Here's our question for this month: How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
As a working parent, I don't have much time to write. That means I have to make the most of sub-optimal writing time, when there are other things going on around me. I've had to write while waiting for my son to be done with an activity or write in places where people think it's OK to talk to me while I'm obviously got my tablet open. So yes, I do face a lot of distractions, but how problematic they are depends on the situation. If I'm already having trouble getting into the POV or I'm not sure what to say next, distractions become even more distracting. If I do manage to get into a state of writing flow, then it's easier to tune out distractions.
As far as actively trying to manage distractions while writing, I do this by controlling my environment when possible. Sometimes working at a familiar location or picking music that works as background noise helps. Other times, deliberately going somewhere to write, such as to a library or a coffee shop, makes me feel like I have to be more productive to justify the trip. Putting in extra effort helps me focus more.
What are your tips for dealing with distractions? Free free to share your tips in the comments.
7 comments:
I always listen to music, which drowns out the distracting noise around me.
I think you've busy, not distracted. I was a working mom too and still work part-time. Squeezing in writing when you can is all you can do when life is truly really busy.
I admire working parents who manage to pursue their dreams one way or another. I have a lot of compassion for them, so well done, Sandra! May you find many bits of time to write in May!
If I had a busy home, I would think having a dedicated place to write - a coffee shop or a library - would be worth the trip. As I'm retired and live alone, those external distractions don't exist for me. But there are internal distractions galore, and no change of location would help with them. Have to muddle through somehow, like all the other writers.
Managing sub-optimal time is a very useful skill.
That's a busy life. When I'm busy so much and everything seems impossible, I actually journal and hear myself think for awhile. After that some way or another, I do find minutes in the least. And that couple of minutes, can be utilised productively amidst the busy schedule that lies in the front.
When I used to write in public places regularly, I could not make eye contact with anybody or someone might be too willing to have a long small talk conversation with me. When I finally discovered that working in public wasn't working out for me that well, I made my home, particularly my kitchen table and my desktop computer, my regular writing space. With a day job that i have a two hour public transit commute to each way, my time to write is also very limited, so I have to work as full blast as possible.
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