Procrastinate Later

It’s 2024 and I’ve dispensed with “resolutions.” I do however, intend to be more vigilant (even a little would be a lot) in my writing projects.

Resolutions make little sense to me because they imply setting a date, like New Year’s Day.

If you plan to START doing something you should have already been doing, why set a date? If you plan to STOP doing something you shouldn’t be doing, why set a date?

If you’re setting a date to start or stop something than betters yourself, you probably aren’t serious and you will likely resume the bad habits in short order. Who says, “Starting next month I’m gonna stop lying?” Do it NOW!

I love writing. It became a passion of mine about 10 years ago. It all started with poetry and then two years ago morphed into writing novels.

I’m a Christian author and started two books at once. One is a Historical Christian Fiction, the other is expository in nature, meaning it’s explaining scripture.

This works because they’re both completely different genres, so if I have writers block with one, I can write content in the other (or write poetry). Even with poetry I’m constantly trying new types of poems just to expand my depth.

It all sounds great, right? Well, something happened along the way. In English it’s translated as, let’s see, what the word?

“LAZY.”

I know that a novel is around 60 to 70 thousand words and I got off to a GREAT start…with BOTH books. I’m at just over 30 thousand words in each.

However, it’s easy to vomit out all the original ideas you have and constructing a compelling storyline, but then AFTER that I found that I still needed about 30 thousand MORE words to complete it.

The trick now is to CONNECT the storylines while somehow keeping it compelling. I DON’T want to start adding filler just to achieve a word count. I started the process of connecting the storylines but then I got lazy. I found myself procrastinating time and time again. As a matter of fact, if I can figure out a way, I would even try “putting off” procrastinating.

So I’ve now set a goal. I’m going to try to complete most (or all) of both books by the end of this Summer. Is it doable? Well considering how quickly I was able to do what I did in the beginning, I believe so.

My plan is to set aside a minimal amount of time each week just to write. Discipline!

Also, in full disclosure, I’ve realized that although I comment on other people’s work, I clearly don’t do it enough. The reason being is I never want to bash someone’s creativity if it doesn’t resonate with me. I know constructive criticism is vital but it is often times just mean. It’s why I’ve declined being a poetry judge when offered the opportunity.

Joining Vocal Media had turned out to be a Godsend as well. I don’t honestly recall how I stumbled on to the site but it’s a place where I can publish poems AND stories.

Having spent most of my life in competitive situations, I also love the challenge of the Vocal challenges. And because of their necessary deadlines it forces me to get “after it.”

Each time I enter a challenge I tend to write my own entry BEFORE allowing myself to read other entries as I don’t want to feel influenced by someone else’s idea.

But I do love reading how many gifted writers construct their stories, especially those that have “placed” in contests. I’ve never had any formal trading with writing so it’s a terrific learning experience.

I’ve now placed a couple of times myself and I’m certain it’s from studying what others have achieved and how they go about constructing their stories.

Another thing I’ve learned? After I complete these two novel sized books, my plan is to migrate to SHORT stories. For example, I never considered all the work involved in writing a novel length Historical Christian Fiction. The “fiction” part is quite simple, even fun, but the historical component, I can’t believe the RESEARCH. What did they wear, what did they eat? How did they travel?

Case in point. In writing the backstory of my protagonist, a mischievous sort, I told of how he and his little brother would walk to Jerusalem once or twice a week from their home in Jericho looking for trouble (translated, “Fun”).

At some point it occurred to me that I never considered how far they may be walking, after all, they’re just boys. So I looked it up. Holy CRAP! Had I not “moved” them to a closer town to Jerusalem, they’d STILL be walking. I immediately recognized that these boys had to hail from a MUCH closer town.

All of this has helped me to conclude that I believe short stories would be better suited for me in future. I have several storylines in my head to that after getting the major points “on paper,” it shouldn’t be such a task to complete them.

Apparently I still have that streak of laziness.

* Procrastinate Later *

Of all the things I plan to do

There’s some I really hate

I’m not afraid to share with you

That I procrastinate

I’ll say “I will,” but then I don’t

Ambition’s fled again

I’ll say “I may,” but know I won’t

It’s why I don’t say when

This little flaw, although it’s dumb

It truly is a jinx

Each time I think I’ve overcome

Procrastination winks

This poem I started long ago

But that’s how lazy works

I’ll force it here because I know

My laziness still lurks 

This “follow-thru” thing is a blast

Please, someone tip this “waiter”

I finished up this poem at last

And didn’t wait ‘til later