Phillip W. Simpson | The Art of Procrastination

Writing a novel is a tiring, exhilarating, soul-destroying, emotional roller coaster ride.

In order to deal with it, an author uses a variety of strategies. Foremost amongst them is procrastination.

Procrastination takes many forms. Before I start a day’s writing, I check a variety of on-line distractions. First, I check my bank balance in the forlorn hope that some mysterious benefactor has deposited a large amount of money. Sometimes I hope that one of my royalty checks will be large enough to write full-time. I’m still holding out for that day.

Then, I closely examine my emails. In particular, I’m usually looking for something from my agent that is linked to the paragraph above.

Next, I check Facebook. This can take some time. I closely examine my author page and see if I have any more likes. Then I check to see if any other authors I know have had any likes. Then I click on links to see if there’s anything interesting. There usually is. This is what I like to call ‘research.’

Then I check Twitter. This also takes some time. I often toy with the idea of tweeting, even going so far as to write one. Then I find that it’s not very interesting or funny and delete it. I find it much more enjoyable to read other author’s tweets, authors who all seem to be far more funny and interesting than me.

Then there’s Goodreads. I call it the black hole of Calcutta. There’s reviews to read (of my books and those of my peers), other books to find, other authors to check out, links to their webpages. All very interesting.

Actual writing done so far: 0

After that, I go onto Amazon’s author central to see how many sales I’ve made the previous night. Often, I think about tweaking my author profile before discarding the idea as blatantly stupid. There’s really nothing I can say about myself that will make me darkly mysterious or even vaguely cool.

Finally, I crack my knuckles, lean forward, fingers poised above the keyboard like I’m about to play a challenging piece by Mozart, and begin typing, praying that it is not today that my Muse abandons me.

If she does, it’s not the end of the world. There’s always Facebook.

GIVEAWAY

What's your favorite way to procrastinate? Leave a comment below and be entered for a chance to win a digital copy of MINOTAUR. 3 winners; open internationally.

About Phillip W. Simpson

Phillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan, Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.

He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University of Auckland.

Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the UK and Australia.

His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.

He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary agency.

When not writing, he works as a school teacher.

Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

About MINOTAUR

Reimagining the Greek myth of the notorious half man, half beast, this book tells the tale of Asterion the Minotaur, recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid. “Where shall I start?” asked the Minotaur. Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands, “Where else but the beginning of course.” The Minotaur nodded his huge head, his eyes already glazing over with the weight of a thousand year old memories.

So begins the story of Asterion as he describes his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, adventures with his friend, Theseus, a growing love for the beautiful Phaedra, and what really happened in the labyrinth.