Writing Excuses!

It's unbelievably easy to come up with excuses to procrastinate from just about anything.

Don't wanna attend that party because you'd rather cuddle up with a book? "Sorry this is last minute, but I'm not feeling great. Don't have too much fun without me!"

Late for work? "Sorry, the trains were running late today. Lots of, uh, big rats on the tracks."

Need to break up with someone who likes you more than you like them? "It was really nice meeting you, but I don't think I can keep seeing you with all the work I have piling up. We can still be friends!"

(I realize these are mostly non-COVID activities, but bear with me, okay?)

Even our deepest passions are no exception to this rule. Writing has long been my passion, but it can be hard to butt-in-chair write for even an hour sometimes. My excuses over the years have been many and varied, the most common one being a lie we've all told ourselves: "I'll do it tomorrow."

Yes indeed, those four words alone have pushed back many a project, and prevented stories from turning out the way I wanted them to—or turning out at all, for that matter. It makes days when I get lots of writing done feel *chef's kiss* satisfying, but shouldn't writing always feel satisfying for a writer? Well, not exactly; we all have our good days and bad days. Still, consistency is a writer's best friend, because—get this!—the best way to improve is to keep going. It doesn't matter if you're a writer or an artist or a professional hedge clipper (do those guys have a name?) or whatever. Natural talent is a discussion for another day, but to use the oldest cliché in the book (not my book, since I've been so busy procrastinating), practice really does make perfect. Or, rather, it can make perfect if you keep on practicing.

But all this... this stuff. It's so much easier said than done it's not even funny. It's also easy to compare your progress to that of others, feel bad for yourself, and end up not doing anything about it. That's the worst thing that could possibly happen, because it's an unending downward spiral. What can we do about it then?

If you think I'm here to tell you I have all the answers, then you've come to the wrong blog, kid. I'm just here to tell you that I recently found a wonderful resource for writers like me who could use a boot in the ass once in a while: Writing Excuses, a podcast run by writers, for writers.

I've only started tuning in just recently, but I can already tell these guys have it going. And I'd be remiss not to mention that they're not just "these guys": they're well-known authors—including Brandon Sanderson, my favorite author ever! They know what they're talking about, and they know what writers like me are going through. Their approach is informative, entertaining, and—best of all—free. (If only my English degree from Fordham University was as free or as useful. Ha!)

I won't say too much else about it since it'd be better for writers to check it out themselves, but I will say it's been extremely effective in getting me motivated and focused, which is all I really wanted. Everything else is a welcome bonus, of course, but it feels good to be back on track writing-wise.

On an unrelated note, I don't know how many people actually read this blog, but I apologize that my posting schedule has been so erratically spaced out. From now on, I'll do my best to post once every two weeks or so. No excuses! Unless I forget. Or I'm asleep. Or I can't think of anything. Or I don't wanna. Or—

Just kidding. See you in two weeks, Dear Reader!