Gatchamania.net - Print: I keep sabotaging myself!

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Posted by ElectricWhite on 20-11-2014 at 00:05:

I keep sabotaging myself!

I've been having a problem each time I sit down (in a manner of speaking! Disabled ) to work on my contribution for the gift exchange. I find all sorts of excuses, distractions, etc., that keep me from making any progress.

I DON'T WANT TO END UP ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING UNTIL 11:00 pm ON DECEMBER 18!!!!

But I keep frittering away time and energy avoiding what I should be working on.

Grrrr. Grrr1

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Posted by amethyst on 20-11-2014 at 02:42:

I can give extra time if needed, but that may not help you with this problem.

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Posted by Springie on 20-11-2014 at 02:45:

Ugh...wish I could help, but since I'm in the exchange...it could be my request! Good luck with your muse!

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Posted by ChrisW on 20-11-2014 at 05:43:

I think we've all been there. Sometimes I make myself a task list (including things that have to get done and things that I want to do) and cycle through it until I get stuck on each. It forces me to face each task for at least a while each time I come to it. Another tactic could be to set a timer and make yourself work on it for, say, at least 10 or 15 mins at a time. Even if you don't make progress on "paper," you'll have thought about it, which can make a difference over time.

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Posted by rachel on 20-11-2014 at 13:12:

Good Luck EW. thumbsup2

I'm breathing a sigh of relief looking at you.
I'm not participating the gift exchanges, it was a wise decision.
(Rachel is biting her nails)

Posted by Kritter on 20-11-2014 at 16:33:

This might be totally off base but maybe subconsciously you aren't buying into your original idea for the project.

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Posted by mylari on 20-11-2014 at 23:47:

EW is it that you are having problems working with the prompt(s) you were provided or something more general? Maybe try coming at it from a different direction? Offer yourself a bribe if you make any progress at all?

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Posted by ElectricWhite on 21-11-2014 at 00:53:

I think part of the problem is that there's an aspect of the story I'm not comfortable with -- it's not in the prompt. But, if I take out this part, there's no story. Also, I'm not one to run away from something simply because I'm uncomfortable. A couple of my pieces at gatchfanfic fall into this category. But I wasn't working on a deadline with those pieces -- I could set them aside and muddle through them later, and a little at a time.

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тАЬThere are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

Posted by amethyst on 21-11-2014 at 01:04:

Can you sketch around the uncomfortable element and then go back to flush it out and fill it in and then revise the rest as necessary? If you can it might make that part easier to deal with and at least keep you writing.

If you need more specific help, PM or email me, you can bounce ideas off of me which could help, too.

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Posted by Becky Rock on 21-11-2014 at 01:52:

I've been having a bit of a time as well. I've been trying to force myself to write at least 200 words a day, even if it doesn't seem to work in. I figure I'll edit and try to weave everything together.

It's more I'm finding I don't like having a deadline, since this is my first gift exchange.

EW, we can egg each other on!

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Posted by Daniella T on 21-11-2014 at 19:03:

You guys are so good -- I haven't even started yet!
Waiting to finish NaNo first...

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Posted by ChrisW on 22-11-2014 at 01:27:

I started pretty early but I've stalled (with just about everything). As far as I'm concerned at this point writing a few words is progress! I agree that sometimes when I get stuck it's because I've chosen a direction/angle that just isn't working. My subconscious figures it out before I do!

If part of it's that you're not comfortable with part of the story, maybe that's not the part that isn't working for you, believe it or not. Maybe there's some aspect of your approach to it or something else entirely that's constipating your muse. Free-writing is definitely one good way to try and push through. That's kind of what I'm trying to do. Just get anything down and fix it later!

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