I should be preparing for a trip I’m leaving for later this morning, but I’m running late on the blog, and, let’s face it, will I want to finish it up in California? No.
Wait . . . the airport. I could do it on the plane or at the airport (I intend to arrive two hours early, as usual). I could do it then. Face it, ramblings about the writing life, which I usually do here on the blog, are not research intensive, and are, in fact internals, which is the easiest writing for me. Well, in addition to having an intelligent Familiar Companion animal saunter, stroll, or zoom onto the page. Those scenes tend to write themselves, too.
As you must have figured out from the above, distractions are, for me, a terrible thing. Even cleaning can be a distraction, even (whispering), washing silverware (which I always leave for last).
The moment I got my first computer, I took the games off it, the solitaire, whatever. (We won’t go into online gaming right now). This was to keep myself focused on writing.
Naturally, I had a day job, so I wrote in the evenings. I lost years of popular television shows, because, like most traditionally published people, it took between 8-9 years for my first manuscript to sell. Those bad old days.
I had to focus, or I wouldn’t work on my writing after my regular eight hours of work, and that was the most disciplined time in my life (except the 3 jobs in grad school).
But now that I’m a professional writer. . . my focus is usually fragmented at best, even when I’m at retreats where all I’m supposed to do is write. “I can make my wordcount in two hours today, I’ll do it later.” I tell myself almost every day. This is a blatant lie. I can make a minimum wordcount in two hours with the great blessing of steady inspiration from the muse. I believe my lie anyway.
Laundry is important. Cleaning is important. Definitely loading up a new computer for my travels with all the right software is important.
Exercise, for me right now, is hugely important.
Most important is promotion of my novella, especially that which is self-published. I can really get side-railed by that, because it, too, can bring money in.
But writing should be the number one priority. It is the way I support myself and my two cats (they do not lift a PAW).
Still, distractions abide. So, I turn to the tried and true to help me through:
1) War room. I belong to a chat room where writers meet and do writing sprints. Sometimes it’s too chatty, sometimes I’m the only one there. At those times, I have to shore up my own focus.
2) Timer. This is good. Butt in chair for 30 minutes, set the timer, write. Do NOT go back and re-read that previous scene for the 20th time. JUST. WRITE. This can get me (you?) through the “thinking” time.
3) Setting Goals With Other Writers. I belong to such a group, we post goals and results every week.
But, most of all, is just RECOGNIZING MY PROBLEM WITH DISTRACTIONS, AND PUTTING MY BUT IN THE CHAIR AND WRITING.
Easy to understand, easy to say, but hard to execute. But I WILL do that. Because that’s what professionals do.
Wait, doesn’t the fireplace need brushing out? (Just joking, I don’t have a working fireplace).
May the muse be with you and your writing and your worlds push all distractions from your minds.
Robin