Stephen Fry said something that has always stuck, to the effect that “it’s astonishing how often, when I sit down to do some writing, the urge to go out and buy a lightbulb becomes overwhelming”…
Returned from London last night to find lots of distressing news which I had escaped from for two weeks. I should unpack but saw this piece ,so stopped and sat down and have now relaxed! Now that it’s daybreak here in NYC I am feeling less distressed and you really helped. I hope your mouth heals soon.
Sounds like a perfectly lovely, normal day to me! I tend to think of procrastination as the key to unlocking *block*. In my world: overwhelm = block = procrastination = action. Over the years I’ve learned to roll with it and think of it as my safety net :)
I can meet deadlines no problem, but I need the adrenaline. If you give me a week to do something that only takes a day I will find anything else to do until the adrenaline hits and I have only a day left to do it and then I end up doing it in a half a day.
Must be the human condition.. although some people like to say it’s an ADHD trait 🤷♀️
This made me laugh A LOT, and reminded me of the day a couple of weeks ago, when "Tax Return" headed up my to do list. Boy, did I get a lot of jobs done that day. Even deep cleaned two fridges 😂
More specifically, I am a children's book illustrator. I made a mid-life pivot to be in the position to call myself an "illustrator"! I worked in-house in Publishing as a Designer/Head of Design and eventually I headed up an imprint for four years. But I originally did a BA in Fine Art, Painting, and always thought I would be an artist! Somehow life got in the way, and after becoming a mother, it just didn't feel responsible to leave and pursue my personal ambitions and dreams. But after I hit 40, I realised if I didn't make a move now, when would I? So I handed in my notice, and did an MA in Children's Book Illustration. I am very proud to say I have now illustrated 3 books am working on books 4&5 and have just got my first commission as an author/illustrator! I am earning about 1/3 of my publishing salary, but I am so much happier and more importantly, fulfilled!! Anyway, that's my essay!
Also, on the procrastination, I was talking to my friend about this the other day, who is also an illustrator, and is currently writing a book, and has been procrastinating madly! And we were saying it's because writing and creating is SO HARD! It's the only way to manage that mad energy you get! And as you discovered here, as we always discover as creatives, sometimes procrastinating helps the ideas find YOU!
That's so funny - I know all this because you are one of the newsletters I got completely lost in yesterday. Had no idea you were a subscriber (thank you! hello!). I'm going to message you over the weekend.
A good defence is lists! For household tasks, work, travel, other …… can be tedious for some people, but I thrive on them 🙏 There is something very satisfying about ticking off tasks completed.
( I’d forgotten how agreeable goats can be, remember we had one when I was a child called Mitzi - named after Mitzi Gaynor apparently, who my mother admired - although Mitzi could be a bit mischievous too, and she wasn’t de horned 😳)
Ours aren't dehorned either, I hated the thought of it, but yes, mischievous is one way of putting it. Mitzi is an excellent name for a goat - ours are Francis (after the pope, can't remember why), Panda (black and white), Anthony Joshua (biggest though interestingly not the dominant one), Elmo (cutest) and Sorrel (gentle, dreamy, bucolic).
This is very relatable (if far more glamorous than my own procrastination techniques - goats! flowers! pottery! the joy) and reminds me v much of a bit in Bridget Jones' Diary (the book, not the film) where she spends a day procrastinating in the same way (changes outfit - realises has wrong underwear for that outfit, changes underwear etc etc). Made me laugh but also wince slightly as it was so on the nose.
I've decided that procrastination is actually one of the joys of life, provided you're the sort of person that doesn't feel guilty about it, which I don't. PS did you see my thank you for Elsie dW? It could not have come at a more useful time.
Feeling much better about not finishing the sorting out of things I dragged out of the large cupboard under the eaves a few days ago. Is procrastination linked to daydreaming do you think? I’m quite dedicated to both I believe.
It just seems to make more work! Like the two boxes of Conan the Barbarian comics I promised my sadly departed dad I’d sort out one day - he inherited the job from his brother!
Exactly. You think ‘I’ll just quickly straighten things out’ but it always, always involves SORTING as well. Those C the B comics might be worth something, you know.
So glad to see that I am one of many, including you India, and now do not feel so lonely being an Olympic standard procrastinator. Oddly enough the stuff that needs doing somehow gets done and pottering about is my favourite pastime. I sympathise with all the procrastinators here. Maybe this is just a normal part of the creative process. Let’s go with that anyhow!
Stephen Fry said something that has always stuck, to the effect that “it’s astonishing how often, when I sit down to do some writing, the urge to go out and buy a lightbulb becomes overwhelming”…
Returned from London last night to find lots of distressing news which I had escaped from for two weeks. I should unpack but saw this piece ,so stopped and sat down and have now relaxed! Now that it’s daybreak here in NYC I am feeling less distressed and you really helped. I hope your mouth heals soon.
Sounds like a perfectly lovely, normal day to me! I tend to think of procrastination as the key to unlocking *block*. In my world: overwhelm = block = procrastination = action. Over the years I’ve learned to roll with it and think of it as my safety net :)
Story of my life...
Interesting that none of the comments say 'I don't know how you stand it, I love doing jobs on time'.
