What stops you writing?
A map of distractions. Find out what gets in the way of writing for solidarity & solace, advice from the Society of Authors, don't miss tonight's Ask Us Anything.
Sometimes it feels like the whole world is conspiring to keep us from writing. Distractions are everywhere. We’re constantly interrupted by work, family, notifications and an endless news cycle of doom.
If we manage to shut off the external noise, then it often gives more space for the internal doubts and fears that lead to resistance, procrastination and delay. Am I ready to write? Is my idea good enough? Will anyone want to read it?
We asked writers: What gets in the way of your writing?
We love asking this question. The last time we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck into the responses was during the pandemic1 so time for a refresh (like much else from those dark days).
Focusing on writers who were planning to write in the coming week, we asked them to predict what would distract them. With 113 responses we received some very personal and specific blocks, barriers and anticipated obstacles.
Combined, their answers draw a map of distraction that we reckon you’ll relate to. We’re sharing them now in the belief you’ll find their experiences helpful as you figure out what stops you writing and what to do about it.
late 14c., distracten, "to turn or draw (a person, the mind) aside or away from any object; divert (the attention) from any point toward another point," from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere "draw in different directions," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + trahere "to draw".
Seven deadly distractions
Distractions divert us from writing, they divide our attention and disrupt our concentration. They come in all shapes and sizes, from internal barriers to external interruptions and include our physical needs and environmental settings. Diving into the data we identified seven categories of distraction:
Internal Barriers: procrastination, self-doubt and insecurity, negative thoughts, lack of motivation, the pressure for perfection, feelings of uncertainty (lack of clarity or confidence), and resistance to writing.
External distractions: digital including phones, emails, social media, news, gaming, browsing; immediate physical environment (mess/noise); personal interactions (partners, children, co-workers, and pets); and non-work life admin (errands, phone calls, other tasks).
Work: provides multiple external and ‘urgent’ commitments, tasks, appointments, meetings, calls, emails and admin.
Family and personal commitments like caring responsibilities, spending time with family, holidays and visits, to the feelings of guilt for prioritising writing.
Time management from the classic schedule interruptions and unplanned events to time unpredictability, balancing competing commitments, inconsistent routines, worrying about when to write, underestimating how long it takes to write, and prioritising small tasks over major ones.
Physical and mental well-being: illness, chronic pain and health emergencies; physical discomfort like hunger, fatigue, tiredness and boredom; physical barriers like lack of equipment; and mental exhaustion causing overwhelming resistance.
Environmental factors: seasonal distractions; temptations from activities like food, sunshine, or spending time with loved ones.
What stops you writing?
We believe that knowing how other writers write can be super helpful. In the same way that reading about other writers’ routines can inspire you to experiment and try new ways of working, so can finding out what stops people writing make you feel less alone.
We all get distracted! In fact, getting pulled away from your writing means you are human and that is something to celebrate in this age of automation.
So, what gets in the way of your writing? Does one of the categories resonate more for you? What distractions have your experienced recently?
Thinking ahead to your writing over the coming days or weeks, why not use the categories to identify what might prevent you from getting down to the writing?
We’d love to hear and reckon that if you’re brave enough to share your distractions in the comments below that another writer and reader of this newsletter will find comfort and solidarity. If it’s too much to go public, just hit the heart support another writer (or us) to keep going. Thank you ❤️
Next week, we’ll explore what solutions people found and share some tips on navigating your diversions.
Until then, keep writing! Bec & Chris
The dream of being an author - or is it a nightmare?
We highly recommend this article from the Society of Authors which charts the unique challenges of being an author and offers psychological tips to help manage them.
Read Dream Job? Or Psychological Nightmare? by author and clinical psychologist Philippa East.
Ask us anything - tonight!
We’re hosting another of our free, live Q&A sessions at 6pm BST Wednesday 16 August - come along and well, ask us anything. We designed them to give you a little burst of energy in the middle of the month when you might need your slump turning into a spark. Last month we tackled topics like:
⚡ Getting started when you’re stuck
⚡ Writing with distractions around (like kids on school holidays)
⚡ Goal setting (how to and the various types) and much more…
They’re completely free and we’ll be on hand to answer all your writing questions and offer gentle coaching advice to get you writing and celebrate your progress.
Register to attend below. Send your questions in advance (hit reply or add to the comments below) or join live to ask.
👉 When: TONIGHT! August 16, 2023 6pm BST
👉 Topic: Ask Us Anything
👉 Register in advance for this webinar
See you there! Have a question but can’t make it live? We’ll send the recording to everyone who registers.
Want the finishing habit? RESET is for you
There are plenty of courses out there that help you to start writing and give you the encouragement to get going - and that’s brilliant.
But in many ways, starting is the easy bit. If you’ve ever written anything of any length, you’ll probably know that it’s the ‘keeping going’ bit and the ‘finishing’ bit that are *really* tough.
We designed our six-week RESET course to get you across the finishing line.
We don’t teach you about grit, perseverance and determination. We don’t tell you to put your life on hold like many courses do.
Over six weeks, we teach you how to write in a more deliberate, intentional way. We help you build the tools and tactics that make writing a sustainable part of your life as it is.
RESET is a gentle but powerful way to build a writing routine that works for you.
Check it out here - places on sale for one more week.
During the summer months I find myself doing well writing with the hatch open backed up to the sand of the beach and I write by doing the various free writing groups: feature a moderator, check in, writing 50 min to 3 hours and check out. I find myself writing well with this accountability but then I went on a two day that became a 10 day vaca to No Cal and wrote nary a word. Back at it when I return home...some day lol
Great post!
I've found my distractions to be mainly errands, things I need to do. I don't like to split up my writing. I want to go until I hit 4 hours or my brain hits a wall. I've found the only way to combat this is write early in the morning. My brain is too fried to write at night.
The other distraction is actually me, my ideation. You get all these ideas and then "what to do with them" etc etc. That was when I didn't outline. Now, I outline and build characters, locations descriptions, etc etc. and haven't had a problem with that sense.
Culling those two problems has led to very productive writing. However, there are days the golf course across the street gets in the way of that. Luckily I suck, so can't be there long anyways.