August 04, 2001

Posted by on Aug 4, 2001 in General Writing

Someone asked me recently if I’d written much.

“Oh yeah!” I said. “I’ve written 3 novels, 52 magazine articles, 2 short stories and some liner notes.” Unfortunately, it’s all still in my head and not down on paper.

It’s not that I don’t want to write it all; I do. But lately, I’ve just had no motivation despite the fact that several deadlines are looming. Deadlines I have to make if I want to keep my momentum and start my way into being published. I don’t want to let these opportunities go by, but slowly I am.

I tried to look at all the reasons why I’m procrastinating or simply just not doing this. I came up with a lot of really good psychological garb but I think the main fact is that I’ve just run out of steam.

That’s the hard thing about working for yourself or working at home is learning time management or being disciplined, at least for me. I worked like mad for a few weeks and then I wore myself out. My brain doesn’t even want to write a grocery list at this point let alone an 800-word article.

Now, I’m the boss. I decide when I work and how I work and how long I will work for. Sometimes this is a good thing as I work myself to death and produce some fabulous work, other times, I’m far to easy on myself and I let myself get away with too much, like now. I feel like I need some one to whip my arse into shape. I wonder if there’s anyone for hire?

I know it comes down to me just doing the job I need to do, but it’s hard. It’s not like another job where you can just zombie through it. With this job, I have to use all of me to write something, and when I’m tired or just not in the mood, that can be a little hard.

Something had to be done, however. I have to figure out how to discipline myself somehow. Just sit down and get it done.

This is where having a laptop and a desert island would be handy.