Writing Tips!

Procrastination

Oof, it's been awhile since I've updated this book, and you know what, that's actually a writing tip to talk about.

Procrastination. The subtle art of just not doing anything you should be doing. 

It's a deadly, deadly thing to have when you're a writer, especially one who has readers who will get impatient, and then you feel bad because you know you're not updating,m and you want to be, but, like, no.

Procrastination doesn't even have to be just for writers. It happens in planning in general, and a TON in school projects. So how does one stop procrastinating and get back to work?

Easy answer? You don't. Just wait til the last minute to do everything you're graded on and never updating anything ever again.

EXCEPT YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT!

It'll make you feel bad for not updating, and it'll give you more stress and anxiety. So try the hard route instead, and quit procrastinating. I'm still really bad at it myself, but here are some tips I've done, or have heard of, to help you stop procrastinating on your work.

- Set a deadline. 

This one works especially well for writing books, in my opinion, or at least, it's how I've gotten a few of my books done. If you tell yourself that you HAVE TO HAVE Chapters X, Y, and Z done by this date, OR ELSE, then you'll do it. I don't know what OR ELSE is, but make up a punishment for yourself or just force yourself to do it. Published authors have strict deadlines they have to meet for their books, so if anything, it's good practice to give yourself writing deadlines. It can also help you update your stories on whatever schedule you want to stick to.

- JUST DO IT.

JUST WRITE IT. WRITE WHATEVER YOU WANT WHENEVER YOU WANT. Stop feeling bad for not updating your books every few days- if you don't like writing it, then it's probably not your best work anyway. Some people may be disappointed, but that's okay. Wait for the inspiration to come to you, and your work will be better for it.

-Look for inspiration.

Are you procrastinating, or do you just have writer's block? Maybe it's a little of both. Either way, try looking for things that normally inspire you. Watch the stars, listen to music, read a favorite book, watch random people from a  coffee shop and make up stories about what their lives are like. People watch. Anything that can give you an idea, and once you have one, go for it! If seems dull, liven it up! Go nuts. There are no rules in writing besides grammar.

-Rewards

There's definitely something you'd rather be doing than your math homework, right? Maybe there's a new episode of your favorite show. Maybe you just got a new book, and you're dying to read it. So tell yourself that the second you finish that work, you can read or watch or do whatever it is you actually want to do. Sure, you might rush and the work might be a bit half-assed because all you care about is the reward at the end, but that's okay. The important thing is that IT'S DONE. You can always go back and revise things later. 

Hopefully some of these tips helped you! If not, you can always do what I'm doing, and write about procrastination while actually procrastinating on other things. :)