It’s obvious that if you want to get writing work done, you need to minimize the distractions that take you away from the writing. It’s obvious; but it’s not easy. I have offered writing consultation advice to a number of people through one-on-one interaction as well as published articles and I always include ways to minimize writing distractions. But the truth is that the tricks don’t matter. What it really boils down to is having self-control and self-discipline. It’s about committing to your work. Once you’ve made that commitment, cutting down on the writing distractions is really fairly easy.
I was reminded of this today because I feel like I overcommitted myself a little bit to a new project. But I’m excited about it, so I’m happy to do it. It just means that I need to drastically reduce the distractions and increase the focus. So this morning, I woke up at the usual time. (I wake up early but without an alarm clock; I need enough sleep and waking up naturally in order to work well.) I got my normal cup of coffee and eased into the day. I read part of a book from the library because that’s what I do most mornings. But instead of lingering over the pages, considering dipping into a new book or otherwise making reading a reason not to work … I put the book away after a few pages and committed to writing.
The distractions were there if I wanted to entertain them. I’d been working on making a mixed CD for a gift and I hadn’t finished it so I could’ve easily started listening to music to try and complete that project. I wanted to finish the DVD of shows that I’d gotten so I could return it to Blockbuster. But I didn’t turn it on. I didn’t stop to go to breakfast with the friend who asked. I didn’t answer the text messages that came through. These are things that I normally have the luxury of doing during the day. And that’s part of what I like about the writer’s life. Some days are free for indulging in distractions. But some days are not those days and the committed writer knows the difference.
You can get advice from professionals about minimizing distractions. They’ll tell you to only check email once in the morning and once in the afternoon, to turn off IM programs, to set goals. They’ll tell you that if you’re a WAHM, you need to turn a video on for the kids or get a mommy’s helper for the day. They’ll tell you that you need to eat breakfast and lunch and not wander into the kitchen five times in between. But you don’t need them to tell you these things. You know what distracts you. And you know that if you make the conscious decision that you’re not going to let it distract you, it won’t (barring emergencies, of course).
Minimizing writing distractions is about committing to your work. It’s about taking yourself seriously. And it’s about doing what you’re supposed to do instead of what you want to do. But ultimately, if your career in writing is what you want to do, it all serves the same purpose.
[Tags] writing, time management, distraction, writing tips, writing advice [/Tags]
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