3 Had Babits of a Writer

What sort of bad habits do I have...in relation to writing? ~slaps knee~ Oh my gods, so many.  Clearly, I'm not as disciplined as Jeffe or as productive as James. I could wax lyrical about the first step is admitting I have a problem...problems.

99 problems...

Don't worry, I'm too exhausted from shoveling Snowmageddon2016 break 'em all down for you.  I'll stick to my Top 3.  What can I say, I like lists.

1. Distractions
Yep. I'm one of those who spends too much precious time and focus farting around on the Internet. Mostly researching things I'll never buy or do. ~Hides the remodeling bookmarks~  Surfing artists' online portfolios is an addiction that can cost me entire days of productivity. Then there are the random weekends lost to Hiddleston videos and interviews. SPN outtakes and Con-panels? I'm a goner.

2. Weeds
Not the smokable sort. As in the "too much attention to the micro details of a scene" kind. Why, oh why do I care how many steps it takes to cross the room? I'm not going to tell the reader that, but I have to know. I have to know so I can supply the character(s) with enough action to fill the space. It's crippling to start a scene and think about how much I don't know and how much I need to know in order for the scene to even begin much less flow. It's completely nutters, the way I approach a chapter. It's why it takes me so damn long to write.

3. Perfection
The relentless and useless pursuit of perfection. Massaging sentences. Triple-checking full sensory deployment in every scene. Arguments with myself over whether the action is in character for the character. Are the secondary characters different enough? Do I have too many? Maybe I should combine these two and rewrite... I'm not arrogant enough to assume I'll achieve perfection like the pre-godly-wrath Sisyphus. I'm definitely in-the-throes-of-punishment Sisyphus.

Don't be like me. Have some willpower. Give yourself permission to only hit the high points. Don't be the boulder destroying your chances for success.