Stop Procrastinating:

Sometimes, when you sit down to write you can feel like you don't have anything to say, or you can't think of anything that would be worth reading. So, you procrastinate instead and fill your time with other things. A lot of people who are writers do this, and while it's normal, if you don't try to at least write something and stop procrastinating, you aren't going to have any work to show.

Sometimes it can take a bit of time to get your writing flow going, but if you stop stalling and put in the time to do it, you will soon have so much to say that your thoughts will come to you faster that you can type (or write, if you prefer the traditional method.) Here are seven tips to help you to stop procrastinating and get writing.

1. Get your research done first - There are a lot of people that try to just start writing without some basic knowledge of their topic. While there are some exceptions to this, most writing, regardless of genre, requires at least a little research. Whether that be about the town/city/country, the culture of said place, details that you may not know, or even the topic itself. Without research, it will be almost impossible to have an outline that is true to what you are writing about.

2. Write your first draft; done, not perfect - This is great advice, and something to keep in mind when writing your first draft. Moving through the piece of writing and just focusing on completing it is imperative to the overall structure of your finished project. The main idea is to just get it written down first and then go back and fix it later.

3. Stop aiming for perfect - While it is normal to want your piece of writing to be perfect, it is not realistic to aim for perfect. You can go back and fix mistakes, but keep in mind that you will never be 100% satisfied with your writing. This is a reality that all writers have to face eventually and once you accept this, your writing will improve without you even realizing it. Because nothing is ever perfect, and that's okay.

4. Discipline yourself and get focused - When writing, it is important to be focused on what you are writing. Having a specific topic so that your thoughts aren't all over the place gives your writing more purpose and structure. Once focused, if you have a routine in your schedule to write, this will help you become more self-disciplined. Have a space for your writing and a certain time that you do your work helps to keep you focused and makes it easier to get it done.

5. Stop obsessing about little details - This can be a small distraction, but a distraction, nonetheless. When writing don't obsess over the font, size, format, layout, etc. To make it easier, you can write down these details to use routinely every time you write, so there is more time to write and you aren't wasting it trying to get the setup of it just right. If you have a plan for your layout, it eliminates the distraction and gets rid of the procrastination in your writing.

6. Remind yourself why you're writing - Know your why. Because when you know your reason for wanting to write, you will be happier and more focused. A lot of writers procrastinate when trying to figure this out and while it's okay to take the time to decide your why, don't let it take up so much time that you aren't writing.

7. Make writing a refuge or solace - This can be therapeutic for yourself because if you think of your writing as a way to escape and get your thoughts down on paper, it can be your refuge. It can also be the reason you write. Writing in any form can be a solace and even help clear your mind of things that you maybe didn't even know you were holding onto.

There are a lot of ways to eliminate procrastination, and this is a short list of suggestions of what can be done to do just that. It can be difficult to become more self-aware and focused with your writing, but once you are able to do so, it can be so freeing to see your creations come to life. All you need is a little determination and a lot of imagination.