How is writing like swimming?
I swim a mile several times a week, and have been doing so for years. That’s 72 laps. Every time I swim, I go about four laps and then a little voice in my head says, “I’m a little tired… maybe I shouldn’t do the full distance today… 72 laps! Maybe I’ll just do 40 today…” For a moment, this always sounds reasonable. And every time, I say to that little voice, “Just do the first 16 and see how you feel. We’re going to go the distance.” Even though I know I can do it, that little voice (please tell me you have one too!) wants to undermine my willingness to do the right thing. I force myself to do the warm-up set and, by the time it’s over, I’ve gotten into the rhythm of the workout and I’m able to go the distance.
Many people experience something similar when they sit down to write for business. They know they have to work on the letter, proposal, report, or whatever. They steel themselves to the process. They sit down and face their computer screen. And then a little voice in their head says, “Maybe I should check my email before I get started,” or “I think a cup of coffee would help me concentrate.” Or perhaps, “Looks like those artificial flowers need some water.” And then comes the pivotal moment: Either they listen to the little voice, go for the distraction, and derail another day of writing, or they say, “No. I’ve got to do this work now and then I’ll …”
In a recent Writamin, I offered several suggestions for overcoming procrastination. Underlying all of the suggestions is the need for commitment. There is no end of things you can do to avoid writing. Trust me, professional writers have tried them all. The difference between the pro’s and the ones who never finish their work is simple perseverance. The people who complete their writing tasks have made up their minds to finish the job and they don’t let anything get in the way.
So the next time you’re on track to write and the Siren song of distraction starts in with a lilting tune, say “Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll get to it as soon as I finish this piece of work.” If your mind freezes over and you can’t think of what to write, start writing exactly what is in your mind. You might write, “I can’t believe I have only two hours left and I still haven’t done this report. My boss is going to kill me if I don’t get it done…” Keep venting and eventually you’ll run out of steam and start writing what you need to write. And before you know it, you’ll have gone the distance. And then you can check your email. It’s not going anywhere.