Tips to stop procrastinating and start writing that book
No writer and virtually no person can escape procrastination. In fact, you’re probably reading this article because you’re procrastinating right now. Alright. We don’t judge. Now, below we are going to make a list of all the things that, at MI bestseller, we believe can help you cushion that impulse you have to postpone everything. And then you will return to your writing task. No more detours, no more articles about how to stop procrastinating.
Let us begin! Few activities are as associated with procrastination as writing. Whether it’s writing a report for work, for university, writing that WhatsApp to that friend you haven’t spoken to in months, or simply writing that book you’ve been wanting to write for a long time. Our brains don’t seem to keep up with our ambitions when it comes to writing. Not to mention, the act of writing involves putting all your thoughts out there in front of strangers, which can be a pretty intimidating prospect for a lot of people. Writing can be scary, which is why we avoid doing it. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share some tips about book editors and how to overcome this urge and postpone your procrastination session for another day.
Go out for some air
If the situation allows it, this is our first recommendation. If you find yourself staring at a blank page, either with a head full of ideas or completely devoid of them, go for a walk. Your brain is like one of those motor boats that is started by pulling a rope: a little movement can set the whole machinery in motion. Don’t ask us how, neuroscience is not our strong point. However, whether it’s the change of scenery, or simply the act of walking, they can make you stop procrastinating. While you’re probably thinking that going for a walk when you should be writing is itself a form of procrastination, we have to say that you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Set short-term goals
»Piano piano is VA lantana (“walking slowly you will go far”), Rome was not built in a day, the longest path begins with one step etc. All of these sayings are overused for a reason. Many times, what makes you procrastinate is thinking about the large number of tasks you have ahead of you. The key is to divide that gigantic task into small efforts.
Depending on how advanced you are, you may want to set a goal of writing one chapter a week, or perhaps a certain number of pages a day. It’s all up to you, and in this area there is no such thing as too much or too little. It’s about finding a habit that complements your lifestyle and motivation.
Short-term goals turn out to be a great step towards the next point. Once you have met these short-term goals, it is time to:
Rewarded
Most of us probably already do. We allow ourselves to eat certain foods after a long walk or session at the gym, a glass of wine after work, etc. Why not introduce a similar reward system for when you finish writing? As you well know, like exercise and gymnastics, it is an activity that requires discipline and dedication, so there is no reason not to impose the same rules.
Say no to distractions
The time we could spend sitting drinking coffee at the corner bar hammering away at the laptop keys non-stop can be subject to countless distractions. We are expected to be reachable 24 a day, 7 days a week. But how many times do we get contacted for something really urgent? Think of your concentration as a bucket full of water. Think of your concentration as if it were a bucket of water. Each electronic device is a small hole in that cube. Your cell phone, social networks, even your internet connection (this depends more on your discipline) are slowly but constantly depleting that bucket of concentration. So, to stop procrastinating, you have to plug all those holes. Unplug the router.
But I need the internet to find inspiration for my Ghostwriter for music! you can think. Well, in that case, we suggest that you divide the writing and research into two parts. Research one day, and the next you can spend writing based on that research (offline!). Even if you feel the desperate need to check something, there is no rush. Put a check mark on what you need to check and come back to it later. After all:
Remember that perfection does not exist
If you’re serious about your book, then you’ll probably spend as much time (or even more) editing your manuscript as you’ve spent writing it. So if the means to screw it up is what makes you procrastinate, don’t worry. That’s what editing is for.
In other words, your first draft is by no means the final one, so there’s no need to procrastinate for fear of not doing it well enough. As you write, you will come across new ideas that will make you change what you wrote previously and, therefore, after a while, you will find yourself with a manuscript that you will be totally proud of. Most of the time the first draft of anything is going to leave something to be desired in terms of quality. Learn to accept that rewriting is not a bad thing and that unlike words spoken out loud, which cannot be corrected, writing can.
Imagine yourself writing that book!
This is a trick that works. Stop for a minute and think about how satisfied you would feel if you were sitting writing right now. This secret is valid for any situation, but especially to stop procrastinating. Imagine yourself doing that thing that you are avoiding at all costs, and for a moment you will realize that you actually want to do it and you will feel great.
We hope you liked our tips to stop procrastinating once and for all. As you well know, writing is essential if you want to become a writer one day or if you already are. When you have stopped procrastinating and write that book, at MI bestseller we offer you a unique opportunity to self-publish it and print it on demand.
