Another Possible Reason for a Writer to Procrastinate so Close to a Deadline

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I’ve learned over the past decade that in my writing process, I have two types of procrastination. One I’ve learned to lean into. The other is still driving me bonkers on a regular basis.

Allow me to explain. 

When I complete a manuscript and am creatively depleted, I’ve learned to accept a certain level of procrastination before I begin a new project. I know that what looks like procrastination is actually how I refuel. (I wrote about this in April here: Inspiration & Encouragement for the Writer Who Has Nothing to Write)

But then there is deadline procrastination. And this one? Y’all. I cannot begin to tell you how much I wish I wasn’t wired this way!

Things I never want to do suddenly become burning desires. Projects I’ve put off tackling for months are now front and center in my mind, and they will not be silenced! 

And the manuscript that should be taking up all of my energy? No desire whatsoever. If I feel anything at all, it’s more of an existential dread. 

This is all fresh in my mind because I just turned in a manuscript. And I met my deadline. 

But in the two weeks prior to submitting the manuscript, I spent an inordinate amount of time on the following crucial activities:

1. My nails. Y’all. I have no idea how many times I’ve painted my nails in the last few weeks. This is not normally a high priority for me. If I have my nails painted, and the polish chips? I just take it off and go about my business. But lately? Total manicure required. 

If you’re thinking this is ridiculous, you’re not wrong. But trust me when I tell you it gets worse. 

2. Carpet cleaning. Did the small amount of carpet we have in our home need to be cleaned? Yes. Did it need to be cleaned two weeks before my deadline? No. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t schedule it. Which led to…

3. Complete bonus room reorganization. My office is off of our bonus room, so I could be forgiven for wanting it to be tidy. But was it necessary to remove every item for the carpet cleaning and then use this opportunity to rework the whole room? It needed to be done. But two weeks before a deadline? 

And once we started moving everything around, we realized there was an ancient cabinet that needed to go, so of course I needed a replacement which led to the …

4. Purchase and assembly of a new cabinet. I enjoy assembling things. Following the directions and watching it come together makes my heart happy. Which is why, despite my husband’s willingness to assist in this matter, because, again, I WAS ON A DEADLINE, I felt compelled to handle it all.by.myself. Which I did. 

At this point, I was also nearing a mental breakdown because, oh, yeah, the deadline! So I worked hard for several days, wrote a bunch of words, and I was feeling pretty good about how focused I was, until I needed a birthday gift and spent more time than I’m willing to confess trying to figure out how to…

5. Make an origami baseball bat out of a dollar bill. I was unsuccessful.

What is wrong with me? How hard is it to just put my butt in the chair and write the words? 

Well…for me? Pretty hard. 

Also…for me? Part of the process.

Now, hear me out. 

Do I like this aspect of my writing process? No.

Is this new? No.

Do I do this every single time? Sadly, yes.

When I started sending panicked text messages to my writer friends, they universally responded with, “Yeah, this isn’t our first rodeo with you. We know how this goes. You panic. Then you go off and write a gazillion words. And then you can’t land the plane (find the ending) and then you do. We aren’t worried. We love you even though you’re being dramatic, and we’re praying for you.” 

I wish they were wrong. They weren’t.

Because see, during all that procrastinating, I was actually doing the hardest part of writing. While painting my nails, my brain was busy plotting. While building the cabinet, my mind was in Gossamer Falls trying to figure out how to kidnap someone who was well-protected. While watching origami videos…okay, I know this will be hard to believe, but I had a little flash of, “Oh, that’s what she needs to get out of this” based on a super random comment in a video. 

And when I did put my rear in the chair, the words that fell into place came from the thinking I did while procrastinating. 

So, is it really procrastinating? Or is it actually working on the book in a different way? Would I be less stressed if I accepted the way I get to the end of the book in the same way I’ve accepted the way I start my books? I’m not there yet, but maybe someday I will be. 

I do know that I’ve begged God to change this for me. I’ve asked for the motivation, discipline, creativity, and endurance to kick in earlier.

And while God continues to say yes to the creativity, motivation, and endurance, it is always in His own time. Not gonna lie … On this last manuscript, I pointed out that I thought He was cutting it a little close. 

But the fact remains that I come to the end of every project fully reliant on Him, knowing that I didn’t do the work on my own, and that I’m incapable of writing anything without Him. 

And that isn’t something I ever want to change.

Grace and peace,

Lynn

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Another Possible Reason for a Writer to Procrastinate so Close to a Deadline from @LynnHBlackburn on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she's sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas! 

Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series, was a 2021 Christy Award finalist and her previous titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Malicious Intent, the second book in the series, released March 2022.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LYNNHBLACKBURN.COMand @LynnHBlackburn on BOOKBUB, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM.