Anti-Procrastination Month!

          Routines For Writers has declared May to be Anti-Procrastination month!

          That’s right. Each of us are going to choose at least one project or activity that we have been ignoring or putting off. For the next five weeks, we will focus on getting it done. Our blogs will chronicle our success (or not) and present the tips and tricks, lectures and lessons that help us along the way to finishing these projects (or abandoning them?). In the process, we hope to inspire you to wage war on your own procrastination.

          The past few months, I’ve been successful in making progress on a couple of projects, a software manual and a cookbook. I have also posted sporadically on my personal blog, Stephanie’s Musings. As I look at May, I see the potential for a struggle to even maintain that minimal success. A large chunk of time which had been dedicated to writing is now less likely to be used for writing. In addition to the daily schedule adjustments I need to make, an extended vacation is planned for the end of the month. Add in a few new responsibilities and you can see I’m feeling just a tad overwhelmed at the thought of choosing yet another project.

          The fact is, though, the only way projects get finished is with regular input. I will never finish any project I don’t work on. Procrastination breeds procrastination. The only way to break the chain is to pick up the procrastinated project and get busy. I may not finish it by the end of May, but if I start now, I will be closer to the finish come May 31.

          There are several things I want to work on, things I’ve been putting off for weeks or months. The two that seem to matter the most to me now are reading more fiction and working on my own fiction projects.

          I’ve been reading about Story Architecture, particularly Larry Brooks’ blog, Storyfix. I have a story that really needs some structure imposed on it. (Either that or it needs to be abandoned all together.) Reading Larry’s blogs has reignited my passion for the story. I want to analyze my story and try to impose some good structure into it.

          As I realistically look at what May holds for me, I think perhaps I’ll have to procrastinate a little more on this project. It might be easier to incorporate this next activity into May’s topsy-turvy schedule. I can always extend my personal anti-procrastination month and work on my fiction after my trip.

          I used to read at least a book a week. Even those years I was totally immersed in caring for my family, I found time to read. It was often books relating to homeschooling or childcare or some other aspect of home life, but I always had at least one fiction book in the mix. Somehow, now that I actually have more time, I seem to spend less of it reading. I think I will change that this month. This month I will read at least two, preferably four or more novels.

          What projects or activities have you been procrastinating? Come join us as we slay that procrastination monster. (Or at least bruise him up a bit.)