It’s been one of those days where I have, so far, spent over two hours doing nothing of any substance. It’s been all bits and bats and mostly consisted of emails, lists and blurred photos. It’s not productive, but it’s easy, and I have a habit of doing easy things rather than the ones I should be doing.
August is a light month for submissions, with just one that actually needs doing. I also have four which can be left until the early weeks of September, but I have put them on the August list. This still leaves me with five compared to the seven I did last month. September is even worse – assuming that I do five in August I still have nine planned for September.
So far I have never broken into a sweat writing a poem, or found one I’ve struggled to lift. I haven’t even bled over one, despite the amount of paper I have handled. (However, I think I just found an idea for one . . .) so why does it seem so much of an effort? Not only that, but why is it so difficult to write until, you get close to the deadline? I know there will be people out there that don’t have this problem, but I’m one of those that needs the pressure of a deadline to make me work.
I can produce enough quality pieces to keep at least some of the editors happy. However, even to get to 100 submissions I need to do two a week. I’m currently on 59 for the rolling 12 month average. It doesn’t take a maths genius to work out that is about half of what I need to do. So do I go for 75 next year, which doesn’t seem very ambitious, or do I go for 85 (better) or just go all out for 100? It won’t be the 100 rejections this article talks about but even 100 submissions is going to take a lot of work. However, I expect you’ve already guesse what I’m setting as a target from the title. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do . . .
PS, when I said I’d spent 2 hours doing nothing much, it was just after 11am – I’ve spent another seven hours doing errands and other useless stuff since then. If they ever make procrastination an Olympic Sport I reckon I’m in with a chance. If Break Dancing (now known as “Breaking” can make it to the Olympics I don’t see why procrastination can’t.
Your subconscious was no doubt working on all the hidden poems you will one day write. So, it is unlikely any time was wasted.
You place a lot of faith in me. Have you considered I might just be a time-wasting loafer? 🙂
I have noticed for myself that the subconscious does a lot of work behind the scenes. So, where I can, I let it do the hard work 😊
🙂 I have been thinking about this and am just going to sit in front of the Tv with a cup of tea while my subconscious sorts things out for me. 🙂
That also sounds an excellent plan 😊
🙂
Deadlines can be very useful, but I am one of those who hates to work under the gun, as the saying goes.
Not to mention looking up my grandfather’s court appearances 🙂
You may need to clarify that for people who are now thinking he was an habitual criminal . . .
Ah. No offences were committed. He remained an honourable man 🙂
🙂 As you would expect from a Victorian schoolmaster!
🙂
Hmmmm efficient….effective…..hmmmm
🙂 Am I the one worried about the cleanliness of my bath tub?
😉😂
Deadlines are the only thing that can get me writing so I sympathise with you. I wonder if there is a synchronised procrastination event. I could be just the man to team up with you.
I think it is now called “Artistic” Procrastination, but yes, I would be proud to waste time alongside a master of the form. I feel our years of practice would be a distinct advantage.
I will practise procrastinating with my legs above my head.
Yes, it will be quite a change . . .