Maryanne Barsotti

Yep, that’s me: The Great Procrastinator.  I’ve been that way most of my life.  Look in my basement and you’ll find  several unfinished projects, including a file cabinet drawer full of partial stories/books.  Some of them are pretty dang good if I do say so myself.  So why haven’t I finished them?

Because I don’t suffer from procrastination. it’s fear that’s my biggest nemesis.  Yep, fear of rejection, fear of failure, and yes, fear of success.

Like, oh my god, what happens if I submit and it gets rejected?  Or like, my family and friends finds out and, like, sees what I’ve written? OMG! I could die of embarrassment.

Several years ago I hit a certain age marker and realized I was letting my fears get the best of me.  So what if “people” found out I liked to write?  What’s the worst that could happen?  It might not be their “cup of tea” and tell me so?  Oh horrors.  Or that they liked it and want to know what else I’ve got in the works?  Ack!

I decided enough was enough and got off my rear and finished a book.  And I even submitted it.

It got rejected and I didn’t spontaneously combust.

Huh.

So I tried again.

And lo and Behold that book was purchased.  And wonder of wonders I actually got paid.  Ok, so I only made $15 before that epub closed its doors.  But hey, 15 bucks is 15 bucks.

And I told my family and friends and got a lot of great feed back from them. No horrible death from humiliation or embarassment.

Well waddayaknow.

So I rolled up my sleeves and finished another book and sent it out and it was purchased, too.  A fluke?  God, I hope not.

The rights to the first book have reverted back to me, and I have opted to try my hand and self publishing.  I mean, look at all the other writer folk who’ve done it.  How difficult could it be?  I’ve even got some great how-to info from a writer’s loop I’m on.

So why am I procrastinating on getting it up and running?

It’s that damn fear thing again.