Procrastination in fiction writing can easily be chalked up to lack of inspiration, fizzling creativity, or the common “writer’s block.” Much of that can be corrected by taking a walk, changing scenery, or watching a Woody Allen movie. (Deconstructing Harry has plenty of tips for overcoming writer’s block!)
But why do professionals in all fields put off the very important task of writing, whether it’s a grant proposal, report, white paper, operating procedures, or website content? Here are 4 reasons we avoid writing and why many of us consider writing as troubling as public-speaking.
- Unsure of grammar and writing skills — If you don’t know how to organize your document, it can quickly turn into a rambling mess. This is when many start throwing crumpled pieces of paper toward the wastebasket.
- Fear of rejection — Remember the humiliating comments on college papers? Now, the stakes are higher when you’re writing in an attempt to earn funding, organize a company, or relay results.
- Boredom with the topic — You just spent six agonizing months collecting data and perfecting your report. Now you’re expected to write about it?!? C’mon, man!
- Don’t want to read your own writing in editing phase — Some people think this is as painful as listening to their recorded voices. “Do I really sound like that?”
Professional writing help will help, regardless of your specific reason for avoiding writing. Your world will be a much better place if you don't avoid writing! Identifying a problem is the first step in fixing it, right? So tell us why you keep moving writing that article to the bottom of your list.