It’s unusual for me to miss the Sunday check in, but I just didn’t really get on my computer yesterday. I can tell that by all the emails I had waiting in my inbox today. I was just kind of unplugged yesterday. Not my normal day.
I really didn’t get much done last week. Fewer than 1,000 words. I finally figured out what my problem is, I just don’t know what to do about it. I can’t FOCUS. Every time I sit down to write, all these things are going through my head. Stuff I need to be doing. Like Saturday, all I could think of was that I needed to go to the pharmacy and get the needles for my insulin pens. And sometimes I’m thinking about the housework that needs doing. Or something. If any of you have any good ideas on how to stay focused on my WIP instead of my brain flitting around to everything else, PLEASE let me know. I used to be able to churn out a story in no time, my fingers flying over the keyboard almost every day. Of course, my plots are becoming more complicated, too. Anyway…HELP!
lauralynnelliott.com 
Sounds like brain needs holiday from creativity, how to help I dont know –
Me I walk away and with list of to-do in hand spend a few days to do-ing the mundane, leaving imagination to do what it will. I visit friends, chill out, read somethng of TBR pile. Maybe I tidy bits, -sort files, paint fence catch up on the cobwebs whatever.
Then one day brain re-engages and says its overflowing with words and I can settle again.
Lists/ planning/ structuring all sometimes help to get one back on track
all the best:)
Thanks, Alberta. I have some things I need to do in my office, like hang a couple of pictures on the wall and stick on some beach themed decals. Maybe if I focus on my work space first…. Or maybe do some meditation. It’s just crazy. My head’s never been this unfocused.
This is why I started the meditation. It helps quiet my mind. The thing with meditation is its not about blanking your mind but about letting the thought cone and go like debris in a stream. And then I also like to sit down with a pad and pen and jot out a sketch of where I need the scene to go. That too helps me focus.
Thanks, Kait for your suggestions. I know most people think meditation has to be about blanking out your mind, but what you say makes much more sense. And jotting down what I want the scene to be…that will probably help. I’m going to try both those things tonight.
I don’t know what will work for you, but I have to force myself to sit down and write after I’ve been away from writing. You have had a lot going on and it’s forced you to think about multiple things at once. That probably has something to do with how you feel. It’s hard to unwind after all of that.
Anyway, for me, I have to get back to writing and pretty much force it for at least half a month before I feel like writing or feel focused on the story again. So (for me) taking any more delays would be the wrong move. What helps is having a playlist to go with the story, a break at 15 minutes to sip on my favorite drink, or marking down my word count on the visual bar (even if it’s not much) because seeing the progress inspires me to keep trudging through the hurdle.
But it’s what will work for you and knowing how you need to work past the inability to focus. 😀 I hope you find out what you can do.
I’m glad Anya’s dad is doing better. 😀
I think I’m going to try a mixture of what everyone has suggested. The meditation that Kait suggested, letting myself go ahead and do some of those things that are distracting me like Alberta mentioned, and giving myself breaks while writing like you suggest. Also, you might be right about forcing it. Once I do, maybe I’ll get the momentum. It’s worth a try. I’ve never had a desire to have a playlist for my stories, though. I know a lot of people do, but i find music very distracting when I’m writing. I like complete silence. Except when I’m writing something spooky, then I like a good thunderstorm. 🙂
I have to force myself to write a lot of the time. So many distractions that I really have to just shut out for a bit.
If you want to stay focused, stay off internet and time yourself writing for one hour. Do not leave the room until those 60 minutes are up.
That’s kind of what I do, Emma, make myself do it for an hour. But I’m more productive when my mind isn’t flitting around everywhere. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. At least the internet isn’t a problem for me. I know a lot of writers say they get caught up on the internet and don’t get any writing done. If I’m writing, I never get on the internet during that time unless I need to research something really quickly, and then I ONLY look up that and get right back. It’s all the stuff going through my mind that distracts me.
You’re lucky. I go to look up just one thing and keep hopping from website to website!
I’m a tremendous fan of lists. My mind is usually flitting all over the place, but at least if I keep a list handy that I can add things to, I’m able to set aside that particular distraction for a while. Stephen Covey refers to the urgent and the important. The urgent are those things that distract us from doing what is truly important. I try to keep that in mind too. All the best!
Well, my insulin needles were important. LOL. But, you know, talking about lists…if I make a list, then maybe I will feel more organized and can let those things go. Maybe even list a timeline, like when I need to get certain things done. 🙂
Excellent! Let me know how it goes. And yes, the insulin needles would be important. 🙂