And instead of starting after the holidays, which was the hazy idea I went to her with. We will be starting in November. November 11th at 7pm to be exact.
This is very neat and I don’t mind the extra responsibility. Much.
Now, I need to keep writing voraciously between now and then so my writing skills improve as much as I can get them so that I have something to read at the kick off of this event. Something I won’t be too embarrassed to read.
I use to be a drama major in high school and college. I do the weekly storytime in our store in front of kids and adults numbering between 3 and 35. Reading won’t be the issue. Feeling comfortable enough in my writing skin to read my own work is.
Another milestone for me to hurdle (or possibly trip) over on the road to Professional Writer Status (imagine a serious announcer voice saying that in stark even tones).
