It's the first Wednesday in the month (gosh, these come up quick!), and that means it's time for another session of IWSG. This is the brain-child of Alex J. Cavanaugh and includes so much more than just this bloghop. But the purpose remains the same, to give writers/authors a chance to admit to our insecurities or offer words of support to those who might need it at the moment. Because the world of writing is not as easy as it seems.
And special thanks goes to this months amazing co-hosts, Eva Solar Melanie Schulz, Lisa-Buie Collard, and Stephen Tremp!
This month, I almost totally spaced IWSG. Spring has come and life on our little farm has gone crazy! But I've been writing as much as I can. Okay, trying to write as much as I can.
That's where this month's insecurity kicks in. I need to get my MS done. It needs to get out. People are waiting to see it and won't be patient much longer. And they shouldn't be.
The problem? Getting my brain to kick in. I need it full-time, but it keeps wandering off. A word sprint comes, but as soon as I'm done editing whatever little scene needs to get done, my mind thinks it's time for a break. I grab it by the shirt-tails as it turns to walk away and yank it back into the chair, but it is soooo stubborn! And it's not like it needs to think of anything really new. The revisions are mostly clear and laid out on a beautiful spread sheet.
Focus. That's what the next weeks need to be about.
How do you get your mind to keep itself where it should be and get the work done?
Sometimes having a designated writing block can help. I have a small group of writers who "meet" every Monday night for a solid 60-90 minutes of writing, followed by an online chat about what we accomplished. Writing happens between 7:30-9:00 EST, with the chat at 9pm. Let me know if you'd like to join us!
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy. I latterly have to force myself to finish the task at hand before going on to the next. I'm a multi-tasker at heart and in my case, that's not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering if having a set writing time would help me focus. Everyone is so different, it's hard to know what will work for us! I discovered through my last round with NaNoWriMo that having a smaller goal to meet each day helped me be more productive. It took some of the pressure off. I'm re-implementing that with my current project. It's not just for crazy months! So maybe you can try that. You can figure out what you need to accomplish each day to finish on time, and then break that up into smaller sessions throughout the day. Maybe your brain needs that break!
ReplyDeleteI try to keep myself on deadlines, but I know what you mean. Sometimes it's just too hard to focus. When they hits, it's a sign that I need some inspiration to write so I always turn to my favorite books and read for awhile to remind myself the point of it all.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that a lot of us are having trouble writing or finding the time to write right now. I am one of them. Good luck with getting your MS out! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll just look at the calendar and see how much time has flown since the beginning of the year, and that will usually scare me into sitting back in front of the computer and writing again. :)
ReplyDeleteYou could lock yourself in a closet, but that wouldn't be much fun.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the short bursts are your style?
I have to differ with you. They will always wait. They're readers and readers read. So if it takes you a little longer, don't you fret. Good things are worth waiting for.
ReplyDeleteDianne - What a great idea! I'm going to get back to you on that.
ReplyDeleteMelanie - Lol! I hear you on that one. I usually try to do several things at once. Writing unfortunately doesn't work that way, does it?
Krystal - Maybe smaller bursts is better. Trick that brain ;)
Michelle - Books are always good!
Chrys - Yep, I noticed that on several posts too.
Ken - Lol! I'd freak if I saw that.
Alex - Hmmm....that depends on the closet ;) But burst might work. Always worth a try.
Joylene - :) But this is taking too long. I need to kick myself in the butt. But generally, I'd agree with you totally!
My novel has gotten nowhere in the past few months. That's not necessarily because of a lack of time, but because I'm closer to finishing my novella and I'm concentrating on that instead. But then again, when I'm writing, it tends to be in tiny little bursts. The Internet is my biggest distraction.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. I find the more I let myself off the hook, the easier it is. Lol. If I get into a habit of staying on track, then I do better.
