#SoCS Oct 10/15 Procrastinating, Choosing, and Listing.

This post was written in response to Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “ing.”  The first word of your post must end in the letters “ing.” Extra points if the final word of the post does too. Enjoy!

On this occasion, I was also prompted by Keith’s post, which gave me the idea of writing about my NaNoWriMo participation. Check out his post  

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PROCRASTINATING. I do it all the time. Excuses, excuses, excuses. I have so much to do, and my time is limited. Although I know I’m not the only one facing this dilemma, it doesn’t lessen the anxiety I often feel when I have to choose what to do and what to postpone.

CHOOSING. Sometimes I wish I had someone to decide for me and tell me what to do next. Someone who’s so wise and supportive that he/she knows the way to go. Is that what religious people feel when they ask their God what to do? Is that what subs feel with their doms? Children with their parents? People who have a personal coach or mentor?

LISTING. I’m afraid I don’t have any of the former, but I do have lists. I’m forever writing to-do lists. I find them very helpful. I write them every day before leaving work, and then put it all out of my mind. The next day, I stare at my list, get on with it, and gleefully strike off everything I manage to do. Before I leave, I repeat the ritual. It usually works out, so I get everything done, more or less…

Then when I get home I look at my other to-do list, my most precious one: My writer to-do list. This one is more complex than my work one, because whereas my work schedule and responsibilities are set by someone else, as an independent writer, I have to make all the decisions myself. What and when to write, what and when to promote, what and when to include in my blog, etc. Often the list includes conflicting things to do, such as: ‘Finish outlining book three’ and ‘Start something new for NoNaWriMo’.

PROCRASTINATING. Back to my first point. Do I want to start another novel because I don’t want to sit down and write book 3? Am I afraid of the daunting task of completing my trilogy? Do I really want to start something new before I finish my current project? Will it help me to completely forget about book three for a month? Will I even have the self-discipline and time to write 50,000 words in one month? So many questions to answer before I write my next writer to-do list!

Should I…

Take part in NaNoWriMo with a new project?

Or

Finish my current project?

I’m confused but tilting the scales towards finishing my current project. What do you suggest?

Thanks for helping and SUGGESTING!

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Did it! Started and finished with an ‘ing’ word!

Read some of the others, or take part yourself, more information here!