Why I’m Not Writing

I typed in the subject line and got up and had a snack (raisins and almonds).

Then I typed a few more words and found myself back in the kitchen again, as if mysteriously teleported there. This time, it was half of a Cadbury’s egg (the big, chocolate cream-filled ones – yummy!) and a cup of tea.

A few more words later and back I went into the kitchen for the rest of that egg (no big surprise there, right?).

All this was preceded by – as I earlier faced the blank screen – cheese, crackers, more nuts and raisins, and yet more tea.

Soon I’ll need to go the store, bringing my procrastination to a new level.

Here are the top reasons I tell myself I’m not writing:

1. This is the best time of year to work as a legal recruiter, so I’m focusing on that right now and will write later.

2. This is also the best time of year for ghostwriting and graphic design, so I’m also focusing on typemonkeys.com right now. (Ironically, what makes this time of year so good for that work is that other businesses want to start the year off strong. We’re helping them accomplish their goals.)

3. I want to free myself from the grind of writing regularly.

4. Similarly, I’ll write better, more meaningful articles if I’m not working on a self-imposed deadline.

5. I want my ideas to come from my higher-self or via divine inspiration and that means waiting until something hits me over the head as a topic to write about.

[weaver_widget_area id=’donation’]

6. I’m too tired (too hungry!), too busy, or too distracted to write. I’ll do it tomorrow when I’m more awake, after I’ve exercised, before I recruit/work on Type Monkeys, after I recruit/work on Typemonkeys or during my lunch break.

7. My long-term goal is to write, but short-term I need to focus on things that will generate revenue.

Why am I *really* not writing? All these excuses come down to just that: Excuses. I haven’t made writing the priority I *say* I want it to be. My short-term actions are not supporting my long-term goals, and I’m letting daily life get in the way of what I really want.

We talk about what’s important to us, while we *do* what really *is* important. One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to write everyday, whether here, on my novel, etc. It’s almost the end of March, so it’s about time to start, don’t you think?

How do *you* stop making excuses and start doing?