29

May

How to Nail a Long -Term Project

 Are you stuck in the writers’ rut with a long term writing project? You began it with the best of intentions but now your work is sitting on a desk gathering dust whilst you do something else that may take less brainpower.

Maybe you are trying to convince yourself that one day you will go back to it. You may say to yourself that you need to do more research on the subject. A little more brain storming. You possibly have other writing assignments to complete first. In the meantime your long term project sits patiently while another spider makes a home on it.

The sad fact is that your project will sit there until you actually open it up again. You have the urge to continue but it is going to take a certain amount of sacrifice to immerse yourself into it again. It isn’t going to write itself. So what are you going to do to get started again?

Here are a few ideas to enable you to sit down and write. Good luck to you.

• Make time within your weekly schedule to write. Mark it on your calendar and provided that calendar isn’t on your computer draw red rings around it. Your writing needs some priority in your timetable.

• Make realistic targets. Tell yourself that you will write a certain number of words per session. Chances are you will get lost in the moment of actually writing that you may write considerably more. Even reward yourself when you reach your target with something that will give you incentive. Chocolate, in my case!

• Ensure there are no distractions. If you have set time to write on your masterpiece you will need the capacity to think and write with nothing to break your flow. Turn off the internet if you don’t need to use it for your session. Ignore your mobile phone unless you are waiting for an important call. Create your own space where you will be free to write. Resist temptations to do something else. I know it’s easier said than done but try and have some willpower.

• Be accountable. Is there anybody in your life who can encourage you to write more? Perhaps a family member, friend, or writers group. It’s possible that you know another writer who needs that encouragement and you can be accountable to each other. People with addiction problems need somebody firm to help them get over their problem.   Your laziness and procrastination can become an addiction, a habit that you fall into and are in danger of never coming out of. Find somebody who will be harsh with you if you fall back into old habits. Make them your boss provided the power doesn’t go to their head and they tell you to wash their car!