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.

An Author's Nightmare

As a writer, I have many nightmares, but I think the biggest thing I struggle with is validation with my peers. I'm not writing this as a sob story or for attention, just sharing some of my thoughts and ways I've been able to deal with my publishing anxiety.

After Avrin and I published our novella, Coup De Grăce, sales were amazing. We sold 9 copies within the first few days, but then, nothing. Our sales have literally come to a standstill and even with Coup De Grăce on Kindle Unlimited, we still don't even have page reads.

Here are some of the thoughts running through my head:

1. Is Coup De Grăce a terrible novella? Do people hate It?

2. Have I done everything in my power to promote it?

3. Do I really just not have any friends who are willing to read my work?

I think the biggest kicker, and I already knew this, so I shouldn't be surprised, but I really thought with my visibility on social media, we would sell more copies. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this to be conceited, but there have been a number of friends books from social media that I have purchased and read, just because they were my friends. But, I get it, the writing community on Twitter is not to sell books, it's to connect with other authors, so I shouldn't be surprised.

I found myself hovering over the sales page and the reviews for Coup De Grăce, literally checking multiple times a day, but I can't be a helicopter author anymore. So, if you find yourself in my situation, here are a few things that I'm doing to keep myself motivated and distracted.

1. I recently read that once you publish something, you need to prepare to publish again within 18 months, so I have strapped on my seatbelt and I'm on the fast track to getting my next novel ready.

2. I've let my anxiety about Coup De Grăce go. I know that we wrote a good novella, and I'm refusing to let anyone diminish that. I never expected to get rich or become a best seller after publishing one work, so why am I setting my standards so high?

3. I'm going to focus on building my author platform and get everyone excited about my next novel. If you want to be a successful author, people need to know who you are. So I'm putting myself out there. I will try to participate in more writing and author events.

4. I have really dove into getting some of my short stories published. In the past 2 weeks, I have submitted 2 stories for AFOW and 1 to Reedsy.com. If I can get my name out there and get people to read my other stories, maybe they will be more interested in reading Coup De Grăce.

So, if you find yourself in my situation, just take a deep breath, forget your KDP login for a few weeks, and refocus yourself on your writing. Don't let lack of sales get you down and don't let bad reviews diminish your work. You've accomplished something just by finishing and publishing a novel. You are an author now. Live that moment and don't let anyone take it away from you.

#WIPchatBuddies

Looking for a Beta-Reader or Critique Partner?

Come join us on Monday, May 7th all day long and find your perfect Beta-Reader or CP.

First things first. Let's talk about the differences between a beta reader and critique partner. By definition, a beta reader is really just a reader who reads before you publish. You should not be seeking beta readers unless you have a complete and polished manuscript. A beta reader also will only make big picture suggestions.

A critique partner is someone who will go through your work, scouring the pages for mistakes and issues. Normally, I don't look for critique partners until I've finished a second draft, but I've heard of people doing it on their first drafts. A CP will offer very detailed feedback and might even spot and grammar/spelling issues. Most of the time a CP will be a swap. You will critique their work, while they critique your work.

Every writer needs critiques and beta-readers. I personally swear by critiques to improve my writing. So I will be hosting an event to help each of you find a CP or beta reader. Here are some things to include in your Tweet on Monday.

Frankenwife

The sound of an alarm rang. It was a small, brightly lit room, filled with whirring machines. A man stood in the middle of the room, his eyes gleaming with excitement. His hair mussed and his long, white lab coat covered in coffee stains. He had been working non-stop for the last five months in a desperate attempt to return his life to what it used to be. 

“This is it.” He stepped towards the long tube like machine in front of him and pressed his palm to the sensor. The doors whooshed open, the air sending his mussed hair every which way.

A Trip Home

This story was inspired by another short story I recently wrote, Home. Check out the original piece here. 

A Trip Home

My name is William Stone. Also known as Willy B, roughest, toughest dope dealer in town. No one fucked with Willy B, unless they had a death wish.

Now, I'm stuck in this cell and I don't know how to get out. Let me tell you what happened.

The Midnight Vixen

This week, I'm sharing a short story written by Avrin Kelly. It's inspired by my short story, Home, which can be found here, if you haven't checked it out.

I'm honored to present:

The Midnight Vixen

I have a bit of a strange hobby: I like to run around my city at night and fight crime. You know, give those assholes who like to bother unsuspecting women in dark corners a run for their money.

Surprise them, right when they think they've won.

I used to be a gymnast, and that made it a little easier for me to learn parkour. It's the best way to get around in a tight spot.

Think outside the box; go under or over an obstacle. Really keep them guessing at what I might do next.

The Amazing Twitter Community

I'm no expert when it comes to Twitter, and I learn new things everyday. I started my Twitter experience in September of 2017 and I now have around 5,000 followers. Most of them are probably bots, but I have met some amazing people. The writing community on Twitter is something I've never experienced before. You will find some of the most supportive and helpful people here. Not only is there an amazing writing community, there's a community for just about everyone here.

So how do you get started: