Inventing Unimportant Tasks
This is the daily to-do list that MUST be completed before you can start writing. This is so insidious because you feel like you're being productive.  But realise that this list will never end and the stinky part is that it stops you fully showing up and starting.

What to do about it?
Go through your daily nonsense tasks and ask yourself - which one of these tasks TRULY need to be done right this minute - most of them (if not all of them) can probably wait.  Then put your writing time at the top of your to-do list - everything else on the list will still be there. You are going to feel great when WORK ON MY SHORT STORY FOR AN HOUR gets a big, fat tick next to it.  AND you're signalling to your brain that this is important.

Endless Revising/Editing
Okay revising and editing looks like writing - cos it is writing!  But there's a time for this - and it comes when your draft is finished. But if it's something you're doing over and over BEFORE you've finished the first draft then you're caught up in some pretty sophisticated procrastination. Or maybe you've finished it but can't stop endlessly tinkering with draft two.  In any event, it never gets out into the world because you're waiting for it to be perfect.

What to do about it?
Firstly accept that perfection is very subjective - and is a largely a pointless goal.  Dig into what it is that worries you about finishing this work.  Is it the idea of the work being seen? Ask yourself - what is the worst thing that could happen if you showed it to somebody?  And write down your answer. 

Sometimes writing down worst fears about a situation helps you put them in perspective.  Is your worst fear that they you might be judged as a writer?  Consider all the real threats in the world that we can be realistically fearful of and realise that having someone criticise or judge a piece of your writing might not be fun for you but it's not going to kill you. Set a small goal. Take a baby step towards getting your work out into the world by organising to show it to someone friendly who will encourage you.  You'll see it's not so bad.

Fact Checking & Research
Fact checking and research do have their place but they can also be a sneaky way to avoid actually writing.  It looks like you're working on your project - but if this research isn't followed by actual words on a page at some point - eek! 

What to do about it?
Stick an immovable deadline on your research time. Then stop and start writing. To make this less painful, schedule in further research time ahead in the future.  Use it as a nice break from the writing - a reward. If you're struggling - start with 15 minutes a day and slowly build it up to 20, 30, 60 etc.

Waiting for The Ideal Writing Condition
You know how this rolls - I'm going to wait until (insert amzing  imagined situation in future) then I'll start writing.  Why wait?  You're never going to have the perfect amount of time, the perfect desk or the perfect amount of knowledge. Conditions are never going to be perfect so you may as well jump in now. 

What to do about it?
Start regularly turning up at your computer for small timed sessions and start making notes about your idea. Imagine if you just spent 10 minutes a day jotting down all your thoughts and random ideas about your idea.  It's kinda fun and an easy way to ease into your project without the pressure of announcing - now I will write my project!  There more you do it the more the project starts living in your head and the more it starts to grow.  And suddenly you find that chipping away at your project has become a habit - and you've kinda started.

Attending Too Many Writing Workshops
This is hilarious coming from me I know, BUT have you ever noticed that my workshops are rarely about theory? They generally contain some how-to and a heck of ALOT of just-do.  Now you might just love attending writing workshops and reading books about writing - and that's cool - but if you actually want to move from aspiring writer to writer you have to start writing.  If your writing practice primarily consists of watching people like me talk about writing then this may be your very fun, sneaky way of avoiding the page.

What to do about it?
Articulate your goal to yourself before you attend a workshop. Decide what you want to get out of it and what you will put in place after said workshop too keep your project moving forward. If there's someone else on the course you hit it off with - why not buddy up and keep each other accountable by forming a mini-writing group that meets every month to exchange work? 
If you like flying solo - all good - but put yourself on a workshop diet until you've achieved your first goal. Then MAYBE reward yourself with more learning. Struggling to start? Try committing 15 minutes a day to get something on the page - it's only 15 minutes and way less intimidating than trying to commit hours and hours. Then you just repeat - suddenly your project is moving forward and you're on the way to developing a healthy writing habit - nice! 

Waiting For Inspiration to Strike
Stop waiting. Inspiration doesn't so much strike as get invited to get involved.

What to do about it?
Move into your creative workspace (wherever that is) and start writing something, anything, by hand into a notebook.  It might feel clunky to start with but stick with it for at least 15 minutes. Get rid of possible distractions - when all there is to do is free write, your brain will start working for you.  Thoughts are going to come so all you need to do is write 'em down. 
OR
If it's anxiety about your ability that's stopping you starting - try this. Pretend this first draft is you just warming up or practising - it's not the real deal - you're just playing around with what you might do.  No one will see it cos it's just a practice run.  

Indulging Nonsense Distractions
Convincing yourself that you just need to check your emails or Facebook or Twitter or whatever before you start writing.  Again this kinda looks like work but every time I do this - I lose hours of writing time.  

What to do about it?
Shut down your inbox, social media and turn off your phone for 30 minutes and start writing. Allow yourself a brief check in time as a reward later down the track rather than something that "needs" to be done.  ©Kathryn Burnett 2024

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