My Writing Process

Sometimes my most apt descriptions come out in AIM/gmail chat conversations. I was just debriefing on my writing process (for academic writing). It's like an emotional arc, which I can break down into stages below (not unlike the 5 stages of grief). I managed to fully distract myself from my impending writing deadline all weekend. That wasn't hard; almost every minute was scheduled and, for the moments that weren't, I went shopping. Cliche but true. As for Monday, I cleaned--my whole apartment. Every dish is clean, every bit of laundry done, the floor swept and vigorously mopped. I also hung some stuff on the walls, reorganized all of my paperwork, and managed to chat on AIM and download music from Lime Wire pretty much all day. I thought I'd start blogging as a part of pulling myself from stage three fully into stage four below.


The 5 stages of MY writing process:
1) Distract self socially.
(Shop if friends figure out that I'm procrastinating and lovingly refuse to hang out with me. The sales guy is friendly and doesn't know/doesn't care.)
(2) Clean. In a rage. Anything and everything that can be washed, scrubbed, sorted, filed, rearranged, etc. Also, pluck eyebrows, clip fingernails and toenails, wax, whatever. Purification ritual?
(3) Rabid Procrastination & Self-Loathing. In short: Throw internal temper tantrums, which can be visually conjured up. Usually results in "I want my mommy feelings."
(4) Overcome Maudlin, Begin Writing. Inner adult quells temper tantrums of whiney, annoying inner child. Inner child acquiesces because she too is tired of hearing herself bemoan the unavoidable.
(5) Runner's High. Once I actually start, I'm good. Unorganized in my thinking. Disastrously rambling, but still fingers moving, progress being made.