BRAIN BLAST: Strategies to Beat Writing Procrastination

1. SCHEDULE WRITING DATES

Plan to write 5 days a week in the same space for the same amount of time--at least 20 minutes, but no more than 4 hours.

2. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE & GRAB COFFEE

Checking social media invites stalling behavior. Pounding caffeine like a sailor promotes focus.

3. REWARD YOURSELF IN INTERVALS

Use WrittenKitten.net/ to see a kitty photo every time you complete 100 words (Hat tip to Laura Tucker)

4. TRY A PRODUCTIVITY ON-RAMP

When you sit down to write, take a timer. Then spend 5 min. straightening your physical or virtual desktop, 5 min. finding your place in the document & reviewing your writing goals; and 5 min. reading inspiring prose to prime your creative pump.

5. CHUNK WRITING TASKS

Divide composing chores into parts. Tell yourself that your first session will be over when you successfully brainstorm your topic, then go from there.

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Cool product of the week: Finding Home: 12 Notecards & Envelopes by Traer Scott. Each features an evocative shelter dog and how the animal found a new home.