September 6 is Fight Procrastination Day! So we here at Writer’s Relief scrambled at the last minute to put together a few quotes from well-known authors about procrastination. Take a few minutes to read this sage advice—you can always get back to writing later…
“My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.” —Charles Dickens
It would appear Dickens was very Scrooge-like with his time.
“In delay there lies no plenty.” —William Shakespeare
Shakespeare didn’t delay when writing The Comedy of Errors—in fact, it was one of the first plays he wrote! He went on to write thirty-six more. That’s a plethora of plays!
“It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth—and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up—that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” —Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like an existential crisis.
“Procrastination gives you time to consider divergent ideas, to think in nonlinear ways, to make unexpected leaps.” —Adam Grant
Oops! Looks like one pro-procrastination quote slipped onto our list. This is why you shouldn’t leave these things until the last minute!
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” —Napoleon Hill
The time may not be “just right” at the moment—but start writing anyway. Remember, “Well begun is half done!” Thanks, Aristotle!
Question: How do you keep yourself from procrastinating?
Procrastination gives you time to consider divergent ideas
Ah, it is the self-doubt that is often mistaken as procrastination. For most writers, writing would be much easier and faster if that annoying little gremlin would just shut up.