Tag: distractions in writing

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Building Your Creative Space

Creating a Productive Writing Environment: Tips for Setting Up a Distraction-Free Zome

Building your creative space

Keeping some measure of focus is so important as a writer that you should even try to avoid distractions during your breaks. If you have an issue with distractions in your writing space, this guide will provide tips and tricks for creating the perfect sanctuary.

The Importance Of A Distraction-Free Zone

Whether you’re writing full-time or you’re just getting started, you’ll find that creating your own special writing space has many benefits.

One of them is the ability to avoid distractions. When you carve out your own space, you have more control over what’s around you and can give your work your full attention. Also, when you walk into your own writing sanctuary, you go in there knowing that it’s a place to work. Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a separate personal writing studio, getting into that working mindset could be what you need for success.

Little Things Can Be Distracting

One thing to remember about creating a distraction-free zone is that it isn’t just the TV or your smartphone that can cause an issue. Simple things like lighting and your desk setup can cause problems.

Poor Lighting

You may not realize it, but poor illumination can affect workplace productivity. Working in a room with few windows and without natural light can make it hard to see what you’re doing. Plus, natural sunlight helps to regulate your mood so you’re more alert and focused.

Working in a room with windows also means you don’t need to turn on artificial lights. If you must purchase light fixtures, try LED lights, which are more efficient and last longer. Try to find a bulb with a color temperature closer to 1000k because it’s a warmer light that can put you in a better mood. Color temperatures of 5000k and above produce a bright white light that mimics more of a clinical atmosphere and can be less conducive to creativity.

Poor Seating

How you sit can also be distracting. If you’re constantly in pain or stretching to reach the keyboard, you’ll likely need to stop writing more often than you’d like.

To protect your back, find a chair that lets you sit at a 90-degree angle so you’re not stretching uncomfortably. You also want to create a setup that allows your computer monitor or laptop screen to be level with your eyes so you’re not always looking up or down and straining your neck. Another option is a standing desk, which can help you to be more alert throughout the day.

Eliminate Unnecessary Sounds

There’s a reason why many people turn down the radio in their cars when looking for a street address, and it’s because noise can be distracting. When it comes to your writing and work productivity, noise can pose many issues, including causing stress that can hamper your creativity. Noise can also make it difficult to focus, especially when you’re reading and researching. You may find yourself reading the same sentence repeatedly.

Pick a writing sanctuary far enough from the living room so you don’t hear background noise. If you like to listen to music while writing, consider classical music that will provide inspiration and not have lyrics that can distract your thinking.

If you can’t find a traditional space to make into an office, try converting a place like the garage. Clear out the clutter, find a space near an electrical outlet to plug in your computer, and ensure the garage is insulated so you don’t get too hot or cold during the changing seasons.

The next step would be to soundproof the garage. Find suitable soundproofing material, which may include spray foam or acoustic panels. Start soundproofing the spaces around the main garage and smaller entrance doors. If the garage doesn’t have drywall, stick acoustic foam between the panels on the wall. Finally, consider soundproofing the floor because it can reflect sound waves. A thick and durable carpet will do the trick.

Tools That Can Enhance Your Focus

There are many tools and gadgets that you can use to stay focused and efficient while writing. Look online for a timer that you can sit on your desk. Set a time duration and dedicate that time to avoiding distractions as you write down as many ideas as possible. Another great gadget is a high-quality set of noise-canceling headphones. Use them to play classical music or block out the background noise from other parts of the house.

You can also find various forms of software that help you be more efficient with your writing and editing. One of them is Grammarly. Use it to review your work after it’s written or write it directly into the software, and it will fix grammatical errors as you go. Another tool is FocusWriter, which uses a hide-away interface that keeps distractions on your computer at bay. The tool also provides daily statistics and updates on your writing goals.

Conclusion

Distractions can wreak havoc on your creativity and make it impossible to concentrate long enough to write a quality sentence. Only by creating a personal writing space can you let your imagination run free. Follow the tips and tools discussed here, and your productivity may skyrocket!

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Guest Posts

How To Get Over Writer’s Block

Guest posts

Every writer’s heart stops when I utter the words, ‘writer’s block’.

We’re ready to write: we have our tea, our snacks, our pens and we’ve told everyone in the house we’ll be writing upstairs. But then we sit down. We munch on our snacks and stare at the incessant blinking of the cursor on MS Word.

We’re people. We have lives. We’re constantly distracted by our phones, friends, families and work. Everything and everyone demands our attention. It’s easy to get lost in it all and lose focus when it’s time to write.

