It’s been three weeks and you haven’t even looked at that poem you started working on almost two months ago. In fact, it’s gotten so bad, you’ve barely even thought about it. You’ve pushed the very idea of it into the deepest, darkest corner of your mind and left it to rot away like spoiled fruit… Okay, so that last part was definitely hyperbole, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re currently bound by procrastination, desperately trying to liberate yourself from its vice-like grip and return to the land of the writing… Bit much?
Okay, so, here’s the thing: as a writer, you are most certainly going to encounter difficult times throughout your writing journey. To tell the truth, it will become so frustrating at times just trying to finish a poem it’ll feel like you’re trying to draw blood from a stone. This, of course, will lead to you avoiding it altogether, believing that leaving it for a while will somehow reignite the spark you found when you first commenced writing the piece. And sure, that might work from time to time, but that doesn’t mean it’s the answer to your problem.
Remember, whether that poem gets completed or not is entirely up to you. It’s in your hands… literally. Well, if you’re ambidextrous that is otherwise it’s… Okay… I’ll stop. Seriously, though! You’re in control. Don’t let procrastination dictate the pace at which you get something done. Push through that creative block. Even if you’re only writing one line (or bar) a day, that’s something. It’s better to be proactive than to run the risk of leaving that half-finished masterpiece locked away forever.
Undoubtedly, procrastination is one of the most difficult trials a writer is faced with having to overcome. It’s always going to be much easier to just put things off and tell yourself that you’ll get to it eventually than it is to muster the courage to sit down and fight through it. The difference, however, is in the results. On the one hand, taking action means you reap the reward for your efforts while on the other, doing nothing means you risk seriously hindering your creative progression. In the end, it is up to you to take the steps necessary to break free from the shackles of procrastination, take control of your destiny, and continue on your journey to greatness. The choice is yours.
Written by: Liam Spencer
Wordplay & Flow 