I've started so I'll

Why give yourself a deadline? People work at different speeds. That's one of the problems we have with our state education system; not all kids can work at the same speed and all reach the same point at the same time. Everyone's unique. Deadlines are just those organisational irritations you picked up at school. Scrap 'em I say. I know, there's the argument that a deadline keeps you focused and gives you a defined point in time but what's the use of a deadline if it aint working for you. Fook 'em and and find your own time.

Hi Maxwell - thanks for that. It's just that without a deadline set from the outside (ie submission date, competition entry ect) I just don't seem to have the self discipline to pluck up the courage and get a piece of writing into a finished state. I'd love to say I just sit down and at the typewriter and the muse flows yada yada - but for me it doesn't. I get an idea, I start something, I'm pleased with it so far, then there's a break, then I can't get back into it, then I start something else............... Very possibly it's an inbuilt laziness - I was just the same at school. I neeeeeeeeeeeeeed a push. I think. Or maybe it's just writer's block. Thanks for the response anyway. Seem pretty rare on this forum. [%sig%]

Maybe you're not interested in what you're writing about. Perhaps?

Could be. [%sig%]

maybe you'd be more suited to shorter pieces, prose, poetry - try haiku, lol. Haiku is a great example for you. Short but still highly effective form of expression. Maybe your pieces are interesting and you are interested in them but you procrastinate too much and you get bored easily. That's nothing to be worried about, it's your nature but you could capitalise on it and throw your best into shorter pieces and cut if off nicely when you know the slump is going to kick in? Good luck.

Thanks Maxwell. I think you hit the nail on the head earlier though. When I looked through some of my stuff I realised I was trying to write it to fit certain criteria that had been suggested etc etc. So I've put all that back in the drawer and pulled out the one piece of writing I was actually having fun with. Feels better already. Cheers. p.s. Haiku would be great if it weren't for those tricky last two lines. [%sig%]

No probs, Lou. Good luck and all ;)