A Major Lack of Discipline
I always thought I was a disciplined person until I started writing. I find myself spending much of my time searching for ideas and recording them, but without having any real focus. In the meantime, writing isn’t all there is to living. I’ve discovered that I don’t have a daily routine that works for me as a writer. What makes that even worse is my wife’s physical condition being so bad! I now have most of what were once her responsibilities, plus my own, plus the new venture into putting words on paper. Now, I discover that I’m supposed to blog daily or at least every other day. Of course, since I’m now a #1 bestselling author, I’m supposed to be brilliant on a daily basis too!
How Can I Be Disciplined With So Many Unnecessary Distractions?
The house needs to be clean; somebody needs to cook the meals; the lawn also needs attention. And I still don’t even know how to set up a decent website! Or how to design a web course! Or how to build a mailing list of raving fans who beg for the first glance at my next book. In the meantime, I wrote a book about lasting weight loss, and I’ve gained back five pounds over the winter. I’ve got to get back to the exercise routine again.
A Lack of Discipline Has a High Price Tag. Only Rich Men Can Afford Discipline!
Successful life is about successful habits. I’m quickly discovering that I don’t have enough of those. I’ve got to start from scratch at 67 years old! I’ve designed my book covers, but everyone says not to do that. Somehow, I’ve got to figure out how to afford not doing that! I’ve got to figure out how to afford not having a professional editor who would make more from the book that I do.
Surely I’m Not a Procrastinator! I’m Busy All the Time!
We’ve all seen the vast array of books about procrastination and wondered, “Can that many people be interested in books on this subject?” Probably not! But it is such a big issue for writers that we can’t resist putting down some thoughts about it. Procrastination is simply doing what you want to do and neglecting what you need to do. I need to do a lot of things. I want to write, and those useless things like cooking and cleaning are annoyances. Washing clothes and washing dishes are just as distracting from the real work of an author. I just need more discipline. That way, I can pay attention to my writing and not even think about all these trivial matters.
