Struggles of a Writer: Dealing with Distractions

Let's face it, as a writer there are so many things that can distract us. Whether it be kids, Twitter, animals, or other every day activities. Either way it goes, if you want to make it as an author, you have to figure out a way to write those stories that so desperately want to be written. I am by no means an expert on eliminating distractions, but here are some of the things I find helpful.



1. Write when everyone in the house is either sleeping or away. It's true, I don't have kids, so I don't have to worry about the distractions of being a mother, but I do have a house full of animals and a husband who finds it amusing to talk to me when I'm in the middle of writing. So, I spend a lot of my time writing at night when he's asleep, or in the mornings when he's at work.








2. Write with headphones on. This might not work for some of you that have a young one running around, but for me if I'm trying to write and people are being loud, I pull out my headphones and just write away. Turn up the volume and blast your favorite music.





3. Disconnect your laptop from the internet and hide your phone. Twitter is so distracting. There are so many amazing people and awesome conversations to take part in, but I've found that if I don't connect my laptop to the internet and hide my phone, I'm not distracted by the urge to check my account. Also, when I'm writing, I give myself breaks where I can check Twitter or Facebook or just do some Googling. Every hour I write, I award myself 15-20 minutes of Twitter time.


4. Be sure everyone has what they need before you start writing. This is always hard to do, but for me, before I start writing I let the dogs outside, fill their bowls with food, and give them some attention before I sit down to start writing.


5. Escape for a few hours. Sometimes writing in the same old place gets a little monotonous, so when I have that feeling, I'll take my laptop outside and write in the fresh air, or go to my favorite coffee shop or book store and do some writing.







6. Sometimes the stress of everyday life can be a huge distraction. Before I start writing for the day, I always take a relaxing shower or bath and get in the most comfortable clothes I can find. I've found that if I'm comfortable, I'll get more done.

However you deal with distractions, the important part about writing is rewarding yourself for what work you do get done. Why not reward yourself with your favorite dinner out after you finish 10 chapters? Or why not buying yourself a few books after you finish a draft? You should be proud of your accomplishments.

These tips might be helpful to you, or you might just think I have no clue what I'm talking about, but either way if you want to be a successful author, you have to write. And in order to write, you have to be able eliminate distractions and get the job done. If you have any tips or tricks that you'd like to share, be sure to leave a comment in the section below.