Does anyone find this happening when they work sometimes? Like, some days, I just trudge through it and accomplish less in a half hour than I do other days. But I know if I can concentrate better, I'd be more productive.
When your concentration flags
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Some days are certainly more productive than others.
But what do you mean 'concentrate better?' Do you mean being side-tracked by other things?
It's hard for me to sit down and write without doing something to break my concentration.
But you need to do somethings to clear your mind:
I like music, headphones on and a good band to play for 4 hours.
Clear your desk
Clear what's in front of you
Wear something comfortable. I tie my shirt sleeves up because I sweat when I write and the sweat rolling down antagonizes me. So the sleeves soak everything up.
Make sure you have your provisions. Water and you already ate. Go to the bathroom before hand.
Some people like to do something before they write. Like wearing a certain hat while they write. When I'm blocked, I get out the laptop I started out writing on and start from there.
But you need to do somethings to clear your mind:
I like music, headphones on and a good band to play for 4 hours.
Clear your desk
Clear what's in front of you
Wear something comfortable. I tie my shirt sleeves up because I sweat when I write and the sweat rolling down antagonizes me. So the sleeves soak everything up.
Make sure you have your provisions. Water and you already ate. Go to the bathroom before hand.
Some people like to do something before they write. Like wearing a certain hat while they write. When I'm blocked, I get out the laptop I started out writing on and start from there.
Me too! I've also found, for what it's worth, that when I push myself to work on low-concentration days what I write is usually really good.
Don't fret too much about this sort of thing. If it's not a productive day, don't put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I find that if you do, it just sounds like crap anyway.
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I have concentration problems. "Concentration problems" is a bit vague but specifically I struggle with:
1) Easily distracted (by things that are 'easier' to do like surfing the Internet).
2) Unable to logically figure things out. I can see there's a problem with something, and have some idea of how to fix it, but can't figure out how to get from A to B. Even for pretty basic problems. I really don't have a solution for this.
3) Complete lack of motivation/willpower. (I just don't see the point/I don't care/I give up easily.)
4) Inability to focus because I have too many other things on my mind.
As a result, I cannot read anything remotely difficult, and it's pretty much impossible for me to find solutions to complex problems. I also struggle with expressing myself, and difficulty telling if I'm being clear and precise.
This issues affect me more at my job than with my writing, I think. At least, I am less worried about how they might affect my writing.
I try to put myself in a better frame of mind by going for a walk or something like that, usually with limited results. On really bad days, I try not to push myself, (but that doesn't work so well when it comes to my job). Also, if I'm really stuck, I let myself move on to something else. No point beating myself up over it. Overcoming #3 to some extent helps me move on to dealing with the others, but it drains me to force myself to be motivated day after day when I'm really not.
1) Easily distracted (by things that are 'easier' to do like surfing the Internet).
2) Unable to logically figure things out. I can see there's a problem with something, and have some idea of how to fix it, but can't figure out how to get from A to B. Even for pretty basic problems. I really don't have a solution for this.
3) Complete lack of motivation/willpower. (I just don't see the point/I don't care/I give up easily.)
4) Inability to focus because I have too many other things on my mind.
As a result, I cannot read anything remotely difficult, and it's pretty much impossible for me to find solutions to complex problems. I also struggle with expressing myself, and difficulty telling if I'm being clear and precise.
This issues affect me more at my job than with my writing, I think. At least, I am less worried about how they might affect my writing.
I try to put myself in a better frame of mind by going for a walk or something like that, usually with limited results. On really bad days, I try not to push myself, (but that doesn't work so well when it comes to my job). Also, if I'm really stuck, I let myself move on to something else. No point beating myself up over it. Overcoming #3 to some extent helps me move on to dealing with the others, but it drains me to force myself to be motivated day after day when I'm really not.
+1 Fighting through that initial inertia usually results in me getting deeper in the zone than normal & it the final product is quite good.
To the OP: Don't worry too much about it - it's bound to happen, especially if you're writing every day. Anxiety is a bigger block for me than lack of concentration, so I mentally prepare for off-days ahead of time so that I'm less tempted to give up in the moment. (e.g. If I'm having trouble concentrating, I'll write 150 words & see how I feel after that. I'll disable the internet, or I'll put on my favourite song, or I'll sip a glass of wine & eat a treat to help me get in the mood.)
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Actually, if you intend to go pro, I suggest just the opposite. Prolific authors don't wait for the urge in order to produce. It's called work ethic, and figuring out how to fortify our own is a very worthwhile pursuit. If everyone waited to feel like working before they worked nothing would ever get done.
And most people (that I've seen) write a similar quality all the time (with an increase in quality--generally--the more they write), regardless if they feel the work was inspired or forced. As long as your over all story is inspiring the words won't fail you just because you're pushing them out.
ETA: I suggest removing as many distractions as you cam from your work environment. No TV, no phone, no Internet. When it's just you and the blank page, there's little else to do but write.
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... read an article on yahoo today that said that the spice Rosemary can increase mental focus. Probably just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, though you never know.
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I've stopped fighting that battle. On low concentration days, I do something my mind wants to concentrate on.
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I read a quote from a famous author, forget who, who said if you keep writing past your first wind you'll find you can go for quite a long period of time.
I find in my own writing sometimes that some of the stuff I wrote while tired or that I thought was "blah" was actually much better than it seemed at the moment (I was reading my work as I wrote it with no energy or enthusiasm, but the work was still well-written and when I returned to it in the morning it I appreciated it more). It may take some editing but that'll be the case either way.
I find in my own writing sometimes that some of the stuff I wrote while tired or that I thought was "blah" was actually much better than it seemed at the moment (I was reading my work as I wrote it with no energy or enthusiasm, but the work was still well-written and when I returned to it in the morning it I appreciated it more). It may take some editing but that'll be the case either way.
... cool. If there's anything to it, your garden-grown variety is sure to be extra potent ;-) ps While on the subject, spices and herbs sure are expensive these days. If I had the resources and know-how I'd grow my own too.
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