We’re all tempted by shiny babbles as we aim to put in the hard work of creativity. Some people are more successful at delayed gratification than others. Are they born that way? Or brought up very strictly? Maybe, but we can learn self-control or at least form habits that look like self-control.

I’ve been a whirl of activity lately; unfortunately, very little of it involves writing my work-in-progress. So, here’s some advice to myself.

Self-Control Problem

Otherwise known as goal or priority setting, the first thing to consider is what exactly I need to accomplish and why it’s important. For example, within a few weeks my publisher will send me correction work to do for the upcoming publication of my novel, The Big Cinch. But here’s the truth about a continuing series: New stories need to constantly enter the production pipeline. I’d love to have the draft for my next novel finished before turning my attention to The Big Cinch edits.

Hide Temptations 

However, I’m not making a lot of progress with the draft; something is getting in my way. So the next step is to identify the distractions and temptations. For me, those barriers to writing are browsing social media, reading internet articles, researching background information, and doing administrative-type things. I need to figure out how to make them less prominent on my workspace and in my mind. For example, I can schedule social media and news review sessions (with a start and a STOP time).

Schedule Writing Time and Place

Lately I’ve been writing at all sorts of odd hours of the day, which is good. Being overly precious about the conditions of creativity is not good. But most successful writers make an appointment with themselves each day to show up and write. Or think. Or stare at the screen. The consistency ingrains the pattern.

Visualize Your Reinforcement

Out of sight, out of mind. It might look a little cluttered, but I can put reminders at my desk and other parts of my environment. What reminders? Reminders of my goal. Reminders of my deadlines. Reminders of my progress.  Reminders of self-commitments.

Fake It Till You Make It

One of the best things I’ve done for myself is to self-identify as a writer. It’s hard, but I make a point to tell people I’m a writer. I join groups, go to conferences (in the before-times), take online classes or in-person writing workshops, and communicate on message boards and social media. I just have to be careful not to use these activities to procrastinate from actual creativity. 

Set Up Creativity Triggers

I know I can make better use of habit cues. A routine with sensory elements worked into my writing sessions uses psychology to start the creative flow. For example, I might light a candle, use a favorite essential oil, read a short poem aloud, play my music, eat a chocolate, make some tea, or slip into a special sweater. Anything we can consistently associate with producing art will trigger the creative juices whenever we experience them.

How do you make yourself write and create? Comment by clicking the blog title. A box will open up at the end of the blog.     

If you enjoyed this journal entry, you might like to read Face Your Fears.

I started this blog thread on the gritty details of the writing process over on my Facebook Author page, @kbkathylbrown, but think I might be better served putting it here. If you’re interest in following my writing process in an informal way, you’ll find a few posts on Facebook that might interest you. You can subscribe to the blog from the website landing page (scroll down).