A Procrastinator's Paradise

Writing really does seem like the perfect profession for people who prefer procrastination. (Nice bit of alliteration there, right?) I mean there are all those writers out there, complaining that they're just not inspired enough, that they can't find their muse, it isn't the write time yet, and so on.

Sometimes they put things off just because they don't feel like it. The excuse that writers are artists and need to be in the right mood to create may work for you if you've ever been there, but to those professionals depending on your services at a fixed time, it just sounds diva-like.

Writing, like all the arts, takes commitment and dedication. To someone for whom it's always come naturally, it's hard to imagine that sometimes you actually need to work at it. For me, it's always been easier to take the approach that it comes if it comes, and otherwise, you don't have to write just then.

Unfortunately for that mindset, I decided to put my passion to practical use. Then I found out it's not quite the same as writing for pleasure. There are deadlines, expectations, requirements to fulfill. Sure, you can have your own style, but when you're writing for someone else, you end up having to work at making yourself sound the way they want you to. That's why you get paid, after all. It's not easy, but it's do-able. And the sense of achievement that comes from mastering it is worth it.

I still slip up sometimes, falling back into the old habit of thinking that I should wait until I feel it to write it, and then there's a last minute scramble to meet deadlines whether I feel like it or not.

Before choosing to write as a professional, think about whether you're willing to put in the effort it takes. Are you willing to keep trying to write even when you feel like you really can't? Will you able to not take your skill for granted and look for new ways of making it better? Can you do the research it takes?

Sometimes it's better to ease into it until you get a feel for what you can and can't do. Take a project or two, and see how that goes. If writing is something you love, decide whether it will add to, or detract from your pleasure when you're forced to write about horribly mundane things like how to clean up after pets. Try everything out, and focus on your areas of strength while working on your weaknesses. If you limit yourself, you will also be limiting your income when you go professional.

It's like someone pointed out, no talent works without exercising the muscles that it uses. Even the most famous athletes put in lots of time outside competitions - why should writers be any different?