By far the problem that writers ask me about the most is procrastination. David Allen, probably the top time management guru, suggests that the best way to handle procrastination consists of two simple steps. First, decide on the outcome you want, not the process of getting there.  For example, the process is writing an article, but the outcome is to have a finished article. Thinking about the outcome is much more pleasant!

Then ask, "what is the next action I can take to get there?" Not all the steps, just the first one.

Then do it.

Then figure out the next step, and do that one.

The secret to making this work is to make the steps small enough that they don’t intimidate you. For instance, if you’re shy about making a follow-up call to an editor, on one day the step might be to look up and jot down her phone number. The next day the step might be to write down exactly what you want to say. On the third day you could even make the ste, dialing the number but hanging up before they answer. (Usually, you will feel too silly hanging up and you’ll go ahead with the call; but if not, then following through with the call can be your step the next day.)

In my experience, there is a third step that makes the process more effective: write all this down, one step at a time. Here’s how the process would look:

At the top of the page, write the desired outcome. Let’s say it’s to write a query letter pitching an article. The steps you write down and achieve, one by one, could be:

* jot down all the key points to cover in the letter

*prioritize the points

* do a rough draft of the letter

*the next day, go over the letter and rewrite it

* have a trusted colleague look it over and incorporate any useful new ideas

* write the final draft and mail it

Each day do the current step, cross it off, and jot down the next step. If you feel motivated, do more than one step a day. Even if you’re up against a deadline and can’t space out the steps very much, it helps to break the task down and do one step, then go do something else (even if for only a few minutes), then come back and do the next one, and so on.

Each time you cross off one of the tasks, you’ll feel you’re getting closer to the goal, and none of the steps is threatening enough to make you want to put it out of your mind. The end result: you’ve conquered your procrastination.