It took me three years to write my first novel and then less than a year to write my second. That’s because I learned some tricks along the way which I’m going to share to help you out if you’re feeling stuck.

1.       Make sure it’s not really something else

‘Writers block’ isn’t always simply being stuck for ideas. Sometimes it’s a mindset. Before you skip to the next step, take a moment to evaluate how you’re feeling about yourself and your writing.

Is the reason you’re feeling ‘blocked’ because you think your writing isn’t very good? Bad writing (and good writing now I think of it) is subjective and yours isn’t as terrible as you think it is, trust me. Be brave and believe in yourself. The rest will fall into place.

Writer’s block can also stem from other struggles, health or be situation related. If you’re struggling with more than your writing and you need to talk to someone, I encourage you to seek support.

2.       Start with the characters

Do you have well-rounded characters with extensive backgrounds? Shallow characters don’t live interesting lives. Once you’ve created a remarkable person, they will likely write the story for you.

3.       Re-imagine the story

Once you’ve determined the characters aren’t the problem, take a step back. What do you already know about the story? Walk yourself through it from the beginning and trust your instincts on what has to happen next.

If you already know what genre your story can be categorised under, I recommend researching plot structures. They provide general advice in how to shape your story and will probably give you the boost you need to get you back on a roll!

4.       Make a plan

It’s recommended that you write a plan before you write a novel. I’ll admit, my fourteen year old self disregarded this advice. (It could be argued, that’s why it took me four years to finish my first book.)

My mistakes aside, writing a plan is an effective way of getting out of a rut. Write it as a mind map, bullet points or a paragraph summary and then take a step back.

What’s missing? Where are you going with this story and how are you going to get there? You don’t have to stick to your plan, but I can almost guarantee it will help you get back on your feet.

5.       Content

Is there too much going on in your story? Is it chaotic with too many loose ends, things to tie up? Cut it. Be brutal. If a character isn’t contributing anything to the story, do they have to have a happily ever after? Do they have to exist at all?

Is there too little going on? Is your story too straightforward? Add some emotion. Get distracted with a romantic subplot. Sprain your main character’s ankle and have them limp for the rest of the journey. You know what you need to do. Do it.

6.       Build up

Sometimes a lack of foundation can lead to an uncertain future. If you don’t know what’s going to happen next, maybe you need to revisit what’s happened already. Does something more have to happen or is that the end?

7.       Seek inspiration

Sometimes nothing works. We spend hours pouring over the characters and the plot and still feel as though our writing is speeding downhill.

Take it easy. Read a book or go outside. It will come to you eventually. It always does. Don’t overthink it.

As Paul Di Filippo said, “If the writer is not surprised by the events, then chances are that the reader will not be either, and grow bored.”

You’re a writer and you have a story here. Sit down and write it. You’ll surprise yourself.

Deborah Rose Green is the author of Dragon Pearls (2019) and Crown My Heart (2020). She’s the Contributing Editor for the ‘Hey Young Writer’ blog and starting her Creative Writing degree in September.

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Devotions for Writers

The Dastardly D of Distraction

devotions 
The squirrel ran across the patio steps.
The phone rang.
The dishwasher beeped.

How can you focus on words when the world keeps interrupting?

Do you ever feel like everyone wants a piece of you? Jesus did. In Mark 1:37 the disciples said, “Everyone is looking for You!”

Parents of toddlers can relate to the constant barrage of questions. Who can think when you’re in such demand? But, is there a distinction between different kinds of disruptions?

Some distractions are good:

              A water break rehydrates.

              A bathroom break gets a stiff back into motion.

Some distractions are bad:

              A phone conversation can go longer than expected.

              A grocery run can interrupt the flow of words.

Distractions can be bad.

Some advocate switching up tasks to give left brain/right brain stimulus.

Some declare, “Stick to the same activity to prolong concentration.”

So, what’s a person to do, when combating the Dastardly D of Distraction?

Group similar activities together to save time.

              Save a trip away from your desk by grouping errands together.

              Do a brain dump of your week’s schedule.

Can you listen to podcasts while in commute, or read a book while waiting for an oil change?

Could you swap after-school carpool with another parent?

Find ways to condense tasks to save time and energy.

Most of all, find what works for you.

Exercise:

Make a Ben Franklin List. On the left, write: Good Distractions. On the right: Bad Distractions. List ways you get distracted daily, then note how they can be turned into a positive. i.e. The dog needs to go outside. This could be a positive when you take a walk together and get the blood circulating!

Look up the following verses and jot down how Jesus responded. How would you respond?

