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The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource

Writing Avoidance Tricks and Tips

by Anne Wayman on March 4th, 2008

654114_loud_noise.jpgOh good grief! It’s 10:30 and I seem to be exploring new heights of avoiding writing. I thought I’d share a few with you:

  1. Drive around several blocks to see if the tire noise I heard yesterday is still happening - it isn’t.
  2. Change the color cartridge in my printer - okay, this is legit since the email my client sent is in colors and long enough for me to print, read and contemplate.
  3. Dig the carpet sweeper out of the car and sweep the new rug
  4. Try to open two mysterious files from the client - okay, these need to be opened or something, but not today.
  5. Make yet another coffee - may actually be required today.
  6. Call a different client about something that doesn’t need to be solved today.
  7. Call a friend for moral support - I haven’t, but I might.
  8. Call a friend and bookend - actually might be a good idea.
  9. Search Craigslist for a couch.
  10. Search Craigslist for another rug

Sigh! What’s your favorite way to avoid writing?

Write well and often,

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13 opinions for Writing Avoidance Tricks and Tips

  • Trisha
    Mar 4, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Well, I will get up and play with the kitty a lot. I’ll also go on craigslist and look at apartments, even though I won’t be officially looking for several months.

  • Kristen
    Mar 4, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    Considering I’m getting hitched on August 23, anything wedding related and I’m avoiding writing all day. I’m starting to scare myself with how much I like all this wedding planning.

  • Kristen King
    Mar 4, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Read writing-related blogs and tell myself I’m doing research.

    Play with the dogs because they desperately need exercise even though they’ve already been walked and played with several times.

    Fold laundry or unload the dishwasher.

    Check all of my pens and throw out the ones that don’t write anymore.

  • Amy Derby
    Mar 4, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    Ha. This made me laugh. Glad I stopped by.

    My suggestion to avoid writing: get mono. Helped me avoid work for about five weeks. Getting back to writing is a beyotch though.

  • Anne Wayman
    Mar 4, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    lol, am enjoying all these comments and delighted not to feel alone ;)

  • Marce
    Mar 4, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    This is so me. I read message boards over and over, you know because there might be a new post in the last 2 minutes. I also go through all my blogs and check to see if anyone has posted anything new. I am no stranger to procrastination! :)

  • John Lockwood
    Mar 4, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    Whenever I want to avoid writing, I find someone else’s blog and go comment on it! :)

  • John Clausen
    Mar 4, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    Whenever I get in an avoidance mode, it’s usually because I’ve allowed a project to swell up to several times its actual size. To combat that feeling, I usually start making files. I work a lot in subscription promotion (okay, junk mail), so there are many components to a given job. I’ll make a computer file for the outer envelope copy, then one for the four-page letter, and so on. It helps me to mentally break the job into its various components. Then I can go after each component separately. It’s much less intimidating that way. It’s the same way with my writing blog (www.writingformoney.com) and articles. I’ll tell myself that I’m just going to write the lead to the piece. Before long, I’ll find myself halfway through the article and full of energy to finish. And, of course, if that doesn’t work I’ll wash dishes, walk the dog, call family members, go to the coffee shop, clean up my desk, ride my Lifecycle, clean out the cat box (okay, I don’t really have a cat, but you get the point), read a book, etc.

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  • Hayli Morrison
    Mar 5, 2008 at 7:12 am

    CelebrityCowboy.com gossip blog, yoga, browsing real estate listings or occasionally even napping - especially lately since I’m low on work. Anyone need a good writer?

  • Anne Wayman
    Mar 5, 2008 at 10:54 am

    John, you’re right, chunking often works…

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