The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

Excuses, Excuses

I’m about one-third done with Truly, Madly, Deadly, my book due December first. Well, that’s the date it’s due on my editor’s desk. In reality, it probably needs to be done the second week of November, at the latest, so I can send it to my agent for a look-see.

Yeah, I said one-third.

I know. I know. I’m way behind schedule. In my defense, I thrive on deadlines. I wait, wait, wait until I can’t wait any more, then I write like a demon.

I try not to do this. I honestly do. I’ve tried to break this procrastination habit for years, but it’s ingrained and difficult to overcome. All it takes is one lame excuse and my whole writing day is gone, especially since 99% of my writing is done in the morning. Poof–vanished.

Take this morning for example. I woke at 5:45, got the kids up, ready, and off to school. I knew I had between 8 am and 9:15 open before I had to leave to take my oldest for an eye exam. That’s an hour and fifteen minutes I could have been writing. But…I got to thinking that part of that would be spent checking email. Another part rereading my last chapter to get into my character’s head, and then by the time I actually got into writing, it would be time to quit. So why bother getting started in the first place?

It’s this kind of mentality that gets me into trouble.

Last week, I was dealing with a migraine. Yes, one migraine that lasted for eight days. I didn’t write a single word. Another excuse.

Some mornings my excuses are so pathetic (have to catch the repeat of Top Chef, because I’d missed it the night before; need to play FreeCell until I lose a hand; I have to paint the basement, etc) even I can’t spin them for anything but what they are: procrastination tactics.

But as my deadline looms, I’m finally writing. Pages and pages a day. And it feels good. I just hope I can keep up my momentum and not get distracted by seeing what the ladies on the View are fighting about that day.

What your best excuses for procrastinating? Not that I’m going to borrow them or anything. Oh no, not me…

~heather

28 Responses to “Excuses, Excuses”

Email. It is both a blessing and a vice. And re-doing rooms in my home when I should be writing. Wait. That last one isn’t *me*.

*grin*

by laura on September 28th, 2007 at 5:23 am
Aahh, excusitis strikes again! I suffer from a terminal case of it myself. And I blame it all on the internet.

But at the same time, I can fully relate to the problems with migraine headaches. They run in my family, and I’ve inherited them in spades. Not fun.

Keep plugging away at the writing. I’m eagerly awaiting your next book!

*Hugs*

by Becky on September 28th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Heather, I’m totally with you on the must-catch-up-on
TV shows excuse. (Fell asleep during last
half of Top Chef last week; couldn’t go online except
for email til the rerun, as I didn’t want to find spoilers!)
(Go Casey!) (or, Go Dale! Just not Hung, ugh!)

Next is reading writers’ blogs like this one & perusing
food boards for dinner inspirations! Then, there’s new
magazines & catalogs just itching to be read! And of
course my pile of of TBRs & library books. But, it’s
*reading*, so that’s good, right?!

Love this blog. Good post, Heather!

by Lynn in TX on September 28th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Oops, that’s what I get for copy & pasting; sorry about the mess up there!

BTW, Howdy, Laura! ;o)

by Lynn in TX on September 28th, 2007 at 10:45 am
The Red Sox are about to clinch the division, and Heather blogs about Heather. Typical HSW solipsism.

by Theo Epstein on September 28th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Laura, I don’t know what you’re insinuating.

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Love the “excusitis”, Becky — I have it bad! Is there a cure? Because I need one! I’m sorry about the migraines–I feel your pain! Literally.

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Hi Lynn!

Hung needs to go! Much too smug! I was a huge Tre fan, but of course he was cut. Then I was rooting for CJ. Poor CJ. And now I’m with you–Casey or Dale. Casey annoyed me in the middle of this season, but she’s really come around. I think Dale might not be quite ready to be Top Chef, but I’m glad he’s made it this far!

I get caught up in reading blogs, too! And don’t get me started on all the catalogues!

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Look at Theo using fancy words. And hey, I’m wearing a Red Sox sweatshirt today–that’s got to count for something.

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Heather, this is scary— that’s the *exact* order of my favorites on TC! Maybe we’re twins separated at birth? Or, if we count Theo, triplets?
LOL

by Lynn in TX on September 28th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
The new t.v. season has started and I have to see what is out there for me to watch. Or if you don’t like that excuse then I’ll say that I need to see what happens on the old shows that left cliffhangers last season. LOL…..
Pamela in Kansas

by Pamela on September 28th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Oh, the internet, hands down. It is SO time-consuming. There is SO much to do with running a “writing business” which has absolutely nothing to do with writing. And we can’t ignore it. We’re in business, right? That’s the hardest part about a writing career, trying to balance the time needed for the creative part–writing–and the time needed for the business part, which is all the other stuff.

by Maggie on September 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Yes, I believe in Spider Solitaire as a “writing warm-up.” Problem is, I play until I win and that can take three days!

