The Insecure writers support group post...2nd June 2021

 June 2 question - For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?

For me the answer to this question is about a month, I leave it alone, and work on something else, luckily for me I've plenty to choose from, redrafting is something that can be done several times, according to a lot of other writers, the whole idea is that once you have the first draft, or VOMIT draft done, the rest of the work, which isn't easy at all, is redrafting, and can take several months at a time. 

I base this off what I've read online, in writing books and in the magazines that I read, all have said that between drafts you need to take a week to a month away from it, so that you can come back to it with fresh eyes. 

Procrastination is something that we all suffer from, no matter how good you are as a writer. The biggest cause of this is not "I don't want to do it " or "I'm in writers block mode' but in my experience, everyday life. 

Family demand so much time from us, partners, and going doing normal everyday stuff, such as women writers who have little ones, or even just partners, more oft than not will spend a great deal of time cleaning and looking after them, cooking for them and just being 'there'. Some men do experience this as well, but in my own personal experience and from the women that I know who write, it is more likely a female writers issue than a male writers issue. 

Work is another time sapper, as in any job outside of our writing that is paid, this one tends to hit both male and female. Our work life saps a lot of our time as well, especially during covid when we were expected to work from our homes. Work has overflowed into our personal time, and it is when that happens that we need to sign off and try to relax (if we can) then do the fun stuff (if we have time).

Also, now that things seem to be opening up and we are all getting the vaccine, life outside, family, friends whom we've not seen or been around since last year are coming out of their protective mode, yes we still wear the masks, yes we still keep the distance, but we are getting to meet up with them, they are getting to come and visit and who the heck wants to say "I'm sorry, I can't see you today because I'm writing." 

Personally I am a big advocator for insisting on time to ourselves to write, and one of the biggest procrastinators of doing that. I find that because my beautiful wife T is at home for the summer, and the house needs cleaning, and we have some vaccinated friends coming to visit, as we've vaccinated, then there is the trips out, beaches (can't wait), favorite craft and bookshops (end of month as needs moula). 

I know that I need to prioritize, but I also know that I can sit and edit (ish) in the living room with the wife beside me while the TV is on, it might not be the best, but it gets done, the beta readers I hope will catch some stuff, after I've typed it all up and ran the free online checkers.

um...I apologize for going off on one, so, how do you actually deal with procrastination???