Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month.
The co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees,Kim Lajevardi,Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
May 1 question – How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
My Response:
Unfortunately, I don’t deal well with distractions. Yes, they derail me. I have no answers or suggestions for you. No tips on how to remedy the problem or cure the disease.
If you have a solution for “oh-look-a-squirrel” syndrome share it with me.
Yesterday I watched a Joseph Michael video on how to get the writing done. He invited writers to join his Unchained Writers accountability group. He says all creatives struggle with something—negativity, imposter syndrome, or just getting words on paper. He’s right. You’ll probably all agree.
But all of us know what it takes to get a book finished. Determination and self-discipline. Doesn’t matter if we write 50 words, 500 words or 2500 words on any given day. Just write. Day after day after day. Distractions are part of the process. All writers have them.
Danielle Steel has written 190 plus books. You may not read her or even like her books but she struggles through the process just like all creatives. With all the children she has, I’m sure there have been distractions. I’m sure she starts where we start: an idea in her head and a blank page.
So maybe I do have a tip: be true to yourself and your own writing process. The struggle is definitely real. Our maladies will always plague us but if we love writing and believe in ourselves and our stories, we’ll plow through the distractions and achieve our goals. We won’t run away or make excuses, at least not for long. Writers always come back to their writing. We’ll do whatever it takes short of whipping out an outline and hiring a ghostwriter like some bestselling authors do. Where’s the glory, the honor, the fun in that?
Give me the struggles we face any day of the week so I can call myself a real writer!
Distractions? Just a bump in the road.
Good writing to you all!
Hi,
I love your answer. That is what I do too. I plow through it. By the way, I read Danielle Steel, I like her books.
Shalom shalom
Thanks Pat! From reading your blogpost, I’d say you have more self-discipline than I do! Whew!
Great Post!!! Have a good day!
Thanks Cathrina!
I do thing creatives can be easily distracted, but also that the one’s that succeed are able to find a way to (somewhat) tame the distractions or use them to somehow help. I love that distractions should just be a ‘bump in the road.’ Happy writing.
I agree, MIffie. I have so many pictures of the squirrels and birds in my yard. ????
Hi, Jessica! I’m afraid that I can’t help you with the ““oh-look-a-squirrel” syndrome,” because I am that squirrel ~ lol! Be true to yourself and your own writing process is excellent advice. I know how different all of we IWSG members are. Each of us is unique, and we all seem to have unique approaches to dealing with distraction. I’ll just keep writing and writing. Happy May to you!
Thanks Louise! And happy May to you. It sure got here fast.
“Give me the struggles we face any day of the week so I can call myself a real writer!”
Yes! I can totally sign up under those words of yours.
Thank you, Olga! We writers need to stick together. I appreciate you popping in.
I put it down. Then I turn on music that inspires my thoughts.
Songs with true love, and soul written into the lyrics. I picture myself there in that moment. I place my needs, desires, sadness, elation in those that I picture with me in the moment. Usually, after a song ,or so my thoughts gather back together, and off to the pad again.
Thanks David. We all have our methods. I’ve never been able to write while listening to music. In fact the noise of my house—even though there may not be a sound—disturbs my concentration and focus. But, I can go to the library or coffee shop and write to a pleasant hum of background noise. That works well for me. I’ve often felt I could take my laptop to the fellowship hall of ERBC and be very productive.