Hidden Ways Procrastination Affects Productive Writers

I’m a productive writer. I get things done. I’ve published ten books, built an author platform, grown a subscriber list, and I regularly speak at writers’ conferences and events.

But while researching my latest book, Escape the Writer’s Web, I stumbled across something uncomfortable. Despite all the ways I consistently show up, I’m still procrastinating.

Not in the ways we usually think. I’m not skipping writing sessions or ghosting my newsletter. I get the words written. I send the emails. I consistently design graphics to share on social media, put out a weekly YouTube video, and connect with readers at local events.

But even with all that effort, I’ve often felt like I haven’t quite reached the level of success I wanted. For years, I chalked that up to external things—timing, trends, discoverability, etc. But as I dug into the research for this book, something else started to surface.

Something that I think affects a lot of writers like me—the ones who get the work done, but still feel stuck at a certain plateau.

Here’s the bad news: Most of us? Yep, we’re still procrastinating, but it’s a quieter, more sophisticated kind of delay that we would never recognize as procrastination at all.

When Playing Small Is the Real Delay

One of the most uncomfortable truths I’ve had to admit in the past year is this: I’ve been procrastinating on going to the next level in my writing business.

I’m not scrolling endlessly, avoiding the work, or slacking off. But I am doing just enough to stay in exactly the same place. And as I started trying to build a deeper, more intentional part of my business, I came face-to-face with a deeper resistance.

What if I can’t do it? What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail?

Suddenly, everything I’ve learned about procrastination clicked into place. The key finding is this: Procrastination isn’t just a time management or a discipline problem—it’s an emotional coping technique, a way of avoiding something that’s uncomfortable or that feels dangerous or risky.

When I applied that to myself, I could see how I was using “staying busy” and “doing what I’ve always done” as protection against feeling those fears that were buried deep in my mind.

This kind of procrastination doesn’t look like taking it easy. It often looks like responsibility, consistency, and productivity. So, how do you know if it may be at work in your writing life?

How to Spot Productive Procrastination in Your Own Work

It starts with asking: Where do I feel the most friction? You’re looking for those areas in your business where you feel you haven’t “made it” yet—where you haven’t reached the level of success you wanted to. Usually, we feel frustrated about that, but we may also feel powerless to change it. 

Here are some examples of when what I call “productive procrastination” may show up:

• Doing what’s familiar instead of what’s needed to push yourself to the next level.
• Tinkering endlessly with the same type of content that is not getting you results, rather than experimenting with something new.
• Spending hours on admin work when you know the real task is visibility or growth.
• Focusing on visibility tactics that feel “safe” (like social posts or passive SEO) instead of direct outreach, collaboration, or higher-stakes opportunities.

The goal isn’t to judge ourselves, but to simply notice. When we see it clearly, we can start making different choices.

Why Productive Writers Still Struggle to Move Forward

You’d think that once you’ve proven you can write a book, meet deadlines, and build an audience, you’d be immune to procrastination. But here’s what I’ve found: the more you grow, the more personal it gets.

When you’re just starting out, there’s a kind of freedom in being unknown. You can experiment, fail quietly, and if you want, change direction without much fanfare. But as your work becomes more visible, the stakes feel higher. You’ve built something substantial, and now there’s more to lose.

The more experienced you are, the more nuanced procrastination becomes. You may see it as focusing on what’s working, staying consistent, and protecting your energy, when really, it’s keeping you spinning in the same circles.

Moving to the next level—whatever that looks like for you—always involves risk. It means being seen in a new way and, even more importantly, stepping into a new identity that feels unfamiliar. That stirs up the same fears that stopped us in the beginning: What if this doesn’t work? What if I’m not as good as I thought? What if I can’t do this right?

This kind of emotional friction is easy to miss, especially when you’re still being productive. But it’s precisely because you are productive that you need to be more discerning.

What to Do When You Spot the Procrastination Pattern

Once I recognized that I might be stuck in a pattern of high-effort, low-impact procrastination, the next step was to get honest.

So I asked myself: What am I avoiding by staying here?

This wasn’t an easy question to answer. For me, it took some time to see it. I also had to be purposeful about it and pull my head out of my long to-do list. Journaling helped. (Hint: It’s usually about fear.)

Once you figure it out, it can be hard to face the truth. Could I really be sabotaging my own progress? Actually, it’s really common! There’s a lot to scare us in that next step. You might be protecting yourself from overwhelm (as you know you’ll have to do more or be more), from the vulnerability of claiming a bigger goal, or even from the grief that comes when the thing you built no longer fits who you are.

Once I realized I was staying safe by “doing what I always do,” I had to shift the question. Instead of “What do I need to do this week?” I started asking, “What would next-level me prioritize?”

That simple change has started to crack things open. And it’s leading to a stronger realization that’s exciting but scary at the same time: I’m no longer happy with where I am. It feels safer. But it’s no longer enough for me. And I suspect that clear awareness will help me go where I want to go next…eventually. If I keep asking myself that question every day! (“What would next-level me prioritize?”)

Once you spot the emotional reflex behind your current habits, you too can start building a writing and business rhythm that reflects where you’re going, not just where you’ve been. Name the emotion behind your delays, and you gain back some of your freedom.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a productive writer who’s still not where you want to be, you might have fallen victim to the quiet kind of procrastination that hides behind productive habits.

Once you understand what you’re protecting yourself from, you can make different choices. It’s also likely that you, like me, will suddenly become aware of just how much you’ve outgrown your current situation, and how much your creative self needs you to brave the next step.

After that, the only question is: do you have the courage to do it?

---

If you’re ready to name the pattern and shift it for good, Escape the Writer’s Web will help you identify your procrastination type and show you how to move forward in a way that fits your real creative life.

If you want hands-on guidance, join me for a live, virtual three-hour intensive workshop on September 20^th.

We’ll cut through the emotional resistance, map your personal triggers, and build a system you can actually stick with. Discounted price available through September 8^th!

Not sure where to start? Take this quick quiz to find out which procrastination type fits you best and where to go from there.

The post Hidden Ways Procrastination Affects Productive Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.

Source: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/09/ways-procrastination-affects-writers/