Natalie Ann Holborow

Procrastination is a common struggle among writers, so if you’ve had a blank word document open for the last two hours and have achieved nothing but watched 70 consecutive kitten videos and made 6 cups of tea, you’re not alone. 

It’s funny how many “urgent” household tasks can conveniently pop up when you should be working on something crucial (I’m basically describing every “writing morning” I have on a Sunday, trying to finish the last few bits of the book).

Why do we delay the act of writing, and what does it reveal about our mindset and habits? More importantly, how can we learn to overcome procrastination to unleash our full creative potential?

Why do writers procrastinate?

Procrastination doesn’t automatically mean you’re lazy, disorganised or not committed to your writing – usually, it’s an indication of something deeper we need to address. A study by Dr Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation, found that approximately 20% of people admit to being chronic procrastinators. And in the realm of academia, where writing is a constant requirement, this rate can be as high as 70%.

So, what’s behind it? Why is it so hard sometimes to make the ideas happen?

1. Fear of failure (or success)

One of the most pervasive reasons writers procrastinate is the fear of failure or rejection. Ever felt like you’ve got an invisible reader or editor breathing down your neck or sniggering over your shoulder at what you’ve just written? This fear can stop you dead in your tracks, making it easier to avoid writing altogether.

And then there are the rejection emails. “We had a high number of submissions and we regret to inform you…” Sometimes we can take it on the chin, but one rejection too many on a day when we’re feeling particularly fragile can really knock us for six and leave us wondering what the point in all of it is. It doesn’t help when those who are accepted start sharing their successes on social media, making you feel like you’re shrinking in the background as people shower their congratulations on them (this doesn’t make you a bad person, by the way – it makes you human).

Conversely, we can also fear success. Success brings its own pressures and expectations, which can be intimidating. Will you ever improve on what you’ve just written? What will reviewers say? Was that the only piece of work you ever had in you after all? Will it disappoint people who’ve liked your previous work? Going through a slump or feeling anxious after publishing something or doing a reading is pretty normal; we just don’t talk about it much.

I get it after readings and book launches. I could have had the best night of my life engaging with the audience and meeting new people, but the next day I find my mind refusing to let myself be happy about it. It’s almost like it won’t allow me to feel good about what I’ve just done (thank you, anxiety).

2. You’re a perfectionist

The pursuit of perfectionism is another major culprit. You might find yourself delaying the start or completion of a project because you want it to be absolutely perfect and no less will do. It might even stop you from writing your first draft, particularly if it’s a genre or form of writing that you haven’t done in a while.

You might find yourself endlessly comparing yourself to someone else’s finished product, forgetting that behind the scenes, those first drafts were probably pretty messy. While a perfectionist mindset can be great when it comes to editing, it can really stifle you when it comes to the writing and you’ll find that you simply can’t give yourself the space to be playful with ideas and to experiment. It sucks the joy out of writing.

Cue endless revisions and an enduring reluctance to ever consider your work finished.

3. You’re lacking motivation or inspiration

Sometimes, it’s simply that we’re lacking motivation or inspiration. This can stem from so many factors – whether that’s personal issues, burning the candle at both ends or even just a bad day. 

Over time, particularly if you’re stressed and unclear on your direction, that passion that drove you to start writing can wane. If you’re procrastinating, it might be a sign that you need to reconnect with your ‘why’. What made you start writing? How do you feel when you’re in the flow? What does success ultimately look like to you?

When motivation wanes and you’re losing sight of your purpose, procrastination is often the easiest option.

4. You’re overwhelmed by the task at hand

Let’s say that your idea for a six-part epic fantasy series fills you with excitement. You have all the names and the family trees, you know the key scenes and you just know that some of the chapters will be a joy to write.

However, when it comes to sitting down to write, it all feels a bit messy and out-of-control. The task in front of you is just so daunting. Your brain craves clear, actionable steps. If you find yourself procrastinating, take a moment to break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. Productivity tools like Notion, Trello or even just a simple spreadsheet outlining word counts, chapters and events can help you see exactly where you need to be and how to get there.

Take it a chapter at a time, or even 1000 words at a time, rather than a whole 800-page book at a time. You’ll be amazed at how these little, manageable efforts all add up.

How to overcome procrastination as a writer

Understanding why you procrastinate is important, but now you need to find some strategies to help you overcome it. Here are some that I recommend (if you have more, please leave them in the comments – I’d love to hear them!):

• Create a writing schedule – Having a regular writing schedule can help you establish a routine. Whether it’s writing for half an hour before work, scribbling in a cafe at lunchtime or dedicating a Sunday evening to working on your writing, consistency is key. Don’t stress about how much or how little you do. It all adds up. A blank page won’t give you anything.
  
• Eliminate distractions – What’s distracting you? If you’ve got a habit of getting sucked into TikTok, put your phone in a drawer during your writing time or get an app that blocks your communications for a set amount of time – the Freedom app is good for this. If your house is noisy, see if you can have an hour or so to go and write at a library or see if someone will have the kids for an hour if you’re a parent. I’ve started doing chores on a Friday straight after work, which might seem insufferably boring, but it means I don’t have to worry about it all on Saturday morning. This means I can get an early writing session in (plus I can go to the pub on Friday after finishing the hoovering).
  
• Use the Pomodoro technique – You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s super-popular and for good reason. The Pomodoro technique involves working for 25 minutes then taking a 5-minute break. Breaking up your work in this way can make writing a lot less daunting and add structure to your writing process. It’s amazing what you can achieve in a short time if you’re fully focused. Again, there’s an app for this that’s your thing.
  
• Find an accountability writing partner – Finding an accountability partner for writing can be incredibly motivating. Over the years, I’m lucky enough to have made lifelong writing friends whom I can trust to give me honest feedback and I will always do the same. I wrote about this more here. Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely road. Things are far easier when you’ve got people behind you who have your back through all of your writing successes and challenges. When writing The Wrong Side of the Looking Glass with Mari Ellis Dunning, the collaboration not only helped me get valuable feedback and strengthened my work, but it also motivated me to keep progressing through the writing as a team.
  
• Practice self-compassion – Please just be kind to yourself. You’re not lazy or useless for procrastinating and you don’t have to constantly beat yourself up. It’s easier said than done, but try and think about how you’d talk to a friend who had writing ambitions. Would you tell them they’re an idiot, over-ambitious and that they might as well give up? You probably wouldn’t. So stop being an asshole to yourself because you won’t get anything done that way. Trust me.
  
• Embrace imperfection – This is a big one for all you perfectionists out there: just let things be. Accept that the first draft was never meant to be perfect. It doesn’t matter if you write 100 more drafts, just get those first ideas onto the page and it’s a start. Hemingway is believed to have said: “the first draft of anything is shit.” Whether he really said this I don’t know, but the message is still worth keeping in mind. I really recommend reading The Process of Poetry which breaks down the fourth wall and lets you in on the writing process of successful poets, so you can see just how different their first drafts looked to the polished versions you know and love. Learn to play with words again. Let yourself have that creative freedom that makes writing such a joy and worry about the editing later.

A final word on procrastination…

While procrastination is common, it doesn’t have to be a permanent roadblock for you. By understanding why you procrastinate, acknowledging what it reveals about your mindset, and implementing practical strategies, you can overcome it (she says, wondering if the houseplants need watering again). 

Remember, every writer faces challenges, but with the right approach, you can turn procrastination into productivity. And if you really don’t have time to write, that’s what I’m here for – take a look at what I can take off your plate in terms of content, copy and marketing.

Keep writing, keep creating, and most importantly, keep believing in yourself. Writing is meant to be a freedom, not a burden.