  • Matthew 19:13-14 The disciples thought children were an interruption.
  • Mark 6:30-44 How did Jesus turn an interruption into an opportunity?
  • Mark 10:46-52 Who created the distraction?
  • Luke 9:1-6 What extra stuff hinders your progress?
  • John 4:34 What was Jesus’ purpose?
  • John 11:54 Why did Jesus avoid publicity?
  • Luke 10:40 Martha was distracted and almost missed the blessing.

Jesus knew His Father’s work meant something different than what others expected of Him. (Mark 1:35-39) He healed people out of compassion, but He had a greater purpose.

What is your greater purpose and how will it change your response to distractions? Will “some” commandeer your time, or will you take command of the Dastardly D of Distractions?

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

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Book Proposals

The Covid Affair

Well, here we are. Or … here I am, and there you are. We’re social distancing. This is new for many folks. For everyone if truth be told. It’s new, exhilarating, exciting, exhausting. Draining!

For most of us, as writers, this isn’t a burden whatsoever. We’re used to being holed up in our offices, working by ourselves (if we’re lucky and get the peace and quiet we crave).  In fact, we’ve been training for moments like this as long as we’ve been writing.

So how is it affecting us? A couple folks have said, “Just knowing I can’t go out, if I wanted to, is somehow interrupting my ability to write!” “I can’t get enough of this! It’s awesome!” And others tell me about how difficult it is to know massive work is expected of them during the shutdown. As if writers just turn on a switch and wrote.

I’ll be honest, while I thought it would be just another day at the office, my office, my in-home office, instead, I’ve found it really difficult to work. Oh, I get it done, but I find myself tuning in to much more news than before, being drawn to the outside (where absolutely nothing is happening) through my two office windows, and wanting to get up and move around more than before. Maybe it’s the sourdough starter tempting me to bake for the fifth time this week, and it’s only Wednesday. Sigh. My good intentions of getting a lot more writing done, reading of submissions completed, working on edits for clients, have gone by the wayside, along with that last batch of cinnamon rolls which haven’t gone by the wayside, but directly to my hips.

So what do we do? We can whine, complain, bake another batch of … who knows what, or we can plunk our behinds in our seats and get to work. There will always be distractions. We will have deaths, divorces, births, school papers due, problematic relationships, deadlines with “other” writing, and even friends asking us when we’re finally going to be published. We can freeze under the pressure, or we can press on. Press through. Press beyond what is expected of us. We can persevere and get the job done.

Life is filled with … well … life getting in the way. And in that will come excuses. Excuses to wait till the next day, wait till the virus clears the country, wait till we have more ideas … wait, wait, wait. And the writing never gets done.

As artsy folks, writers have, if you’ll pardon the play on words, “unimaginable” imaginations. Our minds work like the fastest core processors available. While we’re supposed to be writing, we’re already thinking of the sequel, prequel, and possible novellas to give away free for promotion. We’re picking out the publisher that we KNOW will want our novel, the actors who will play the lead rolls in the movie version, and even what to wear while attending the Oscar to see our made-into-movie novel win the best picture award.

Okay, so here I sit. There you sit. Yes, we are. We’re social distancing. I’m writing about what we might do to help during this Covid-19 thing, and you’re reading about it. Neither of us is writing.

C’mon. Let’s get on the shtick and do what we’re supposed to be doing: writing. Doing our best to make life a little better for the folks stuck at home, reading! Just waiting for our next great American novel that might tell … the unbelievable story of an entire world brought to its knees by a tiny virus. Why not? Somebody’s got to write it.

Linda S. Glaz is an agent with Hartline Literary Agency, and also the author of eight novels and two novellas, so she “gets” writers. She represents authors in both the Christian and secular communities. She speaks at numerous conferences and workshops around the country each year. Married with three grown children and four grands, she lives in a small town where everyone is family.

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Guest Posts

Overcome This Temptation if You Want to Finish Your Book

When you first start working on a new book, everything feels great. But then somewhere along the way, something changes. You begin to struggle. You’re not sure what the next scene should be. Characters start acting in ways you didn’t expect, or maybe the pacing slows down. 

What do you do then?

If you’re like the majority of writers, you start to doubt yourself. You wonder if this story is any good. You may begin to think it’s no longer worth the effort. 

Then out of the blue, you get another idea. A much better idea. You think perhaps you should abandon the story you’ve been working on and try the new idea instead. Just the thought of doing that makes you feel better. 

Watch out! This type of thinking is dangerous and could have long-lasting negative effects on your career.

Writers Watch Out for the Shiny Object Syndrome

Writers are creative people. We love thinking about new ideas. 

Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to this part of our personalities. We can fall victim to a condition called the shiny object syndrome. This is the tendency for a writer to chase after a new idea rather than stay focused on what she’s already working on.

Picture a child playing with bubbles. He will run after one shiny bubble until it pops, and then another and another, constantly changing his focus and direction. It’s fun, but it doesn’t accomplish much.

A writer is afflicted with shiny object syndrome if she abandons a project into which she’s invested considerable time to chase after another idea she thinks is better.

This syndrome is extremely dangerous to a writer’s career. I know from personal experience.

How Shiny Object Syndrome Hurts a Writer’s Career

I spent many years writing novel-length manuscripts before I finally got one published. During that time, I abandoned many manuscripts because I fell victim to shiny object syndrome.

I would get about halfway through the book and start to struggle. I know now it’s perfectly normal to have difficulties in the middle of a book, but I didn’t know that then. I assumed if I was having trouble, something was wrong with the story idea.

Right when my struggle was greatest, shiny object syndrome would appear. I would start to think of other ideas I could pursue, and those other ideas would sound better than the one I was working on. Soon I would succumb to the syndrome, abandon the story I was working on, and start over with a new one.

What this process got me was a lot of years of writing manuscripts I never finished. Finally, it became clear what was going on. My story ideas weren’t bad at all. I just didn’t have the skills I needed to complete them.

7 Ways to Defeat Shiny Object Syndrome and Finish Your Book

How can you tell if you’ve fallen victim to shiny object syndrome? Ask yourself if any of these sound familiar to you:
· You have a long list of story ideas but none of those stories have been completed. 
· You constantly start new stories but don’t finish them.
· Your computer or desk is full of unfinished manuscripts. 
· You like to start new stories, but you rarely have a plan for how you’re going to finish them.
· You’ve been working on one story for years, but can’t seem to finish it.

If any of these statements seem to apply to you, try the following tips. 

1. Write it down: When a new idea occurs to you, write it down and store it in an idea box or on a file on your computer or cell phone. Don’t jump ship to pursue it until the project you’re working on is completed.

2. Understand that “new” isn’t “better”: Understand that any idea you have for a book is just an idea. What matters is your ability to execute that idea in a novel-length manuscript. That’s where the real challenge is. 

3. Commit to your story: Any book or even a short story takes a significant investment of your time and energy. Make sure you’re in love with the idea and you have a powerful motivation to write it before you begin, then commit to finishing it.

4. Keep quiet: Talking with other writers can be fun, but if you leak your story idea before you finish the book, watch out! Other writers will chime in. “You could set the story in this location!” they might say, or, “How about so-and-so for an antagonist?” These new ideas may seem better to you, throwing you off course. 

5. Realize that getting stuck is normal: Most writers experience a struggle in the middle of a story. It’s normal. So when you reach that point, don’t despair. Get help if you need to, and keep writing.

6. Keep going: Writers must keep going no matter how tough the story gets. Take stock of what you’ve done so far. Create an outline of the chapters you’ve completed. Brainstorm solutions to whatever problems you’re facing. Turn to craft books and mentors when needed. Keep trying while learning to live with the discomfort. Eventually, you will find a way through! 

7. Understand the value of having completed projects:Remember that success as a writer is based entirely on those projects you complete and publish. We can often fool ourselves into thinking that the ideas in our heads are completed ideas, but you can’t build a career on your thoughts. Completed stories are what matters. Focus on finishing no matter what. 

Note: For more guidance on how to finish the creative projects you start—including the 5 things you must have to complete your book—get Colleen’s FREE mini-course here !

Colleen M. Story inspires writers to overcome modern-day challenges and find creative fulfillment in their work. Her latest release, Writer Get Noticed!, was the gold-medal winner in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards (Writing/Publishing 2019). Overwhelmed Writer Rescue was named Book by Book Publicity’s Best Writing/Publishing Book in 2018, and her novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others. Find more at these sites:

www.colleenmstory.com
www.writingandwellness.com
www.writerceo.com
Twitter: @colleen_m_story

Categories
The Intentional Writer

The Benefits of a Writing Ritual

The intentional writer

Writing rituals are something I come across whenever I look into advice for how to be a productive and consistent writer. I never paid them much mind. The basic concept made sense, but they didn’t seem like something I wanted to bother with. Routines and rituals are not what make me tick.

Then I began reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book explained the why behind rituals (specifically what he calls motivation rituals) and I realized they were more powerful than I had thought.

What is a motivation ritual?

