Is It Procrastination or Writer's Block?

Slate has a really interesting article talking about the differences between procrastination and writer's block, as seen through the struggles of Capote and Ellison.

After reading it, I think it's safe for me to say that I've almost never suffered from true writer's block. Certainly, I've reached points where I didn't know exactly what was coming next, but they've never lasted for very long. I think I'm a pretty good brainstormer, and even if I take a few wrong turns, the right path arrives in front of me eventually.

I think my problem lies more on the procrastination side. Some people procrastinate out of laziness. Not me. I put off writing because of fear.

I suffer from a truly paralyzing level of self-doubt and self-loathing I have about my writing. It zaps my inspiration, my confidence. Some days, I feel almost afraid to sit down at my computer, fearing the bad writing that is sure to pour out. A telling quote from the article:

"The procrastinator thinks, 'If I never finish, I can never be judged,' " says Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University.

Now, I'm not sure I have it that bad. I am currently working on revisions for my new YA called SAME DIFFERENCE, and while I am really nervous about how the manuscript will turn out, I am also excited for it to be born to the world! This one is a much more personal story than ALFA was. Maybe that's part of the problem...or the saving grace. Depends on how I look at it, I guess.

What about you? Are you a procrastinator, or just a victim of writer's block?

-=siobhan=-