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Don’t Let Distractions Distract You
By Dana Mitchells
Like death and taxes, distractions are inevitable. We get distracted when we drive, try to go to sleep, cook a meal, or put something together. Too often, we can also get distracted from writing.
And it seems that the more we try to avoid distractions so we can write, the worse they seem to get (and more frequent).
But the good news is that writers can actually put distractions to work for them. That’s right, folks: There is a light at the end of that distraction tunnel. Keep in mind certain tips to follow so
while you peel your child’s apple or put out a fire, you can keep writing and keep your sanity, too.
· Keep writing (in your head).
While you are away from your writing because a child needs your help with something or someone is at the door, try to keep that writing fire alive by writing in your head. Often, writers are one or two sentences ahead of their typing or scribbling and you can take advantage of this by continuing to write in your head. This also gives you the opportunity to “edit” what you are saying. How does it sound? Is it interesting enough to make you want to write it down right away? Does it keep your attention? While certain distractions can hinder this task, it’s important that you keep in mind what you want to say so that you will remember to write it when the distraction has passed.
· Test your ideas on the distracter.
Okay, this is the part where we get to seek revenge for being pulled away from our work. If someone is going to bug us with their needs, we can bug them, too. If you’re not sure about the salability of an article idea or if something a character would say sounds realistic, why not take advantage of this distraction by testing what you want to write? While you are reaching for a jar in a high shelf or fixing a toy that just broke, consider taking this moment out of your head to ask the distracter, “Hey, what do you think about an article on tractor engines?” Or something like, “If somebody you barely knew left you something in their will, what do you think it would be?” With any luck, you’ll get some valuable feedback on your idea (or a puzzled look if your distracter happens to be a toddler) and you can keep this input in mind as you write.
· Write out loud.
This may seem silly, but saying what you want to write next will help you to remember it better. More importantly, it gives you the chance to “listen” to what you want to write. Spoken writing is easier to do than mental writing because saying what you want to write makes you feel more relaxed and it allows your mind to have complete authority over how your thoughts have been put into words. By saying aloud what you want to write before you write it, you have the chance to receive feedback on it (did it pique anyone’s interest?), think about it and easily figure out what to say next.
· Use something else to write with.
If the distraction means you must be away from your writing for an extended period of time, consider using something else, such as a spiral notebook, tape recorder, or laptop, to write with. I keep a notebook in every room of my house because there will be times I must stop writing to fix a snack, give my daughter her bath, or feed the dogs. This will help you to keep writing even if you must be away from your desk. Keep a tape recorder or a small, pocket-sized notebook with you so
you can keep writing no matter what happens.
· Look for more writing ideas while you are distracted.
Ideas are everywhere and as much as we hate to be distracted from our writing, distractions are ideally great opportunities for you to get more ideas. You may get ideas for new articles to write, something to use in your writing, or an issue you can explore in an essay. Keep your writing mind in tune even if you cannot write, because distractions are a great way for you to solve any writing problems you may be having.
· Take time to review.
If you are like many writers, you think about what you’ve written right after you wrote it. While this can be lethal to your creative fire while you are writing, it can be helpful when distractions strike. If you are at a point where you can’t think about what to write next, use your distraction as an opportunity to go over what you’ve written. Think about what you’ve said: Did you write a particular sentence in an active way? Are you putting into your work everything you promised in your query? Have you covered all of the bases and answered all of the questions? Is there anything else you should include? Think about these questions whenever you get distracted from your work. Your answers can help you approach your writing with a fresher and more enthusiastic drive the next chance you have to write.
Distractions can be harmful to a writer furiously at work, yet they shouldn’t get the better of you. In the event that a distraction occurs, keep one of the above tips in mind so that you can get the better of them instead.
Dana Mitchells is the Internet pen name of the writer and author Dawn Colclasure. She is the author of the horror
novel November's
Child, as well as the poetry chapbooks Take
My Hand and Topiary Dreams. She’s been published both on and off the Web in the newspapers The Desert Woman and SIGNews as well as the Web
sites Write From Home (http://www.writefromhome.com/interviews/367lyon.htm), The Writer Within, Just About Write
(http://www.justaboutwrite.com/A_Archive_5TipsWorkday.html) and Worldwide Freelance Writer
(http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/articles/rejdance.htm). Her poetry has appeared in Cold Glass
(http://www.coldglassmag.com/Colclasure.html), Panic! Poetry & Arts
(http://homepages.which.net/~panic.brixtonpoetry/silence.htm) and All-Info About Poetry
(http://poetry.allinfo-about.com/newsletters/poetry-newsletter62.html). Her Web site is at
http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/dawncolclasuressite/index.html.
As a stay-at-home mom, she has faced many distractions, all of which ultimately helped her in her writing.
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