I’m avoiding writing. Which is crazy because I’m a writer.
Obviously I’m writing this essay but I’m avoiding working on two larger projects, ones that I’m excited about. I’m even off from client work today, its the perfect time. So why would I avoid writing?
Because avoidance and resistance are buddies. They hang out together.
And today they’re partying it up in my head, doing their damndest to keep me from working on what’s next. They have all sorts of reasons:
❇ “It’s too hard to start and besides it will be like last time, you’ll just set it aside. Why waste your time?”
❇ “Your idea to twist the genre and take it in a different direction won’t work. Urban fantasy, lore, magic, science? Pfft, you can’t make that work.”
❇ “Hey, why don’t you read about plotting or character creation or watch this video instead? More preparation never hurt anyone, hm?”
❇ “Aren’t you hungry? A snack would be good before you start, maybe check Twitter and Instagram? What’s going on on Reddit?”
They’re loud and rowdy and have a million reasons or distractions to send me off in another direction. But that’s in the wrong direction. It’s off the path.
Getting back on the path isn’t always easy but it is simple. All it takes is stepping past avoidance and resistance and beginning.
I’ll start by giving 20 minutes to each project, to move them forward, knowing that it will likely grow into more time spent.
20 minutes on this essay project outline and other topics I want to tackle this month.
20 minutes on the new fiction idea. Permission to explore the world where the story takes place, how things work there, freewriting.
