ARTICLES

A Writer’s Worst Enemy
By M. E. Wood

Procrastination. Hmm. I don’t procrastinate. I have legitimate work related ‘stuff’ to do. Like reorganize my file cabinet or alphabetize my resource magazines. It is amazing what I can accomplish when I am procrastinating. I can rake the yard, do the dishes by hand (why load the dishwasher), take the dog for a couple walks (she needs the exercise), dust, clean bathroom, vacuum. Everything except what I am supposed to be doing. Writing.

So what is with this fear of writing? Is it I have no ideas? Is it writer’s block? Am I afraid I am going to write something crappy? Or something simply amazing? Do I secretly hate putting ink to pen? Am I just lazy? The answer is no to all the above. Well maybe the lazy part, sometimes.

So what is it? Fear of accountability? If I don’t write about it then I don’t have to be accountable for it? It sounded good at the time but looking at it now; no, that isn’t it either.

I think the real issue is that we live in a world that thrives on multi-tasking. When was the last time you did an activity exclusively? As I am writing this I have three other programs open, laundry on the go and a to-do list that I keep adding to and checking off. If I am too busy multi-tasking how on earth can I create an article, a short story or finish a book with so many interruptions? As multi-taskers we spend a lot of time thinking about what else we can be doing to save time instead of focusing on the task at hand.

Oops, almost answered the phone. No really, the phone just rang. I reached my hand over as it was ringing while I was reviewing the line I had just written. Then I stopped myself. Why? Because I am suppose to be writing. If it is an emergency they will call back or better yet leave me a message. If it is not an emergency then I can call them back when I am finished doing what I love. No, not painting my toenails. Writing.

Isn’t it funny how writers can come up with every excuse not to write? Well this is my excuse ‘to write’. It is the battle between good and evil. Me and procrastination. Procrastination will crumble! I am a writer! I will be victorious! I will dedicate time to writing because that is what I WANT to do. That is what I left my day job for. Not for dusting, not for vacuuming, not for organizing.

I have scheduled 30 minute intervals for writing. When the 30 minutes is up, I can put the laundry in the dryer, answer the phone calls, and take the dog for a walk.

To be a writer I must write! So here I am writing about procrastination. So for today I have beaten down procrastination from my door. Too bad it took all day to do it. Oh well at least the yard looks good, the dog is tired and I have clean plates to eat off of.

*published WordBeats / February 2004