Seriously Write: writer procrastination

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Writer's Avoidance, Part 2 by Jerusha Agen

Last week, we looked at the symptoms to diagnose Writer’s Avoidance in ourselves. If you missed them, check out last week’s post here.

Though you may not go as crazy for chocolate as I do, I’m guessing I’m not alone in some of the avoidance symptoms or in my tendency to do anything but write when the going gets tough. I’m actually in the throes of an avoidance phase like this right now (guess I should’ve added writing blog posts to the list of symptoms). I’d like to think that my case isn’t hopeless, and that I might be able to find a way to end this unproductive cycle. In an effort to find a solution, I’ve started to examine why I fall into this avoidance. The reason isn’t pretty.

In my Bible reading lately, I’ve been working my way through Exodus. Pretty sad how much I have in common with the Israelites. Yep, they were avoiders, too. After God saved them and provided for them in miraculous ways time and time again, they reached the Promised Land and discovered that the inhabitants there were awfully big. And scary. So what did they do? They rejected God’s gift to them, choosing instead to avoid potential danger.

Our situation as writers isn’t much different. God gives us stories to tell and promises great results when we follow His call and write for Him. But as soon as I come to some big and scary obstacles, I start avoiding my God-given task. Why? Because I don’t want to feel the failure and frustration that goes with trying to write and not succeeding at the pace I think I should. That’s the key, though, isn’t it? My fear of the failure and frustration come from my preconceived notions about the rate and course that the progression of my novel should take.

Yet, I tell people all the time that God gives me the ability, ideas, and words to write. I say that I’m writing for His glory alone. If that’s truly the case, then why should I care when God has a different deadline in mind than I do for finishing my plot outline? Shouldn’t I want to write my novels in His time and His way? God promised His people, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I want His future and His hope for my writing and life. So when I wrap up this blog post, I think I’ll put on the Armor of God and face the looming giant of my yet-to-be-plotted novel. By His grace, I’ll face my setbacks and difficulties with trust and patience as I watch His perfect timing unfold. As long as I’m doing my best to work with excellence on the task He’s given me, then the roadblocks He intends to slow me down or show me a different route aren’t worries at all.

But I think I’ll still bring some chocolate along for the journey.

What keeps you from writing your novel? Do you have a favorite verse that you lean into before you write? Share your thoughts with us below.

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Writer's Avoidance: when I start avoiding my God-given task.
Frustration comes from my ideas of how long it takes to write a novel.
Still taking chocolate along for the journey.

Jerusha Agen is a lifelong lover of story--a passion that has led her to a B.A. in English and a highly varied career. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Jerusha is the author of the Sisters Redeemed Series, which includes the titles This Dance, This Shadow, and This Redeemer. Jerusha co-authored the e-books A Ruby Christmas and A Dozen Apologies from Write Integrity Press. Jerusha is also a screenwriter, and several of her original scripts have been produced as films. In addition, Jerusha is a film critic, with reviews featured at the website, www.RedeemerReviews.com

LINKS:

Website: www.SDGwords.com

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To Buy: http://www.amazon.com/This-Redeemer-Jerusha-Agen/dp/1938092562/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751823&sr=1-1&keywords=this+redeemer

Not all prisons have bars. Charlotte Davis should know—she’s lived in one for years. She can handle getting slapped around by her boyfriend, Tommy, and even being forced to do things she would never choose, but when Tommy turns on her 10-year-old daughter, Charlotte must try to escape. With nowhere else to turn, Charlotte runs to the stranger her dying mother believed would help her. Looking only for shelter or cash, Charlotte finds a family she longs to call her own and a gentle man she could learn to love. But if Tommy catches up with Charlotte, these strangers could discover the truth about her.

Will they send her back to Tommy? Or can a Father’s love set her free?

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Writer's Avoidance, Part 1 by Jerusha Agen

Writer’s block. Everyone’s heard of it—the ultimate enemy of the writer. Or is it? With my own writing efforts (notice the word choice there), I’ve come to realize that my “writer’s block” is a lot closer to writer’s impatience and that neither is really the biggest obstacle to my writing. My nastiest nemesis is—deep breath as I admit this—avoidance. Let’s call it Writer’s Avoidance (gives it so much more dignity, don’t you think?).

At first when I started to see the symptoms of avoidance, I attributed it to the difficulties peculiar to whatever manuscript I was working on at the time. “This one’s just more challenging,” I’d say. “It’s an adaptation instead of a new story.” Or, “It’s a new genre for me, a new length for me.” The list went on until recently, when I started another manuscript in a familiar genre, and the same thing happened.

For me, the avoidance kicks in when I’m in the plotting stage. (You seat-of-the-pants writers out there may not reach the avoidance stage until later on when you lose your grip on those pants and, in a weak moment, wish you’d planned out the ride.) I’m so excited about the prospect of starting a fresh story, but when I sit down to put the plot on paper, I don’t get far before I stall. The reasons are varied, but my response is always the same: I start to avoid working on the novel. After all, I only experience feelings of failure, frustration, or downright panic when I try to make progress, so isn’t it natural to stay away? The avoidance is subconscious at first, and I take a while to admit that avoidance is what I’m actually doing.

I may be the only person who has this impractical tendency. If I am, I give you leave to laugh at my idiosyncrasies, but in case there are other creative, crazy types like me out there, I’m going to give you a checklist of symptoms so you can figure out if you’ve fallen prey to Writer’s Avoidance. (Disclaimer: People with Writer’s Avoidance may not experience all of these symptoms or the symptoms may manifest themselves in alternate ways.)

You start eating a lot more chocolate and taking more snack breaks when you’re working on your manuscript.
Your house begins to look like a Better Homes and Gardens feature thanks to compulsive cleaning sprees.
You keep checking the clock for the approach of the nearest mealtime.
Those piles of papers and old mail disappear and get organized. (How could you ever be expected to write in such a chaotic environment? Organizing really could be considered necessary to facilitate your writing.)
You eat more chocolate.
Facebook and Twitter (or Pinterest) become your new best friends. (You’re only on there to market your books. It’s not a waste of time when you’re furthering your career, right?)
You take up walking in the middle of your usual writing time. (You’ll feel more creative if you’re healthier!)
You eat more chocolate.
You check your phone every ten minutes. (Your agent could be trying to reach you or your smartphone could be trying to tell you about some essential writing-related tweet that you must retweet to your followers.)
Yeah. More chocolate.

Any of these symptoms sound familiar? Please share! And join me next Tuesday to find out how we can end avoidance.

Angie here - what do YOU do to avoid writing? Is one of the above your favorite (like the ones involving chocolate)? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.