ReplyDeleteHey, that's me! I am a distraction unto myself. Someone once said that men are focused and women are diffused awareness. I just feel more diffused than I should some days.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, T! I love the bit about how your mind keeps wandering off. Mine does too. Perhaps we should consider learning how to throw a lasso? :-)
ReplyDeleteFor me with the push to do A-Z, I was jumping, raring to go... now I've slowed down. I think it's okay. I'm taking mini breaks and enjoying them; pen and paper go with me just in case.
ReplyDeleteAh, that sounds like spring fever! I always get this way this time of year. I want to be outside, not stuck inside writing. I'm not sure what the cure is...
ReplyDeleteI have two ways of making myself stay focused when writing. First, I choose a song for each book, and I listen to it as I'm preparing to sit down and write. It's a little ritual that tells me okay, this is what I'm doing now, writing time is about to begin. I also choose a CD for each book (yes, I still get music on actual CDs), and listen to that from start to finish when I write. I tell myself no leaving the word processor, no checking e-mail or Twitter or what-have-you, until the CD has ended and my writing's done for the day.
ReplyDeleteIt works remarkably well. Good luck with your own work. ^_^
Oh, this could have been my IWSG post. I didn't write about a need to focus, but I definitely need to do that. I keep thinking . . . squirrel! Cat wants in. Dog wants out. Kids need something. E-mail, facebook, . . . oh, wait, I was working on a WIP. Hmm. :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your focus this month!
I have no dogs, cats, raptors or biker mice. I DO have an addiction to hockey, and that mars my efforts in writing.
ReplyDeleteFocus isn't always easy. I get distracted by the littlest of things. Scheduling specific times to write/edit helps me a lot.
ReplyDeleteFunny you ask. I have the same problem and there is a trick I have been practicing. Mindfulness. I meditate for twenty minutes each morning, just focusing on my breathing. During the day when I notice my mind is no longer with me, I focus on my breathing and count to ten, it is working. Slowly, but working.
ReplyDeleteI am going through something similar. I know I need to finish my MS. I just find it very hard to set aside a few hours every day for fiction writing. For me, I have to remind myself of the "successes" I've had. Last week, I remained glued to my chair for a few hours and I wrote/revised 40 pages. When I feel discouraged, I reference that little bit of progress that I made.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to stay into the habit of writing. I was 'out' too for a while and it's so difficult to get going again. The secret really is to keep on writing for the muse to kick in.
ReplyDeleteMy brain wanders off most of the time. Sometimes it's a chore to get her where she needs to be, so I understand what you're saying. I take a little time every day and meditate for a few minutes to clear my head. Our minds get so filled up with the everyday things, it becomes too cluttered to focus on what we need it to focus on. It's part of what helped me get through the A-Z.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and comment on my blog earlier this week. Eva, IWSG co-host
Tell your brain it'll get a break after doing a page of the spreadsheet, or however much needs done! I'm seriously impressed by how organised that sounds - you can see what needs done at a glance, so that's a win. I completely spaced on IWSG as I posted my A-Z reflections, but hopefully I'm forgiven!
ReplyDeleteI'm having the same problems. I'm doing a lot for writing but outside of actually putting words on the page. Bad writer! *slaps own knuckles* I hope we both get more done this month.
ReplyDeleteI stick to my weekly goals, but even with that it's sometimes hard to get going. I usually end up cramming on weekends, when I should pace myself better on weekdays. I don't beat myself up if I don't meet personal deadlines, because some manuscripts need more time to be polished. It really helps me to post goals online to keep myself accountable. I also visit my critique group every month.
ReplyDeleteits not been so easy with me, trying to do a lot of things, but what have to be done... cant be missed out.
ReplyDeleteyou have wonderful blog,
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I've never managed to stop my brain wandering off - I just go with the flow, as much as possible. This is much easier in the early drafts - I can just flit from scene to scene, beginning to end and back again - than final edit stage. Snacks, hot chocolate and music can work! Good luck :-)
ReplyDeleteMy brain wanders off often, but when I am focused, I'm really focused and I get work done quickly. Good luck!
ReplyDelete