Procrastination Redirected
I teach during the school year. I have two free months during the summer, and I always mean to write, write, write every day of those two months. But I find myself, when I go onto the internet to do "research," just messing around online for hours. I have decided to at least be a bit more productive by channeling my tendency to procrastinate into Red Room articles. So two of the things I have been obsessing over lately -- marketing my book and bad reviews of my book -- are now the subjects of Red Room articles. This is an improvement, right?
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Huntington Sharp says:
These are great
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Natasha. I'm adding both of them to Red Room's Tips page right now.
And, yes, I think any writing is better than not writing at all. Think of it as stretching your muscles before a workout.
Huntington Sharp, Red Room
Natasha Bauman says:
Thanks!
Now that's cool!
June Casagrande says:
My No-Internet-Allowed writing room
Good job on channeling your energies. And thanks for your honesty about negative reviews. I think every writer can sympathize and it's good to know we're not alone.
Re writing inspiration/that damn Internet: I designated a little room in my house as a "no Internet allowed" space. I actually turn off my wireless connection before I carry my laptop in there to write. If I want to check e-mail or go online, I have to carry the laptop out of the room. It's about trying to establish the right mental associations. I've also gone to some lengths to make the room inviting. And STILL it's all I can do to bang out a page when I'm in there!
Funny, though, how different types of writing feel less forced for different types of writers. I can write my weekly column or my blog entries sitting right at my dining room table, cats nipping at my heels, and while checking e-mail every five minutes. But writing fiction has a pulling-molars dynamic for me.
Here's a link to some cornball-yet-helpful inspirational quotes for writers http://amberdine.googlepages.com/procrastination. I copied and pasted it into a Word doc and, often, looking at it is the first thing I do when I go into my little writing room. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
- June
Natasha Bauman says:
Internet
Turn off the wirelss connection. Now, that is a brilliant suggestion. Why didn't I ever think of that? There should be some kind of parent control switch on it, and I could give control over to one of my kids. They would never let me get away with unexcused surfing! Thanks, June.
Thomas Dotson says:
Turn off that darn interweb...
Thats great advice. I have to admit that I'm easily distracted as well. I've often sat at my computer to write, only to be distracted by something on YouTube.
Alas, I don't use a laptop at home, but it's a good excuse to think about buying one.
Thomas Dotson, Redroom.com
Natasha Bauman says:
Laptop at home
I think you're wise to use a desktop at home, Thomas. I believe my surfing habits were much more manageable before I went for the laptop. Maybe laptops should only be used when out and about (traveling, etc.). Not that I am trying to talk you out of getting one! There's nothing quite like writing while lying on the couch or in bed...
Rosy Cole says:
Time your screensaver....
....to come on every few minutes so you won't lapse into idle distraction. Beating the clock gets all the creative juices flowing and hones the competitive instinct. You can edit and improve later. Works a treat!