Comments on: 9 Surefire Solutions for Procrastinators

By: David

David — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Hi Christine,

Perfect timing on reading your post as I head into an ultra crazy week. Why is it that when I have weeks like this I can somehow catch myself organizing my sock drawer (which admitedly needs attention – but not now) and putting off the main task at hand.

Thanks for some great suggestions!

By: Christine Kane

Christine Kane — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:08:10 +0000

thanks lisa!

ron – there’s no better writer on this topic than anne lamott. i just adore her humor!

hey mark – i don’t think i’m “dismissing” war of art – i actually read and absorbed the entire book. i’m just hesitant to recommend it to some people – because i’m trying to re-frame this idea of resistance in creativity. and even the suggestion of WAR (though i hear what you’re saying above) creates an image of stress, strain, pain and drama. it’s a huge word for me. and it IS the title of the book. yes, he’s a great writer. and I actually went out and rented baggar vance after i read the book. so, perhaps the issue comes from my own mindset these days. i’m not sure. and yes, bird by bird is one of the best books on writing! happy thanksgiving to you too!

thanks hanna!

By: Hanna

Hanna — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:20:51 +0000

There are a lot of great ideas here for people like us that procrastinate, but about the first one: it’s great advice but I get all my great ideas when I want to fall asleep. Sometimes I ignore them, sometimes I turn on the light to write something down… but so wish I was this productive in the mornings!

By: mark penta

mark penta — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:48:45 +0000

Christine & Caren…

Egad! I roll my eyes and emit a tiny sigh of frustration! :I

Please don’t dismiss ‘War of Art’ because of the title alone! That’s a shame. I think it’s one of the best books about the creative process out there. Just my opinion. (But not really – 106 Amazon customers give it an average 4 star rating!)

May I defend it?

The ‘War’ referred to is the one many people experience daily: the ‘Resistance’ which prevents us from doing our soul’s work.

I found it validating (not tiring) to read how most artists experience Resistance. He offers loads of anecdotes and advice.

Granted, yes, there’s a certain ‘machismo’ inherent in the title. But it illustrates his point and from a marketing perspective it’s bold.

Pressfield also wrote ‘Legend of Baggar Vance’…He’s a sensitive guy. But there’s definitely a no BS quality to War of Art that I find awesome.

I also recommend Annie Lamott’s “Bird by Bird: Some Thoughts on Writing and Life”.

Thanks…and Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Ron Davison

Ron Davison — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:17:54 +0000

Thank you! I needed that about now.
Re: #3, here’s a quote from the wonderful Anne LaMott, “And that’s a start. I used to tell my writing students to start their work anywhere they could, and then to let themselves do it poorly. This is the secret to life, and good writing.”

By: Lisa Natoli

Lisa Natoli — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:42:02 +0000

I am totally in love with this website and blog. It’s my favorite thing in the world! Your writing is such an inspiration. PRACTICAL!! I love the post about language, and deleting certain words out my vocabulary, changing the word “but” to “and”. That’s amazing. I never thought of that! thank you.

By: Christine Kane

Christine Kane — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:42:30 +0000

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! Caren – hmmm, that quote is a little “suffer-y” to me. I used to think that way – and believe that very idea – but now, I’m not so sure. I understand resistance, for sure. But I don’t necessarily believe that our “soul’s evolution” requires that we have to get that bent out of shape! Elaine – grok is from the novel “stranger in a strange land.” – it means to understand or to grasp or to “get.” example: “Oooooooh – I get it now!” (or, “i can grok it now.”) you can look it up on wikepedia.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:24:22 +0000

Could you define Grok for someone who speaketh the Queen’s English my good lady?!! One is not sure of the translation into Dorset.

Great post – really helpful

By: StaciSchoff

StaciSchoff — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:39:26 +0000

Thanks for this great list. I was just thinking about that today — I was remembering Gail Blanke who spoke at BlogHer and she’d said to make sure if you’re committing your time to things, that they are things that are helping you accomplish your end goal. And I was thinking this morning it’s time for me to evaluate all the things I have going on and decide what I need to let go for now, as I’m feeling overwhelmed and therefore nonproductive!

By: Caren

Caren — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:21:15 +0000

On the Amazon page for “The War of Art” (title puts me off, but concept intrigues me!), someone mentioned this quote:

“Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”

Boy – *that’s* something to think about!