Here are ten tips that, I think you’ll agree, raise procrastination from a guilty confession to an art form. It’s all in the attitude.
- Begin each writing session with a warm up. Warm ups include whatever helps you get in the mood to write your manuscript and are as individual as the writer. My favourite warm-ups include, but are not limited to: journal writing, grocery lists, coffee, reading.
- Tweet Before You Write. Tweeting is ideal as another form of warm up, with the added benefit of limited length, forcing you to control your verbosity.
- Retweet Before You Write. So many clever quips and wonderful websites wait to be discovered. Once you uncover a gem you’ll want to spread the word. This raises your level of exposure to a world that is waiting for your novel to appear. You want that world to like you. You want them to buy your book.
- Reply Before You Write. Similar to #3 but more personal. Find someone who has written LOTS of books and talk to them. Flatter them, agree with them, understand them. You want them to follow you. Having successful, important people following you will make other people follow you. Some of those people will think that you’re important too. Some of those people will buy your book.
- Blog Before You Write. Blogging is one of the best ways to procrastinate. And for good reason. When blogging, you are actually sharpening your writing skills and challenging your creative powers. How could this not be a good idea?
On this happy procrastination note, I need to end today’s blog. But, the last five tips will be on my Monday post, with no further procrastination.