Forming and keeping good habits can be hard. Motivation by itself is not enough to overcome our brain’s natural resistance to creating new habits. People who study habits have come up with various tricks to make it easier for us to succeed. When it comes to motivation rituals, the main concept at work is this:

You can make difficult habits more attractive by training your brain to associate them with a positive experience. A motivation ritual is a way to associate the habit you want to grow (such as clearing your brain to focus on writing) with something you enjoy (a cup of coffee in your special writer’s mug, perhaps). Over time, the ritual becomes your brain’s cue that will help you begin the habit.

In the book, the author describes how during his years as a baseball player, he developed a pregame stretching and warm-up ritual. He intentionally went through the sequence the same way every time. It prepared him physically, but at the same time it prepared him mentally. He goes on to say:

I began to associate my pregame ritual with feeling competitive and focused. Even if I wasn’t motivated beforehand, by the time I was done with my ritual, I was in “game mode.” James Clear in Atomic Habits

Aha! So that’s what a writing ritual is all about. When done correctly, it can help us clear our heads and get into “writer mode.”

How to design a writing ritual

I am not suggesting that you can invent a ritual and it will magically boost your writing focus. I am suggesting a well-designed ritual can help you form and keep a good writing habit. Here are some key points to keep in mind if you want to create a helpful writing ritual.

  • The ritual must associate something you enjoy (like a creative writing prompt) or a series of easy steps (like the baseball warm-up) with the habit of focused writing.
  • The ritual is not likely to work if that action is already associated in your brain with bad habits. (i.e. creative writing prompts = daydream for the next hour)
  • If your current writing space is full of cues that distract you, you may need to change up your environment in order to create a new ritual that will point you to new habits. This could mean choosing a new place in your home or office to do focused writing. Or it could mean creating a ritual where you put certain distracting items away to clear your physical and mental space for focused writing. (Sort of like Mr. Rogers changing his shoes.)
  • The ritual needs to be repeated consistently, and the specific cues in the ritual should be only for that particular habit. The idea is to train your brain to think something like: “when I put on those brown headphones, it’s time to concentrate.” Or “When I put on my favorite writing sweatshirt and sit in my desk chair, I am Lisa-the-writer, not Lisa-the housekeeper or Lisa-the-cat’s-servant or anything else.”
  • Try to adopt a attitude-based mindset instead of a goal-based mindset. The ritual is not about meeting your daily word count. The ritual is about becoming the sort of person who can sit down and focus on writing on both the good days and the bad days.

Ready to give a writing ritual a try?

I am continuing to ponder how I can tap into the power of a writing ritual. How about you? Do you have a writing ritual that helps you get in the zone?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire.

Focus (Or Lack Thereof)

With an incredible sense of purpose, I opened the window blinds and faced the morning sun.

Today, I thought, I’m going to make something happen. My keyboard will soar in the hands of a skillful writer. I will conquer the screen and many will be blessed because of my courage.

As I completed morning chores, my thoughts ran ahead to the words I wanted to whittle and shape with vision and imagination. A glass of Diet Dr. Pepper close by, I sat at my desk, fingers poised over the keyboard. A pen and legal pad were on standby. Oh, yeah. This was going to be good.

But wait, this screen is dusty. Where’s my super-duper lint-free cloth?

What a lovely day. Maybe I should write outside…

Did the dryer just buzz?

I need some music.

Uh-oh. Need a refill on soda.

This music is annoying.

Okay, here we go. Once upon a time… Brilliant, just brilliant.

Um…Once upon a dark and stormy night…

Maybe it’s time for a break.

I would love to say that mornings like these are few and far between. But all too often, the hours can slip by with few words on the page. Good intentions get lost in a lack of self-control and I accomplish very little. I’m guilty of having the attention span of a puppy—my thoughts jumping from one distraction to the next.

The Apostle Paul taught the Corinthian believers of the need for discipline and self-control.  “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air” (1 Cor. 9:24-26).

When we approach our writing time with a careless attitude, we are “running aimlessly” and “beating the air.” Paul knew that ministry without Christ-centered focus would ultimately fail, and his witness would suffer. “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (V.27).

A fruitful writing ministry is grounded in discipline and in the relentless seeking of the heart of God.

And the joy from such a ministry will spill over and change the world.

 

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control (Prov. 25:28).

 

As we consider our writing life over the past few days, are we plagued by a lack of discipline? How can we be better stewards of our time?

 

[bctt tweet=”How can we be better stewards of our writing time? #amwriting #writertips ” username=”@A3forMe @lthomaswrites”]

[bctt tweet=”A fruitful writing ministry is grounded in discipline and in the relentless seeking of the heart of God. #amwriting #writer” username=”@A3forMe @lthomaswrites”]