Pre-Writing Checklist

Pretend you’re not awake yet.
Try to remember that bitchin’ dream you just had.
Consider grabbing the notebook next to the bed, but that would involve acknowledgement that you are, in fact, awake.
Give up in the face of the alarm clock’s insistence.
Void one’s bladder. After getting up and heading into the bathroom, that is essential.
Feed the cat. That usually shuts it up.
Stare at the laptop balefully.
Check email and facebook and twitter. Sigh with disappointment.
Watch the wife/girlfriend/significant other get ready for work. Not like I can get anything done with all the commotion in here.
Once he or she is gone, close your browser windows. Open scrivener. Open your production spreadsheet.
Put on a kettle for coffee, grind the beans and set up the french press.
Have a banana or a smoothie or some such fodder.
Check email and facebook and twitter. Maybe post something.
Check the clock. 9:38. More auspicious to start at 10. Easier on the records. Set schedules and routine are important.
Kettle is boiling. Set the press. 4 minutes to kill while it steeps. Let’s check our email and facebook.
Coffee’s ready. Pour a cup.
Make a snack so you can sit and write without interruption. Cheese and crackers.
Open pomodoro tracking program. Close browser. Eat crackers.
Coffee is still too hot. Pour some water. Sit down again, open browser, check email and facebook. Like a few posts. Gotta stay social.
Close browser. Time to work.
Computer powered down unexpectedly. Boot up again. Sip coffee. Still too hot.
Wait for computer to load and think about the day’s writing. Try to remember that dream. Ah well.
Open Scrivener and Pomodoro and your spreadsheet. Check facebook and twitter and email.
Plan out the day’s writing in a notebook. Know what you’re going to be writing.
Think of an idea for a blog post about procrastination. Open browser. Write blog post.
Sip coffee.

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