Last Minute Lisa

Imagine this: you're sitting at your computer staring at the hypnotizing, blank screen and you're daydreaming about everything except the paper that is due in less than six hours. This is me. All the time. I can't physically write a paper unless I'm under a time crunch and the pressure of Mt. Everest. It seems illogical, but I feel like if I try to write at any other time I can't. The sky gets dark and the air gets cold and I can see in the distance the dementors coming for me. I can feel my soul being sucked from my lips and the creative juices squeezed out of my brain like a lemon being used for lemonade. Writing ahead of time doesn't work for me. It just doesn't. I sit there at my computer with my sleeves rolled up and I talk to myself. In my head, but it's still a little weird. How does this sound, Julia? Oh that's a clever line, nice job! When something doesn't sound right or if I'm not liking my current idea I will start over. If I didn't have to share my computer with my siblings, you would probably find a shattered monitor and rusty baseball bat in my trash can. I find that if I get frustrated I need to take a deep breath and take a break. Recently I've tried doing some sort of physical activity during my designated free time. Sometimes I'll drink coffee and allow my brain to spin ideas like a hamster on his wheel. Boom boom boom. Go go go. My leg usually shakes while these thoughts are sprouting. It's like my whole body gets involved with the writing process. I haven't noticed any specific rituals in my writing. The only common thread is the fact that I wait until the night before it is due. I should probably change this so I give myself time to edit and what not, but if I try to write at another time nothing comes to mind. The idea that everything is resting on these next three hours and if I don't get something written down I will fail seem to really motivate me. Strange isn't it? I guess it's my competitiveness. I have to beat the clock. It's like all of my papers are power writing tasks. Ew. Task. Anyway I'm posting this at around 12:20. You might be thinking, "Hmmm. This is a contradiction to your whole blog post (which is due at 4:00)." Aha! You're wrong. I have a bunch of other homework to get done and a football game to watch at 3:00. This is my only time that I can get it done. Therefore I'm pulling these words out of thin air (see I'm using cliche lines all over the place). I can already see the cloaked, black figures heading my way. This must be the work of You Know Who. He isn't happy with my procrastination. I'm such a nerd. I'm not embarrassed. Okay, I lied. I'm a little embarrassed. #winning. Now THAT was embarrassing.

P.S. I know my name isn't Lisa.