Ask the Coach: 7 Strategies for Dealing with Procrastination and Self-Criticism – On Script Mag

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a writer about overcoming procrastination and dealing with self-criticism:

“I need to overcome my procrastination. I am trying to write a screenplay, with a proposal, for a funding opportunity. I had experience in short-filmmaking. But this is my first feature-length script. I have been trying to write a feature-length script for years. I need help to find a way to put myself to write while resisting the non-stop self-criticism of my ability and self-worth, as well as the sense of guilt after wasting time on social media. If you could share some insight into how to tackle these problems, I would be most grateful.”

In the main article, my reply explored the primary issues of procrastination and self-criticism and provided some thoughts on how this writer can shift their experience.

Here’s a list of the seven strategies discussed in the article:

1. Recognize what’s really going on when we procrastinate.
2. Calm the fears by changing the way you talk to yourself.
3. Reframe the “stepping up” aspect of what you’re asking of yourself.
4. Choose productive procrastination instead.
5.  Relegate social media to non-writing parts of the day.
6. Save binge-watching as a reward for writing.
7. Start small with writing.

Give yourself the gift of going for it and enjoying the ride, even the hard and scary parts. This is part of shifting your perspective to help the scared part of you see writing as something that might even be — dare we say it — fun.