Delayed Discipline

cj Sez:  I wish I had begged, borrowed, or stolen some of Elmore Leonard’s discipline for writing. The problem is, once I’ve written a story, it’s nigh unto impossible for me to go back and change it. I don't mean edit it; I mean really modify it. And that’s what my finished manuscript needs. I really don’t want to send it out as is. (It’s way too topical. Even though I actually wrote it years ago, it rings true in today’s headlines.)

It used to be that I worked better when I had a short-term deadline. That said, I thought if I gave myself a deadline, told my publisher the date, I’d have the incentive to keep going. Found out that’s not true. I have managed to bury that deadline under weeks of procrastination that I've labeled as “research.” It seems that the more I research, the less creativity I have. I’m getting bogged down in facts, and the story is suffering.

However, I’m not giving up. Last night I made a note or two when I went to bed . . . I get a lot of good ideas just before or after I fall asleep, so I keep a pad and pen on the nightstand for inspirational emergencies. Sundays are for family and etc., and I don't plan to sit in front of the computer for very long right now but tomorrow . . . that’s when I’ll start working hard. Now, I suppose that some of you might say I'm procrastinating again.

Nope, that's where you're wrong. I’m calling it, Delayed Discipline. 

That's all for now, but how about you? When do you get your best ideas? How do you conquer the blank page in front of you?

You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

PS: The artwork is off of a Facebook page. Check out my author page at   https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor