How to Pick a Project (for Writers with Commitment Issues)

Well, well, well, here come The Four Horsemen of Procrastination (and we're gonna kick ALL their asses)

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Sep 05, 2025

Right. This month, you’re finally gonna write that thing you really want to write. That thing you’ve been thinking about writing forever, but somehow never get to the starting part.

Since our September workshop is all about speculative fiction, we thought we’d flip the definition to focus on all those brilliant, full-of-potential, hypothetical ideas we’ve spent so much time speculating about (geddit?) and actually make them real.

Every Friday, we’ll be targeting a different Horseman of the Procrastination…ocalypse (catchy!) so you can get out of your own way, tell writer’s block to go screw itself, and start writing something.

The First Horseman of the Procrastin-ocalypse:
✨ Decision Paralysis ✨

Do you have a metric shit-ton of creative ideas banging around your head but don’t seem to be making progress on any of them?

If you’re struggling to write anything right now, it might be that you simply have too many choices.

As frustrating as this is, it’s a pretty fantastic problem to have. And there’s a very simple solution — so long as you’re willing to set aside some of the subconscious bullshit that’s stopping you from making the decision in the first place (natch).

Got 5 minutes? Got a scrap of paper to scribble some notes on? Let’s figure it out.

Step 1:

Imagine for a moment there are no restrictions, no responsibilities, no distractions, no excuses, no limitations to your writing. (Goshhhhh just imagine.)

Now write down ALL the things you’d love to write in that perfect world. All the ideas you’d like to make a reality. Even the vague, half-baked ones. The way-out-of-your-comfort-zone ones. The aspirational daydream ones.

Empty your creative brain onto the page with complete and utter hypothetical freedom.

Step 2:

Sit back and gaze upon the contents of your imagination for a moment.

Stay in that ‘everything is possible’ mindset (because it is).

And ask your gut:

“Which idea am I most excited about?”

Which one makes you zing? Which one is calling to you the loudest? Which one just won’t leave you alone?

Be honest. This is NOT a question of which one you think you should be writing, or which one you’re most equipped to write, or which one will advance your career or make you look cool or please someone else. (‘Cause none of that matters.)

What does your HEART want?

Step 3:

Now ask yourself:

“What is it about this thing that makes me so excited?”

Is it your favourite genre? A new challenge? Something deep and important you need to explore? A random thing that feels like it could be fun?

You might find it’s not the thing you thought it would be. You might be scared to give it a try. You might have a long list of excuses why you can’t/shouldn’t write it. Don’t worry about any of that — we’ll deal with all those hurdles in subsequent posts — right now we’re focusing on the EXCITING part.

NOW: Commit to the bit!

Say YES to the exciting thing. Say it out loud so it’s real.

And then tell us all about your favourite idea so we can go, “Wow, that sounds freakin awesome, you should totally write that!”

The Forever Workshop

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