As I’ve been working on this rewrite, I’ve been spending a lot of time doing everything BUT rewriting my latest romance novel.
I am not a procrastinator by nature. As a matter-of-fact, I regularly complete projects at work early. Here may be why.
3 Reasons Science Says is Why I Procrastinate
You can take a look here and here if you’d like, but the gist of the articles is:
1. Avoidance Behavior
If you dread the task ahead of you, you may avoid doing it in the short-term. You know, procrastinate. This can cause a vicious cycle, but it does play into #3 below in that it gives a temporary feel-good emotion while you’re doing something other than what you dread.
2. Lack of Motivation
People are known to procrastinate when there’s very little motivation to do a hard task. I need to think more about this. I was loving this book and on a roll with it until early July. Something derailed me.
3. Present Emotions vs Future Emotions
There’s a very real emotional punch you get when you accomplish something. And as humans, we tend to prioritize the moment over the future. And watching a funny cat video? Instant laugh.
I need to do some thinking on this. Something changed to make the task less desirable, triggering both my avoidance behavior and my lack of motivation.
How about you? Do you procrastinate? What do you procrastinate doing? What’s your fix for it?
I know what you mean. I am half way thru my first novel and for some reason I haven’t be able to continue. It isn’t procrastination because I have written a lot of short stories since I stop working on it. When I sit in from of my laptop and open word my mind goes blank. Do you think if I read what I have written I will break my procrastination in that particular area?
Worth trying!
Thanks, I will.
James Clear has a gazillion great article about procrastination. For example: https://jamesclear.com/akrasia , which also happens to include a writer on deadline.
That was a good read. Thanks!
Looks like I need to reduce the cost of starting.
I procrastinate constantly, and always have. School assignments, university assignments, sorting out insurances, blog posts, the list goes on! I’ve always been pretty good at doing things last minute, but it can be stressful. The only issue is there’s no deadline for finishing my books, at least none I seem to stick to because setting my own deadlines doesn’t pack the same punch. I’m also struggling with number 2 at the moment. I often get demoralised and lose motivation when I get stuck, or know the way forward but also know how much work that involves. It’s happened with both of my WIP now, and I’ve decided the best solution is just to take a break until September 🙂
Sounds like you need a writing coach to give you those tough deadlines! Or an editor. 🙂
I’m pretty sure that’d help, which is partly why I want to do a Master’s degree. Nothing like university deadlines to motivate me 😀