If you’re a knowledge worker, chances are you’ve been asked to write the occasional report. And if you’re anything like me, that doesn’t rank high on your “things I love to do” list.
When I’ve got a report or an article to write, I’m notorious for my clever ways of weaseling out of the task. I sit down at my computer and then — wait! Is that a spiderweb in the corner of my office? Heaven knows I can’t concentrate with THAT thing hanging there. I must clean it off. Oh, hey, it looks like the top of my bookcase could use a dusting. And while I’m at it, I should organize those books alphabetically…
You get the picture. I’m a procrastinator, like many of you. But then I stumbled across a wickedly clever little Web app that essentially forces you to write. It’s called Write or Die, and it’s a fiendishly effective way to make yourself actually get those elusive words jotted down — or else.
Here’s the quick description:
Write or Die is a Web application that encourages writing by punishing the tendency to avoid writing. Start typing in the box. As long as you keep typing, you’re fine, but once you stop typing, you have a grace period of a certain number of seconds and then there are consequences.
What consequences, you say? For example, if you stop writing for a certain period of time, you’ll get blasted with “an unpleasant noise” — such as a very annoying audio loop of Hanson or Rick Astley. You can even set the mode to “kamikaze;” pause too long, and your work will un-write itself.
Forget the idea of offering yourself a carrot, or reward, for writing; this is a consequence-based approach (e.g., a big stick) that effectively scares you into working.
And hey, nothing motivates like a good solid consequence. So give it a shot and tell me what you think. Oh, and FYI: I wrote this post using Write or Die… and only got Mmm-Bopped once.
