I figured we're all getting ready to start actually writing things down for this assignment. But, if you're anything like me, you have a hard time getting started. I consider myself to be a procrastinator. It's not because I don't enjoy writing once I get started. It's more that I'm too afraid to stop myself once I start.
I'm the kind of writer that goes start to finish without much stopping. Rarely will I start a paper, write a few pages, take a break for an hour, come back and write another page, leave the rest of it for later. I just can't do that. If I do, I completely lose track of what I'm doing and I can't get back into a rhythm. I actually wrote my 25 page senior history project in about 8 hours. Non-stop. Taking breaks just long enough to use the bathroom.
Some people think that's just plain crazy. But it's the only way I know how to write. I guess that's what's bugging me about this project (the writing part). I'm having to constantly remind myself that I'm doing something different. This multi-genre thing is nothing like something I've written before. It's essentially a lot of short papers centered around a similar topic. I have to remind myself that I don't have to do this all in one shot. If I did, I would probably do a disservice to this kind of assignment. I want it to have a feeling to it, and if I write the way I normally do, the sentiment probably won't show up.
So what I have to do is just not be afraid of failing at this and just have fun writing.
Here are some things I do instead of write. Some are helpful and others are just laziness
Helpful
1. Minesweeper. Seriously. It gets your mind completely off focus which is a lot of times what I need to regain the focus.
2. Shower. I've come up with my best ideas while in the shower. So if I'm stuck at all, that's where I go.
3. Exercise. Again, it's the complete lack of focus on writing. I think that if we're too preoccupied with the outcome, the writing cannot live on its own.
Laziness
1. Sleep. My worst enemy when I have to write. I wind up saying, "Eh. I'll just do this later." I DON'T lose the focus, am preoccupied with worry, and feel like I'm copping out. I don't do this as much anymore.
2. TV. Enough said.
3. The Internet. I'm actually kind of glad I don't have access to the Internet at my house anymore. It's pretty much the world's biggest time suck.
I'm sure there are other things and I know there are things that other people do to avoid writing. And it's fascinating, because like I said, I ENJOY writing. So why do I put it off?
It's a life mystery.
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"I'm having to constantly remind myself that I'm doing something different. This multi-genre thing is nothing like something I've written before. It's essentially a lot of short papers centered around a similar topic. I have to remind myself that I don't have to do this all in one shot. If I did, I would probably do a disservice to this kind of assignment. I want it to have a feeling to it, and if I write the way I normally do, the sentiment probably won't show up."
ReplyDeleteI find this really interesting, Alex. Were you worried more about doing a disservice to the type of writing, or to the contents within the writing? I'm wondering if you were doing something that isn't so personal if the style wouldn't have mattered as much?
Either way, you did a successful project and sounds to me like you stretched yourself with your writing in a way you weren't able to doing more "traditional" historical writing.
I'd love to hear more of your comments about whether the contents made a difference and how this relates to your usual historical writing process if you have time.