Today we are going to talk about procrastination. That insipid thing that turns a day into a week and a week into a month. Before you know it you have gone months without touching your work. This is very easy to do in a busy, adult life; especially when you are not getting paid to do what you are putting off. I have come to understand why the professor of my National Write a Novel in a Month class continually spoke about making elbow room for your writing. If you do not make yourself sit down, you will never touch your book. When this happens, you start rationalizing why you should not force yourself to sit down. “I’m not getting paid.” “It is not that good anyway.” “I have more important things to do.” All of these allow you to dismiss and put off finishing what you worked so hard to accomplish. After a time, the anxiety and fear kicks in and you try not to think about it. Whether this is fear of success, failure, or the fear of getting the momentum started again, it is paralyzing. The only solution I have found is to create deadlines for yourself. Whether this is getting the next chapter to your trusted readers, adding a certain amount of words by the end of the month, or rereading your work. If your can, find people that will hold you accountable in gently firm ways. Most importantly, remember that your book will not finish itself.