by Meg Dowell
Are you an easily distracted writer? I could make this post very short and sweet and tell you to get off the internet and just write already, but that doesn’t always solve your problem. I’ve greatly improved my ability to concentrate over the past few months, which has made me much more productive and satisfied with my work. Here are a few strategies that might help you focus and get more writing done.
Write in intervals
You’re going to get distracted — sometimes, there’s no way to avoid it. If you’re having trouble getting into a flow state, it might be better to use your inability to focus to your advantage. Try writing for 30 minutes straight without looking away from your screen. Set a timer so you don’t have to keep glancing at the time. Once 30 minutes hits, one of two things will happen. You’ll either stop writing and allow yourself to be distracted for 10 minutes or so, or you’ll keep writing, your temptation to do something else having disappeared.
Write what’s most interesting to you right now
I never write fiction in chronological order. If I have to step away from writing in the middle of a scene, it’s almost impossible for me to go back to it later with the same enthusiasm straightaway. If there’s a string of dialogue or an important plot point at the front of my mind, I write it, no matter where it appears in the story. Some days, you just have to write what you want, and skip over what you’re not in the mood for. You’ll concentrate much better when you’re fully invested in a scene or topic.
Pick a place and stay there
I’m all for a healthy change of scenery from one writing session to the next, but I can’t start writing in one place, pack up and move somewhere else, and continue on as if nothing’s changed. If that sounds a lot like you, make sure you’ve blocked out a block of writing time that doesn’t require getting up and moving somewhere else. I find it’s much easier to completely immerse myself in what I’m writing if I have the luxury of forgetting where I am and what time it is.
Designate your writing time as writing time only
If I really need to focus on writing something in the next few hours, and I’m able to, I completely eliminate all distractions from my immediate surroundings. I block certain websites I know I’ll be tempted to check, I put my phone upside down on my desk, I have a giant glass of water (and maybe a snack) within reach, I close my door, and I write. I don’t answer messages or emails (unless I’m working and someone pings me on Slack) — I completely isolate myself from the world for a designated chunk of time. And I live with three other people and a very needy cat. If I can do it, you can, too. If you have to, get up earlier or stay up later than everyone else to get that alone time you need.
Choose background noise, or silence
There are two kinds of writers: those who depend on background noise to concentrate, and those who will shave off your eyebrows while you’re sleeping if you so much as sneeze in their presence mid-creative burst. Figure out which one of these you are (I’m the latter) and make sure you’re in the right environment while you’re writing. Sometimes, light background noise like rain can help even those who hate interruptions. Everyone’s different. If you can’t stand noise but need to write in public, invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. My Beats are a lifesaver.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a freelance writer and a nine-time NaNoWriMo winner with work published in Teen Ink, Success Story, Lifehack and USA TODAY College. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Put phone upside down on desk? …Hm, I usually just toss it over my shoulder and hope it doesn’t break 😁
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Reblogged this on Pens of Erdington.
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I have WAY too many irons in the fire and invested in an Internet blocker (Freedom) –
writing time improved. Then I invested in an Alphasmart and don’t even turn devices on during writing time–problem solved (for me). 😄
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Reblogged this on Nesie's Place.
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Thanks for sharing!
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Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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I usually try to follow the 30 mins writing, 10 mins distractions pattern. Repeated several times it adds up to a reasonable amount of writing time.
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Spurts seem to work best for me and in addition, I put on headphones and a little easy listening music. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
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Great advice! Limiting distractions is such an important part of the writing process… I’ve recently taken to putting my phone in my bedroom drawer before heading to the office to write! 👍
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Great advice! Using dedicated writing time exclusively for writing is one of the most important aspects of my productivity. Schedules can get pushed to the limit, especially when multiple deadlines fall at once. Using that time without distraction has meant the difference in more than a few projects for me.
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The “set a writing time only” is great advice. I have concentration/brain fog issues that have worsened over the years with my chronic fatigue, so writing can sometimes come difficult for me not from lack of having something to say and (mostly) knowing how to say it, so any and all tips are great!
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Does anyone else listen to music you think your characters would like? I’ve tried that for a particular character and it definitely seems to work for me, especially to get in the mind set
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“There are two kinds of writers: …. and those who will shave off your eyebrows while you’re sleeping if you so much as sneeze in their presence mid-creative burst.”
I’m totally the no noise type! My hubby loves playing this one video game that has some extremely annoying repetitive noise that makes me crazy!!! It’s all I can do not to get up, walk calmly over to the TV, pick up the play station and smash it on the floor. A coffee shop, where all the noise just blurs into one probably wouldn’t bother me so much. It’s things like ticking clocks, a snoring husband, video game noises, or someone watching TV in the same room that disrupt me. I hear some people listen to music when they write, and honestly, I don’t know how they do it! I’d be typing along and before I know it, I’ll have typed out all the lyrics to The Dark Side of the Moon! Haha!
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Reblogged. Click my name to visit my blog. 😊
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this great post from The Writer’s Path blog with tips to help you concentrate while writing.
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Useful blog! I definitely find writing in intervals helpful on those days where I feel distracted. I recommend the Pomodoro technique for this. There are loads of apps that time your work sessions in 25 minute blocks, allowing little breaks in between.
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Excellent😊 Reblogging to my sister site, Success Inspirers World
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Thanks for sharing!
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I think that ambient-trance is a genre that is good for writing. I would say that it helps with creativity and as it is instrumental, there are no distractions. Silence or background noise is fine, too. Thank you for sharing ❤
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Thanks for sharing!
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Such brilliant and simple tips. I often have a hungry four year old that wants me to make him food as soon as I sit down and I like silence to write (so I can hear the voices in my head lol). I’m going to try your tips because eventually he will get busy and could write for 30 minutes if… I stay off the internet – that made me chuckle. So true 😄
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Great tips & I feel better after reading all the comments. I’ll be trying these tips out today (when baby finally naps).
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Thankyou for these insights very helpful, I look forward to putting them into practice.
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Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
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Reblogged this on WILDsound Festival.
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