I found a new pair of pants and I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks now. The Procrasti-Pants. Yes, I’ve been procrastinating and am getting so frustrated, I could just scream. Actually, my Cranky Pants are wanting to be worn over the Procrasti-Pants, but I am really trying to keep them stuffed in the closet.

I took the month of August off due to massive work hours and moving into a new home. Now that I am settled and ready to jump into a new story, I am doing everything in my power to avoid it.

Whyyyyyy?????????????

Really. Why? Why? Why?

Well, I have a feeling I have found the problem. A sweet friend of mine gave me Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont, and I am loving it. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Perfectionism. Listen to what Lamont says about it:

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a sh**** first draft…..Perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness and playfulness and life force. Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up.

I think the problem is that I don’t want to write a messy book. My first one didn’t have much of a detailed plot and there are some major issues with it–so much that I can’t bring myself to finish editing it. It is too much work, according to my perfectist’s mind. (Don’t worry…I will edit it one day soon, but I want to start something new first.)

I want this next book to be less work in the editing phase, so I want to really get it plotted out and know where the story is going. But I think this may be my problem. I am not allowing myself to write a bunch of drivel, but  sometimes drivel is needed to find the gem. Sometimes the great story is in the midst of the pile of mess that you have created.

I’m thinking I need to have a basic plot, know the 3 acts, the disasters and black moment, and just let loose. Maybe that will get me going.

I’m still finding it difficult to find “My Writing Time”. It’s time to try some different times and what really works for me. Is early better? 4:30am is really early, but maybe that is best for me. Or maybe 9-10 pm. Could that be the sacred hour? I don’t know…we shall see.

So what kind of pants are you wearing these days? Happy Pants? Productive Pants? Cranky Pants? Or the dreaded Procrasti-Pants?

P.S.  By the way, I posted about my Three Country Dream Vacation at The Writer’s Alley today…complete with pictures!