So, new year means new writing projects, fresh starts, an empty notebook... This will be the January I'll stay sober, actually use my gym membership and finish my book edits. Of course it will...
January 1st: COVID.
Ok, no worries, I will start my new year in a few days.
A week later: still COVID.
Ok, it's all good - 8th Jan and I'm free from the lurgy, still early in the year. And then, like often happens, I'm hit with crippling procrastination. I mean sure I'd do my edits if I had a laptop because the PC is great anorl but that room is where I do work work. A laptop, yes that's all I need.
"Neil, I need a laptop."
He doesn't argue, just dutifully orders a laptop. And so it arrives and is unboxed and loaded with Word and Scrivener...
11th January: Still no edits done.
So what is stopping me? Is my mind addled with too many years of reality TV and candy crush? Am I part of the generation who want instant gratification and have the attention span of a goldfish? No, No, it can't be that. I think I've figured it.
"Neiiiiil?"
"WHAT is wrong now?" he asks.
Well I went to a Writers' HQ workshop on Bullet Journaling and I can't really do anything else until I have that sorted. But I can't start that until I have all my stuff in one place. Some of it is in my writing shed, you see, so I need to move that stuff inside... But then I will need some more storage in here, right? Ikea tonight then?
"Lucy STOP. It's the frogs isn't it?"
"Yes," I reply dejectedly, "the frogs."
I'll explain: I once went to a productivity seminar where they said if on your list of things to do that day is to swallow a frog, and that's the worst thing, do that first. I don't like frogs! It's the adulting equivalent of if you're too ill to go to school, you're too ill to play out. I want to do the shiny new thing with the shiny new laptop and the fresh new bullet journal. Editing is the frog.
Enough is enough - I'll set some accountability goals with my writing pal, Andrea. That will help!
Her response: I see what you mean though because I think I need some new glasses. And I was thinking I really should have a laptop stand.
Jeez, she deffo needs to eat her frogs!
And no, I haven't been to the gym either.
But I have read an excellent book: Julia by Sandra Newman. A feminist retelling of my all time favourite book. Oh, I notice she's written a book on writing too...maybe I need to read that....
"Procrastination is like a virus. Once it infects you, it spreads rapidly, leaving a trail of excuses in its wake." - Karen Lamb
SEND HELP!
Writing friend Andrea has spent a week procrastinating without covid or back ache… she can’t sit on her arse for two minutes - wait I’ll finish this comment later - Lucy has a better laptop case then me, I need to google….