According to ChatGPT the five top excuses for not writing are:
Not enough time
Not inspired
Don't know where to start
Thoughts of not being good enough
Writer's block
According to me, my five top excuses for not writing were:
I focused on finishing my book.
I took a vacation.
I had limited time as things kept happening.
I had limited energy because of those pesky events from life.
I had other priorities.
But wait! Let's investigate these a little more before we start throwing around the slur of an "excuse" for not writing.
There's a difference between an excuse and a reason
There is a big difference between an 'excuse' and a 'reason' or contributing factor. I think of an excuse as a lie I tell myself (or others) so that I don't have to face the real reason.
Looking at my list...
Finishing my book was a valid reason for not writing on the next book. Finishing my book meant editing, formatting, editing again, incorporating feedback from beta readers, uploading, reviewing, editing again, uploading again, tweaking, researching categories, determining keywords, and building A+ Content for my Amazon product page.
Taking a vacation doesn’t have to be writing free. I often make my vacations into writing retreats. But a break from writing can be just as energizing and refreshing as anything else you do to support your writing.
Certainly, that generic lumping of events into "life happens" which limited my time could go either way. I'm calling attending a conference and falling ceiling tiles from my less than two-year old new bathroom reasons and not excuses. But planting my garden during my designated writing time — an excuse. The term is “productive procrastination.”
I support that "limited energy" is a reason, but question what I was doing to regain my energy so I could focus on my writing. Hint: a vacation is a fantastic way to regain energy, passion, and motivation to write, as is being creative in other ways. Reading can be re-energizing, but I think reading six books in a fun series, back-to-back, was not the best use of my time and energy.
The term "other priorities" is too general and chock-full of holes and excuses.
Let's look at the five excuses from ChatGPT, maybe some of those excuses fall into my blanket “other priorities.” Maybe they are the same good reasons and excuses for why you aren’t writing.
Not enough time
"Not enough time" is a reality for many people today. You may be pulled in multiple directions. You may be building a business or working long hours. You may have other projects and priorities snatching your time away. Only you can say whether that is a contributing factor or an excuse for not writing. But before you give up your writing because of time constraints…
Determine how much time you really need for writing.
Don’t waste the time you do have – stay focused and limit online distractions.
Intentionally choose your priorities and tasks. Then delegate, diminish, or dump the rest.
Not inspired
This is an excuse. If you want to write, then stop using the excuse that you must be “inspired” in order to write. Make writing a habit. Then if you’re not sure what you want to write, practice writing something, anything.
Developing a writing ritual can push your body and mind into a writing mood without you having to consciously think about it.
Play with writing prompts.
Go to a writing conference and reignite your passion — get inspired around other writers.
Don't know where to start
This is not an excuse. Sometimes you need time to think about your topic or potential topics. This is part of the Creative Process. You need time to think how the parts and pieces come together. Just because no one can see you thinking doesn’t mean you’re not working. You could be that duck floating on the lake, madly paddling underneath where no one can see.
Maybe you’re Mulling things over as Maureen Ryan Griffin taught in The Seven Energies of Writing class I just took.
If you refuse to take steps to get started, you are using it as an excuse (a lie you tell yourself), so here are a few things to try:
Get to know your ideal reader by writing a letter to your ideal reader or a thank you letter as the reader to you, the writer.
Make a list of questions your clients are always asking. Then write the answers.
Ask ChatGPT or your favorite writing app’s AI for the top five issues on your topic, just as I did for the five top excuses for not writing. Of course, I could have used ChatGPT to write the article for me, but developing my thoughts and getting my words down on paper or in bytes is the whole point of writing. Asking ChatGPT inspired my own thoughts and responses, so I was able to start.
…I often left my desk to sit on the dock overlooking the tidal creek behind our house and engage in a stream of reverie about the story. I considered this earnest work. ~ Sue Monk Kidd ~ from The Secret Life of Bees- Reading Group Guide
Thoughts of not being good enough
That hits home for me, because it's not that I haven't been writing in the last six months, but that after having written and edited numerous pieces, I put them in a folder because I’m not sure if the topics are of interest or the pieces good enough to share or a hundred other excuses. That’s not to say the fears, doubts, and uncertainties aren’t real, they’re just not a good reason to stop writing. Here’s how to fight those doubts:
Show up anyway.
For Better or Worse cartoon showing Michael with writer’s block then in the last panel he says “Fortunately, I have the maturity to try again.”
Deal with the lawn furniture in your writing pool.
Join a supportive writing group like the Write Time! We will celebrate you showing up to write.
Six more ways to build your confidence when the biggest writing challenge you face is you.
List your successes.
Use affirmations & quotes.
Read books that support your creativity.
Find more people who support your inner writer.
Prepare a comeback to your inner naysayer.
Create a Confidence Board or Inspiration Wall.
Writer's block
Any of the excuses and reasons above can contribute to writer’s block. Which means all the bulleted actions above could be the right prescription for moving out from under writer’s block. Other things to try:
Take a vacation.
Try something different.
If you write non-fiction, try writing fiction or poetry.
Change your environment — different location or same space with a fresh look.
Switch up your music, beverage, or time of day.
Spend time being creative — whatever it means for you, embrace other forms of creativity. I’m hosting a Creativity Corner for Writers so we can spend some time in creative play with other like-minded souls. Join us!
So… what is getting in the way of your writing? What are you going to do about it?
Resource Roundup to Deal with Excuses for Not Writing
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