The one time I disobeyed my own advice and discarded what was I believed was possibly most poorly written sentence in history (or at least my own history), I rejoiced. Five minutes later, I needed gem in a new sentence, and struggled to reconstruct one I’d discarded. May you never make that mistake-do as I say, not as I’ve done.

These gems also shine through at unexpected times. This is why I advise my clients to carry at least some scrap paper and a pencil nub if not an electronic recording device. The times at night and in mornings between wake and sleep often yield good raw material, so keep your recording device of choice bedside.

The idea behind saving every little scrap, writing everything down and cultivating arrogance to believe these activities matter is that finished pieces often assert themselves over time, forming a coherent whole from little scraps, like a Rorschach, or getting that crucial letter right in Wheel of Fortune. The key is to keep feeding collage and trusting that something or things will emerge over time.

Not every sentence will necessarily lead to an essay, book or screenplay of its own. But some might add that missing piece to make a good piece great. Even tidbits that go nowhere for now still give your brain a chance to exercise itself and keep your creative pathways well-hacked.

When it comes to choosing which pathway you’ll write your way down, trust your wild and wooly impulses. If you’re drawn to something, chances are you will make subject come alive. You’ll seduce your readers by very fact of your relationship to material.

Finally, give your pieces time they need to develop. Being an arrogant writer means honoring gestation period your writings must pass through to be born into world healthy and ready to engage readers. Honoring this gestation period may mean asking for help. Just as dedicated gardener finds right soil, fertilizer, seeds, watering schedule and equipment, so arrogant writer finds her coach, buddy, copyeditor, ghostwriter, or colleague’s expert eye. I have seen writers move from stagnation to publication with right combination of assistance. I love being part of that process.

You are welcome to reprint this article any time, anywhere with no further permission, and no payment, provided following is included at end or beginning:

Author Jill Nagle is founder and principal of GetPublished, http://www.GetPublished.com, which provides coaching, consulting, ghostwriting, classes and do-it-yourself products to emerging and published authors. Her most recent book is How to Find An Agent Who Can Sell Your Book for Top Dollar http://www.FindTheRightAgent.com.

4) Who is in your immediate environment? Take a look, give a listen. Is what you observe conducive to writing?

On one end of solitude-contact continuum is person who works best alone. On other end is someone who needs a partner to check in and collaborate with at each stage of process. What are your needs around other people’s involvement in your work? For solitary type, solution could be finding a “room of one’s own,” or at least a borrowed space with peace and quiet enough to think and write.

At other end it could be finding a buddy, coach or collaborator to check in with regularly. In middle, where lots of people find themselves, are authors who attend local writers groups or participate in online communities. Take time to notice and get to know your own needs, and to create space and/or support you need to move forward.

5) Is some healing in order? At deepest level of your awareness, what do you feel and believe about yourself and your writing? On another plane entirely from practical concerns are wounds of soul that need healing. It’s difficult to allow our excellence to shine when we truly believe we’re not worthy, or that to succeed would betray some unspoken agreement about staying small.

If everything within you wants to move forward into world with your writing, and something inside you is holding you back, realize that only you can make decision to find therapist, spiritual counselor, coach or practice to move you through that place. Procrastination could be a signal to finally heal an old wound.

6) Is this project best expression of what you love and want to put out into world right now? Ascertain or revisit what made you put your energy behind this project.

Whether it’s money, prestige, self-expression, career advancement or something else, ask yourself if your original reasons are congruent with your current needs. If not, give yourself permission to do something else.

7) Are you afraid of impact you’ll make on world, whether positive or negative? You should be—if you’ve never been published before, you’re about to lose your anonymity.

Consider using a pen name, at least for time you’re writing. You can always change it back later. I did this for very first essay I ever published, because at time, I felt shy about writing about sex, and also wanted to protect those whom I discussed in essay.

guerilla tip: Most writers will not become all that famous, and feedback most of us receive is damned scant. So—consider using your real name before going to press. If you go on to build your career around related material, you’ll be grateful you did.

8) Do You Need to Reassess your Pace? Maybe goals you’ve set aren’t realistic for you.

Procrastination can be an utterly human attempt to create a sustainable work pace. If you expect eight hours of writing a day from yourself six days a week, no wonder your body’s rebelling. If your goals more clearly meet your known capabilities, and you’re still having difficulty meeting them, ask yourself honestly whether your timetable makes sense for you today.

Your life may have changed since you last set pace of your writing treadmill. If so, change your expectations to ones you’re more likely to achieve—then reward yourself when you do. If you still have trouble, consider structural supports, like a writing buddy, group, or some form of coaching.

9) Do you think your first drafts have to be perfect? Come on. You’re slinging mud on a wall. Or, if you prefer, as one of my clients put it, “I just put one word in front of other.”

You’re going to go through so many revisions from time you put those first few words down to time you’re polished, that you might as well bulk up page now. There will be plenty of time for trimming later.

10) Do you hate idea of rewriting yet one more time? Of course you do. People in other fields get to be finished with their tasks when they stop working, and enjoy fruits of their labors. But nooooo, not writers! There’s always another draft in wings.

Face it—endless rewriting sucks. You know and I know it needs doing, but isn’t there a better way? The bad news is, only way around is through. The good news is, you can reward yourself for each phase, and I encourage you to do so.

11) When was last time you saw sky? Get outside, for crying out loud. Humans were never meant to spend all day immersed in words.

Some days, your procrastination may be telling you to Get A Life. If so, listen. Enjoy yourself. However talented you are and however important your work, you aren’t your writing. At least not entirely. Breaking up your day with physical activities, or anything very different from writing will give you a fresh perspective on your text. Plus, when this project is all over, you’ll want to have had a bit of sunshine from time to time, maybe a friendship or two.

Remember, not all bouts of delay are alike. Yours might carry a message. Take time to listen, heed and respond to that message. Your writing—and your life—will be better for it.

You are welcome to reprint this article any time, anywhere with no further permission, and no payment, provided following is included at end or beginning:

Author Jill Nagle is founder and principal of GetPublished, http://www.GetPublished.com, which provides coaching, consulting, ghostwriting, classes and do-it-yourself products to emerging and published authors. Her most recent book is How to Find An Agent Who Can Sell Your Book for Top Dollar http://www.FindTheRightAgent.com.