Good luck with that deadline. LOVE the title!

by JB on September 28th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Lynn, I hosey we don’t count Theo.

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Super Collapse Puzzle gallery on AOL games is my newest vice. Though I’m still ever faithful to Spider Solitaire!

And how could I POSSIBLY get anything done with a 2 year old under foot?

Or when it’s my turn to pick up the 4th graders?

Or when I have to tear out my closet to find the hidden fricket …er…cricket?

Then I have to go through all the clothes I tucked in there and forgot about.

I’m turning into a procrastinating fool.

by debbie on September 28th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Pamela, I know what you mean! TV is a big excuse for me. We all know how I feel about reality TV. I just started watching this season’s America’s Next Top Model and am looking forward to Project Runway and Amazing Race.

There seem to be a lot of quality shows debuting this year. Definitely worth checking out!

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Maggie, I’ve yet to find that balance. I keep trying to remember life without the Internet! What did we do back then???

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
JB, Spider Solitaire is so addictively evil, isn’t it? I gave it up for Lent this past year and never went back. But…I started playing Freecell. I’m a little OCD where computer games are concerned!

I love the title, too! I’m so glad they let me keep it.

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
LOL, Debbie! There’s safety in numbers. And I’d rescue that cricket for you (so you don’t have to kill him!). Just call me the Cricket Whisperer!

by Heather on September 28th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Every night, before crying herself to sleep, Heather raises her arms to the heavens and cries out in dispair, “Why couldn’t be more like Theo?”

by Theo Epstein on September 28th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I hear ya Theo

by Mama-poops on September 28th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Honestly, the best excuse in the world: my dog.

“The dog chewed a hole in the wall.”

“The dog chewed up half of hubby’s ACUs.”

“The dog chewed through the cable cords.”

“The dog ate my socks.”

Use any of them you like, they’re all true, and they’ve worked wonders for me.

by Marissa on September 28th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Ok, Love Top Chef. Don’t know how anyone does any writing without finding out what’s happening there. My DVR copies all of them even the old ones for me so even if I’ve watched it, I have to check it out just to make sure.

Totally agree that Tre should have won, then went with CJ and now, I’m kind of stuck between Dale and Casey. I’d like her to win (has there ever been a female Top Chef?) but she did annoy me early on and I just love Dale to death. But Hung has no heart and last week when he was saying how much he loved food and it was his soul, it was soooo fake.

But my Design Star didn’t win either so I guess I have to get use to disappointments. And Project Runway starts 11/14.

Hummm, I wonder why I don’t have time to write.

Lynn (Not in Texas)

by Lynn on September 29th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Good lord, baby! An eight day migraine? I remember those bad old days. It makes my head hurt just thinking of them. That is a very good excuse in my book.

by Diana on September 29th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Marissa, LOL on the dog excuse. I don’t have a dog — does a hamster count?

by Heather on September 29th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Hi Lynn! I think it *kills* Hung that Casey keeps getting compliments about how she cooks with soul, etc. LOL! I actually didn’t watch much of Design Star this year because I didn’t care for Vern as a judge! He made me miss the robotic guy from last year. Did you watch the next Food Network TV Star? That was pretty good…

Yeah, I watch a lot of TV.

by Heather on September 29th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Diana, I feel for anyone who deals with migraines. I just need to find my triggers. It didn’t help that I’d tried to quit Dr Pepper right around the time it began… Live and learn!

by Heather on September 29th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Yes, I did the next Food Network Star in about two weeks as I missed it until about the end when they did a marathon. Love these shows! It was interesting that the girl who won wouldn’t have even been in the chase had the guy dropped out because he lied about his military career? I was glad the chick from Texas didn’t win, she annoyed me.

I’ve watched more TV this year than when I was in my bad marriage and was avoiding my ex. I guess I should give myself a break due to my health, but I still feel guilty over what I’m watching. And with the new season coming on….

Vern was annoying as a judge, he always made faces when he didn’t like something. But I really thought Todd should have won, he was so different and exciting, but America spoke. And I make fun of people who watch American Idol!

by Lynn on September 30th, 2007 at 2:02 pm

Excuses, Excuses

28 Responses to “Excuses, Excuses”

Leave a Reply