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Shiny-shiny, distraction and procrastination.
- Lilac Mills
- Oct 18
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Distraction and procrastination have been the words of the week, as I've been lured away from what I should be writing by the shiny-shiny allure of a new story that I'm itching to start.
Monday began with breakfast out, a mooch around the shops and a walk by the river. The dog enjoyed the breakfast (of course she shared a bit!) and the river walk, but the shops not so much. I thoroughly enjoyed all three!
The afternoon saw me itching to start work on a second book in my new Lilac Mills series set in Devon. So I did, despite not having finished an Etti Summers novella with a deadline looming.
After eleven thousand words over three days, I gave myself a stern talking to and dived back into Snowed in at the Forever Home on Muddypuddle Lane. Unfortunately, I dived straight back out again, because I got distracted by the following:
A review read of Once We Were Lovers by R J Gould (lovely book, by the way!) which I read in a day, when I should have been working. Seriously, I didn't have to read it all in one go!
The need to complete a New Writer Scheme Read for the RNA. This was important because a writer was awaiting feedback.
Knitting! I've rediscovered the joy of knitting after not doing any for nearly thirty years. I became so distracted that I finished the blanket I'd begun only the week before. This was supposed to have been worked on in the evenings, when I'm too tired to write. Reader, it ate into my afternoons, too. You know when you tell yourself "just one more chapter"? I kept telling myself, just one more row ".
I also made several batches of soup, and brownies - but I've got to eat, right? So that was kind of essential.
An extra long mountain pup walk, which I told myself was a plot walk, but no plotting took place because I was enjoying the view too much.
The above, along with a visit to the garden centre, which resulted in a plant purchase or two (of course it did!) and a subsequent stint in the garden to plant them, was yet another distraction.
This, my lovely, is procrastination at its finest. I knew what I should be doing (ie. finishing the novella), but I wasn't doing it. And when that happens, I need to ask myself why.
The reason became clear when I was waiting to have my flu jab (which I strongly suspect I'd booked as yet another attempt at procrastination!). And the reason for all these delaying tactics was because the story was going in the wrong direction. Once I'd recognised that, I was able to do something about it, and I'm now back on track. So, no more distraction or procrastination for me.
But, oh, look at that cute sweater pattern! Thankfully, I don't have any wool for it, but I do have enough wool to make a hat!
What have you been up to this week?
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About the Author
Lilac Mills writes heartwarming romance inspired by life in the Welsh countryside, her love of simple pleasures, and the beauty of everyday moments. She’s the author of over twenty feel-good novels, and also writes as Liz Davies and Etti Summers. Meet her here.
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