Procrastination is good!

February 3, 2009

Haven’t blogged again for a week…

The reason is the edits for It’s My Party have ground to a halt. I need time and space away from it. Yes really, I’m not just procrastinating. Previously when I’ve felt that things are not going well, I’ve pulled a black cloak over my head and convinced myself I’m rubbish at this fiction lark and should despair. (I don’t have those moments over copywriting any more, they happened 20 years ago and now I just do my job and hope to get paid.)

No, instead of wallowing in woe and self-pity, I decided to Write Something Mad. The result is that I have:

* Written a nine-page single spaced proposal for Something Mad which is now waiting for my agent’s er…thoughts when she gets back from a break.

* Written the first two pages of the Mad Something.

* Written two chapters of the book after that which is going to need so much research, it’s not true. But I have also ‘bumped into’ the person I need to interrogate and he has agreed to speak to me. Poor, foolish man. (I ought to add that I don’t yet know, if either of these crazy books will be published yet but hey, I’m on a procrastinatory high right now.)

* Agreed to two interviews for blogs.

At the same time, Nell and I are very excited about the response to our Joint Launch Event at Merry Hill, Waterstones on March 7th 2008. Facebook is proving to be a fabulous way of harassing LBD fans, our writer friends and families into coming to the event.

Now, all I have to do is regain a shred of confidence in It’s My Party and set to work on the edits with renewed enthusiasm. You see I really am only procrastinating…

Please tell me that you procrastinate too… and preferably, that it worked for you.

Comments

1. On February 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
   Debs Says:
   

   Your procrastination sounds most productive. I’m sure you’ll be able to fly with Its My Party again soon.

2. On February 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
   Jen Says:
   

   Hello, just wanted to say thanks for agreeing about my terrible RNA crit. It’s comforting to know I’m not just a lemon-sucking bitter old bag!

   Of course, having discovered your blog makes for another avenue of procrastination. Two birds, one stone… BOOM!

   (Oh dear, I sound a bit mad. I’m not. Really.)

3. On February 4th, 2009 at 5:30 am
   Phillipa Says:
   

   Debs – I hope I can fly again and I hope my procrastinating isn’t just me being a fantasist!

   Jen – I got my first deal after an RNA crit and found it helpful and constructive – I can hardly complian, after what happened to me! 🙂 But I feel your own constructive feedback might be very helpful to the organisers and readers.