What writer isn’t a total expert in displacement activity?  We’ve all been there (hence the delay since my last blog) and you can be really creative in avoidance techniques. What’s your favourite?

I remember an established writer saying to me ‘Just watch out for the teaspoons. You’ll find they need bleaching’

At the time I did a double take and just let it go. But over the years have noticed that when I have a deadline or need to write then I find that my home needs tidying, the cats litter box needs a deep clean, the roses need deadheading. Everything around me is perfectly in order except me and my writing. How can this be? Oh it’s time for lunch, and maybe a walk to clear my head afterwards. That gives me a straight run to work until this evening. Stretch……….so how did I come to find myself asleep on the sofa with my cats draped over me? Ok that was thinking time. Let’s crack on now.

You know that procrastination is a stuck state? Its perfectionism gone wrong. You’re so worried about not being good enough that you stifle your creative output before it breathes life.

“I remember reading somewhere about an organization called Procrastinators Anonymous. I think they had been in existence for some years but had never gotten around to having a meeting.” 

“It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the master work. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.” – Paulo Coelho

 Did you see what just I did there? Yes! Spent ages searching for suitable quotes and frittered away more time!

Become a time lord!

If you sit down and just write for a set time – maybe 15 minutes – you CAN find that time – you’ll have kicks started your creative mind. Don’t judge what you’ve written just keep going. The time for editing is later. That critical voice can just shut the f*** up! You spend more than 15 minutes checking emails social media and so on. This is the beginning of a positive habit!

Now as for me, I have a date with some teaspoons and a bottle of bleach…

Lucy writes about injustice and quite often revenge. Having worked in the criminal justice system as a criminologist she feels that very often the victims are forgotten.

Her writing gives a voice to those who often say ‘it isn’t fair’ and who don’t get heard.
Lucy’s second book The Sun God’s Daughter will be taking that to a new level.

She lives in Brighton and Hove which she claims is a never ending source of material and characters.