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.
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
This is such an important observation. Habits are forged in context and environment - change those and the habit will change or be lost. And to make things worse, when we return to the environment where we previously had a good writing habit it can escape us there too.
You are not alone in losing the habit on vacation - next time you go away think of a small way to trigger and anchor a new habit in the new place, it will be different from home (you are on holiday after all) but start small and I bet you get build a habit when away. And likewise on return, don't hanker after a lost routine but set steps to create a new one - which might be stronger as you are no doubt rested and more creative!
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.
Thanks Ben :) Looks like you've found a way through your distractions - well done for figuring things out! Ha, love that the golf course might make returning to the writing easier! Let's hope you don't improve so the writing doesn't suffer 😉
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
This is such an important observation. Habits are forged in context and environment - change those and the habit will change or be lost. And to make things worse, when we return to the environment where we previously had a good writing habit it can escape us there too.
You are not alone in losing the habit on vacation - next time you go away think of a small way to trigger and anchor a new habit in the new place, it will be different from home (you are on holiday after all) but start small and I bet you get build a habit when away. And likewise on return, don't hanker after a lost routine but set steps to create a new one - which might be stronger as you are no doubt rested and more creative!
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.
Thanks Ben :) Looks like you've found a way through your distractions - well done for figuring things out! Ha, love that the golf course might make returning to the writing easier! Let's hope you don't improve so the writing doesn't suffer 😉