I can meet deadlines no problem, but I need the adrenaline. If you give me a week to do something that only takes a day I will find anything else to do until the adrenaline hits and I have only a day left to do it and then I end up doing it in a half a day.
Must be the human condition.. although some people like to say it’s an ADHD trait 🤷♀️
This made me laugh A LOT, and reminded me of the day a couple of weeks ago, when "Tax Return" headed up my to do list. Boy, did I get a lot of jobs done that day. Even deep cleaned two fridges 😂
There's nothing like Tax Return to make me tackle the grimmer jobs with enthusiasm.
In Scotland we call it dithering. I am a champion ditherer, good to meet another one.
Happy Friday all
And to you!
Hi India! I am an illustrator! 👋🏼
More specifically, I am a children's book illustrator. I made a mid-life pivot to be in the position to call myself an "illustrator"! I worked in-house in Publishing as a Designer/Head of Design and eventually I headed up an imprint for four years. But I originally did a BA in Fine Art, Painting, and always thought I would be an artist! Somehow life got in the way, and after becoming a mother, it just didn't feel responsible to leave and pursue my personal ambitions and dreams. But after I hit 40, I realised if I didn't make a move now, when would I? So I handed in my notice, and did an MA in Children's Book Illustration. I am very proud to say I have now illustrated 3 books am working on books 4&5 and have just got my first commission as an author/illustrator! I am earning about 1/3 of my publishing salary, but I am so much happier and more importantly, fulfilled!! Anyway, that's my essay!
Also, on the procrastination, I was talking to my friend about this the other day, who is also an illustrator, and is currently writing a book, and has been procrastinating madly! And we were saying it's because writing and creating is SO HARD! It's the only way to manage that mad energy you get! And as you discovered here, as we always discover as creatives, sometimes procrastinating helps the ideas find YOU!
That's so funny - I know all this because you are one of the newsletters I got completely lost in yesterday. Had no idea you were a subscriber (thank you! hello!). I'm going to message you over the weekend.
Oh haha! That’s so funny, and lovely! 🥰 I’ll look forward to hearing from you xx
A good defence is lists! For household tasks, work, travel, other …… can be tedious for some people, but I thrive on them 🙏 There is something very satisfying about ticking off tasks completed.
( I’d forgotten how agreeable goats can be, remember we had one when I was a child called Mitzi - named after Mitzi Gaynor apparently, who my mother admired - although Mitzi could be a bit mischievous too, and she wasn’t de horned 😳)
Ours aren't dehorned either, I hated the thought of it, but yes, mischievous is one way of putting it. Mitzi is an excellent name for a goat - ours are Francis (after the pope, can't remember why), Panda (black and white), Anthony Joshua (biggest though interestingly not the dominant one), Elmo (cutest) and Sorrel (gentle, dreamy, bucolic).
This is very relatable (if far more glamorous than my own procrastination techniques - goats! flowers! pottery! the joy) and reminds me v much of a bit in Bridget Jones' Diary (the book, not the film) where she spends a day procrastinating in the same way (changes outfit - realises has wrong underwear for that outfit, changes underwear etc etc). Made me laugh but also wince slightly as it was so on the nose.
I've decided that procrastination is actually one of the joys of life, provided you're the sort of person that doesn't feel guilty about it, which I don't. PS did you see my thank you for Elsie dW? It could not have come at a more useful time.
I have now! You're very welcome, I'm glad it was helpful :)
I think the art of successful procrastination involves doing things in RL... pottering is always satisfying whereas scrolling is the opposite!
Feeling much better about not finishing the sorting out of things I dragged out of the large cupboard under the eaves a few days ago. Is procrastination linked to daydreaming do you think? I’m quite dedicated to both I believe.
I think it is, yes. Sympathies re cupboard - I know exactly the feeling. Sorting out cupboards is not at all as fun as it should be.
It just seems to make more work! Like the two boxes of Conan the Barbarian comics I promised my sadly departed dad I’d sort out one day - he inherited the job from his brother!
Exactly. You think ‘I’ll just quickly straighten things out’ but it always, always involves SORTING as well. Those C the B comics might be worth something, you know.
I believe they might be but I’m still avoiding the job by thinking about it!
Sounds like an EXCELLENT day! Though feel strongly that you should add Daily Gogen to your Wordle, Connections section. I think you’d love it!
Thank you - I don't know it and will go and look for it.
Sounds a perfect day, we all need ones like this ♥️
It WAS a really nice day. My problem is I could just live like that all the time.
Brilliant post India - thank you! What did you get for your daughter’s birthday is what I want to know!!!
Thank you! I can't say in case she reads it.
So glad to see that I am one of many, including you India, and now do not feel so lonely being an Olympic standard procrastinator. Oddly enough the stuff that needs doing somehow gets done and pottering about is my favourite pastime. I sympathise with all the procrastinators here. Maybe this is just a normal part of the creative process. Let’s go with that anyhow!
This is the thing. It DOES get done. It just needs to percolate for.... ages.
Percolate, such a good word, so onomatopoeic too. Describes the process perfectly.💕
Isn’t everyone like this?🤔 And just look how much you HAVE achieved
Very true (I don't think everyone is like this. I know really organised people who get pleasure from ticking things off lists).
reading this instead of writing my own book...so nice to know I am not alone
Haha, sympathies.