Time for another posting with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, where writers can share their
insecurities and encourage one another. IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh
and we share our posts the first Wednesday of the month.
My focus has been so far off lately.
That is why I can’t seem to get anything done. Lack of time is not the problem.
It’s complete lack of motivation, discipline, and focus. My mind is constantly
going in ten different directions and I never know which lead to follow.
Sometimes it’s with writing: should I write a blog post? Should I be working on
a short story? A novel? A children’s book? I have all of that floating in my
head that needs to get out on the page before it all dies. But, this goes far
beyond writing decisions. Getting myself to sit down and write is a chore in
and of itself. Ever a distracted procrastinator, I find everything else to do and I start random
crafts or projects. I actually did finish a couple long term projects this last
month, which was nice. I suppose I need to find motivation in those moments of
accomplishment, even if it’s not with writing. If I could get more of the
organizational projects out of the way, I may be able to focus more on my
writing (or so I tell myself). One of my finished projects involved creating a
significant amount of storage space in my room, which allows me to FINALLY
clear off the random books, crafts and sewing supplies on my desk. That is my
next project, to sort and move that stuff so my computer can have its old home
back. My current set up in the living room is too full of distractions like the
TV, large window, and cats. I have read that it’s helpful to find a place to
get away from distractions, so I am working on creating that space.
 |
| My current "writing" spot |
In
the midst of the storage wars, I did manage little bits of writing here and
there. One day, when I intentionally sat down for ten minutes to write, I wrote
350 words. Now that may not sound like a lot, but I did the math :) If I only
wrote 300 words per day, every day, I would have 109,500 words by the end of
the year! I know more experienced writers probably manage a lot more than that,
and then there’s the editing and revising stages and beyond, but that still
looks like a good number to start with for a beginning novelist like me,
especially in only ten minutes a day. Feeling motivated yet?
Sometimes it's hard to write when you have other things hanging over your head.
ReplyDeleteBe careful when you sit down in your favorite spot. You might squish a cat.
I can see why they recommend if you are going to write to find a place with no distractions. Maybe try to discipline yourself to 10 minutes of writing a day, first with any topic, then something you might want to start working on?
ReplyDeletebetty
I also heard that having a writing time helps. (It never worked for me, though.) Make yourself sit down at a specific time and write. Something. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteCurrently right there with you. What helps me most is to force myself to write. Set a timer and go. Even if you don't want to, even if there are five million other things on your list that you need or want to do, even if all you want to do is sleep. Take 30 minutes (for example) and sit in front of a computer screen or pad of paper or typewriter (whatever you want), and think. Pad of paper might be the most useful if you like drawing or coming up with mind maps. If you can't sit, maybe use a chalkboard or whiteboard hanging on the wall. Try a standing desk? Or get out of the house? Starbucks? the park? the library?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what will work for you, but in the meantime, I just have to say how awesomely cute your writing spot currently is with all of the cats. No wonder you can't get anything written! :)
With Love,
Mandy
that is a lot of words in a very short piece of time. I write more than that per day but nowhere at that pace.
ReplyDelete