You've been there. (Yes, you have. Don't fib.) Your manuscript is staring you down, a word count goal is looming large, and somehow, instead of typing away, you find yourself in the kitchen whipping up a batch of brownies. Welcome to procrastibaking, the delightful yet devious cousin of writer’s block. It feels productive—after all, you’re creating something, right? But deep down, you know it’s just a well-iced distraction.
So why do we do it? There’s a comfort in baking, in following a recipe with clear steps and immediate results, especially when writing feels messy and uncertain. Measuring flour is a lot easier than untangling a plot knot. The kitchen becomes a safe haven when our story world feels out of control. But while the cookies bake, the word count stagnates.
Here’s the thing: procrastibaking isn’t the enemy. It’s a signal. It’s your brain telling you it’s overwhelmed and needs a break, but the key is learning how to manage that urge without letting it derail your progress. The trick isn’t eliminating those moments but recognizing them for what they are—and then turning that energy back toward your writing.
Want to figure out how to balance creativity and cookies? Stay tuned. Time management for writers is a lot like baking: it’s all about having the right ingredients, the right timing and knowing when to step away from the oven.
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