As a writer you know that you have many barriers to deal with: producing story ideas, developing genres, discovering and creating characters, etc. The list is endless.
But for me there is one major hurdle that you have to clear, which would confirm as to where you can justify yourself a writer or not: Procrastination – not an easy one to spell, especially for someone like me, or to put it in another way “I cannae be bothered.”
I am the first to admit that even though I still regard myself as a writer and broadcaster, I have been hit with this problem on many occasions, especially when I come back following a normal working day travelling to and from the Edinburgh, which would normally be 12-14 hours.
That is normally tough going for someone like me, to use one of my dad’s favourite sayings, “Over 21”. And there were also the creeping bouts of arthritis. At least my dancing legs are still working.
So, whenever I got back from my regular working day, my intentions were always good, spend some time getting words down, even just a few hundred words. Even if it was late at night – but I always struggled getting those thoughts to the rest of my body.
My mantra was always, “the mind is willing, but the body is weak, I still have ideas, but I will do it next week.”
It was not long before those weeks became months, then those creative ideas started to slowly disappear, then came the lack of motivation. After that, self-doubts start to creep in.
Thankfully, I managed to stop myself from getting to that last part. Thank goodness!
I had the beginnings of an American Football Story that originally started out of a script idea, where I decided two years ago that I wanted it to be my biggest writing challenge yet.
Then there was my Butlins Books, stories that I am immensely proud of as it launched me as a writer and there was my radio shows as well.
It was time for “tough love,” Go back to why I wanted to do this is in the first place, dig deep into my creative brain cells that had been inactive for ages. It did not take long for me to stop things before it got to that final stage.
If I did then it would have been game over. But having come so far, I was determined that I was not going to let that happen. Another family characteristic.
So, for the last few weeks I have been listening to my audio versions of my Butlins Books and as I said, I have a lot to be proud of, but it was my rookie years as a writer.
Now eleven years on I like to think I have developed a bit since then and was starting to think of how I could improve them. But there was no real reason to do anything after that, that was until I noticed that next year will be the 90th anniversary of the opening of the first Butlins Camp.
It was enough for me to dig out my numerous Joanna Penn Business Audio Books. Not only did they give me valuable advice, but it was enough for me to acknowledge the merits in republishing my Butlins Books to coincide with the 90th anniversary. Revised manuscript, redeveloped book covers.
Then there is my American Football story set in Scotland. I am not going to give you any more details than that. But with next year being the 30th anniversary of the Scottish Claymores winning the World Bowl at Murrayfield, then there is another perfect time to publish my biggest writing challenge to date.
So, after wondering if I was wasting my time, I have found my writing mojo again and have committed to two key months next year, April and June.
So, the work towards that starts now. Writing and publishing is a business after all.
Procrastination is not an option.
Tough love can get you results.