Overcommitment

“Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.” Shirley Conran.

I want to welcome Berenice to Indie Scriptorium and congratulate her on her wonderful blog about procrastination. The problem of procrastination is something I don’t struggle with very often. My nemesis is overcommitment and that can have the same consequences as procrastination.

I am currently writing my fourth novel, editing my third novel, have provided manuscript feedback for several fellow writers and foolishly decided to go back to university to complete a Bachelor of Letters in Creative Writing. I can cope, it is doable, I can study and write.

I tried for five weeks and realised it was definitely not doable. The university course was exciting and stimulating but I’ve discovered a novel length work requires a singular commitment.

Writing a novel for me requires both writing and time to let your conscious and sub-conscious brain work out plot holes, motivations and what your characters will do and say next. It is as complex as drawing up roses and then getting all the petals formed, coloured and shaded to complete a satisfying painting. The university topics were fabulous distractions and something had to go.

I am no longer a university student.

Cheers Elsie King © 2025
Painting by L.C. Wong © 2023