Starting and stopping writing… not starting and stopping procrastination, although I guess if we are starting writing, we are stopping procrastination. Hadn’t thought of it that way, but it works. Once again, writing helps us know what we know.

So, what are some tips that you can use to start writing and stop procrastinating? Here are three:

1. Isolate editing and composing.

Editing is one part of writing. If you are intermingling editing with composing, you are cruisin’ for a bruisin’ in terms of your productivity. Editing and composing use different parts of your brain; when your editor is turned on and is judging, changing, questioning, fixing, and all the other jobs in which it is involved, then your composing part – which needs to generate, flow, put together, and create – is in conflict and your energy is expended trying to separate these two battling brains. Have days where you edit and days where you compose. Isolate the two practices – both of which are important – so that you can maximize your writing productivity.

2. Note when you finish where you’ll be starting next. Since the most difficult part of writing for many people is getting started (and this is also the crazy reason that many of us think that we have to have large blocks of time for writing, i.e., because it takes SOOO LONG to get started), using this one suggestion will make a major impact on your ability to bypass procrastination. Each day when you are a few moments from completing your writing time, make a notation about what you were going to do next.

• Were you getting ready to check a reference?
• Were you about to create a mind-map to give you insight into the next section of your article?
• Were you just about to write a list of definition of terms that you are using?
• Were you getting ready to recap the list of main points you have made in your manuscript.

What was the next step – the next action – you were about to take in your writing? Once you have that in mind, either type it in large bold letters in your manuscript – maybe even highlighted with an easy-to-spot color, write it on a Post-it note that you attach to a printed document, or in some other way, make sure you don’t “lose your place.”

3. Integrate writing into how you define yourself. Do you talk about yourself as a writer? Do you think about yourself as a writer? Do you define yourself as a writer?

It is more difficult (and more ridiculous) to procrastinate something that is really part of who you are. It’s hard for me to procrastinate being a sister. I am a sister. If you’re a parent, it’s hard to procrastinate being a parent. You are a parent. If you consider yourself to be and define yourself as a writer (among other attributes), then you are better able to focus on what you need to do to continue in that role.

1.  Can you pay (a reasonable sum) to have someone else do these tasks? There might be children in your house who would clean up your linen closet/pantry/storage area for $$. Isn’t it worth that to you?

2.  Do you need a professional to help you with a task? What if your carpet is pulling up from the seam and you can’t fix it yourself? Set a specific time every week to make phone calls to professionals to help you with odd tasks like this.

3. Are there tasks that you are afraid of? How about that big project your employer asked you to do? Even if you aren’t going to do the task today, make an outline of what must be done to complete the task. Force yourself to complete one item on the outline before you leave work today.

4.  Are there tasks you hate? Accounting, filing, etc.? Get to work 10 minutes early for the next several days until these items are caught up. Then designate an early morning time to complete the item on a regular basis.

5.  Don’t allow yourself to whine about your procrastination. In the time it takes you to whine, you can often finish the task.

Read Rita Emmett’s book The Procrastinator’s Handbook.

You may also want to access one of the Third Thursday Productivity Time programs:  

Polish Off Procrastination!  Bump Off this Obstacle to Productivity (just $9.97; such a deal!)

1. Keep a procrastination log. (You’ll enjoy this because you’ll be procrastinating.) That is, take notes on those items that you know you should be doing, but you just aren’t getting them done. As each item floats into your consciousness, write it down.

2. Divide the log into “work” items and “personal” items.

3. Look through the list and see if there are any items that can be done in five minutes or less. Do these immediately! (Now you can check off a few items in your log – very satisfying).

4. Be honest with yourself. Are there items that you know you’ll never do? Cross these off.

5. Delegate a task if you know it really isn’t yours. And if you’d like to learn from a 3-part program (which you can listen to at your own pace), feel free to take a peek at the webpage that has all the info: Deputize Then Delegate

Read Rita Emmett’s book The Procrastinator’s Handbook. It is outstanding…and in a few weeks, I’m even going to have a special list from her in the Keeping Chaos at Bay series. Stay tuned!

You may also want to access one of the Third Thursday Productivity Time programs:  

Polish Off Procrastination!  Bump Off this Obstacle to Productivity (just $9.97; such a deal!)

11. You’re not able to tell yourself which _exact problem_ in the writing you are working out in this very moment (i.e. it is a more vague “working on the project”). -anonymous

12. You’re lying in bed thinking about the writing you are going to do when you get out of bed. Marydee Sklar

13. You’re reading about writing (Kelly J. Eveleth)

14. Greetings! E-mail does me in. I am working on cleaning up chapter 2 and then ….e-mail monster strikes in! I can ignore the phone, but e-mail…. always gets me! Please feel free to share. Smiles and I am writing, right after these e-mails. Kimberly Smerkers

15. Another sign … you begin organizing or straightening your desk or your office. (OK to share anonymously).

16. Suddenly, cleaning the toilet or oven (something you hate and try to rarely do), sounds good. Anonymity is fine.

Hey, we’re all in this together, right?  If you would like to get inspiration, direction, and structure for your writing, join us for the upcoming tele-workshop & coaching event, “30 Articles in Just 30 Days.”   Here’s where you can learn all the scoop:

** http://30articlesinjust30days.com

You will see what others who have participated in previous events have to say. Check it out!

(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., “The Ph.D. of Productivity”(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh works with bright people who want to be more productive so that they can consistently keep their emphasis on excellence.  I’m thankful everyday.

Until I read Following Through, this was the only book I ever recommended as helpful for procrastination. It’s small, concise, and practical. What more could I ask for? A number of her suggestions & techniques have “gotten me off the dime.” Don’t put off reading this one (plus, if you have child who procrastinates, she has a book entitled The Procrastinating Child).  It is also excellent.

If you love having books arrive FAST, be sure to sign up for Amazon Prime…free 2-day shipping for one flat rate each year (and you can have 4 family members all using it.  Such a bargain for those of us who want books NOW vs. later!)

“Don’t wait for something big to occur.  Start where you are, with what you have, and that will always lead you into something greater. 
                         ~Mary Manin Morrissey

Exactly what are you waiting for?  Move…somewhere…preferably forward and guess what?  You’ll keep moving.