I'm pretty close to finishing my WIP. Which is awesome. I plan on buying myself a pretty new pen for revisions once it's complete. And even though I'm close, and should be excited and stuff, the ending is just dragging a bit. I never have problems with endings. But this one? Bleh.
Well it's still got some space to shape up, we'll see how it goes.
What I really want to talk about is getting distracted. I'm easily distracted, especially from writing. I'm never going to be one of those writers who LOVES to write, who can't go a day without doing it and all that other stuff. No, I'm one of those writers who find any excuse AT ALL to avoid writing. Spider Solitaire? Just one game...or maybe just until I win a game. Check some blogs? Yeah that won't take long. Oh, I'd better write a blog entry before I get too far behind. Shoot some zombies? Hells yeah I want to shoot some zombies.
I'll shoot zombies with Nick, Ellis Coach and Rochelle any time...That last one is particularly tricky. There have been a few times where I've turned down the zombie shooting, and then I always regret it. It's not something one can join in the middle of either, since we play online. The few times I've declined, I spend the whole time watching Brother play L4D2, not writing, and wishing I was playing too. At least if i play, well I have some fun.
So I try really hard to get my writing done before anyone else gets home from work. But some days I don't succeed. But then, of course, some days I put in 8K.
So maybe it all balances out? Yeah... let's go with that.
Anyone else find certain things distract them beyond recovery?
13 comments:
I find video games very distracting. I try to limit it to one hour, but I often go over that limit. Fortunately, once I begin writing, I'm pretty focused.
EVERYTHING distracts me. My daughter, the laundry, the dishes, the dust bunnies. I really do have to force myself to sit down and write. Perhaps now, that my book is out in query land, I'm finding it even more difficult to get down to the second book. I'm just not sure if I want to do that, my YA, or my contemporary. If someone would just TELL me what to do, I could focus, but not having an agent, I'm left to my own decices and can't decide.
Do I get distracted? Sister, you got no idea how distracted I can get.
I'm totally like you. I love writing once I get going, and get mad when something cuts that time short (or I don't have much to begin with) but when it comes time to sit down and actually get started, it's amazing the things that can distract me. Sometimes it's things I would even want to do normally, like laundry.
This is why I finished my NaNo book at Panera. Less distractions (though I still had to resist the urge to read blogs or checky my work email).
I love videa games...especially, in the winter. So it's hard to talk myself out of playing. I especially love playing useless action games like Diner Dash, Wedding Dash, Ranch Rush, Jojo's Fashion Show...etc.
And in the summer, it's all "I should go outside because it's nice out."
All of which distracts me from writing.
If "Sense and Sensibility" comes on TV, all other activity must cease. I swear, Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon - Lord Have Mercy and forgive these impure thoughts.
I loves me some Alan Rickman.
Alex - playing video games is, hands down, my biggest distraction.
Piedmont - if i were you, i'd start something different from what you have out in Queryland. It'll get your focus off that novel and therefore, off the worry
Teebore - at Panera, i would be distracted by the food
Palindrome - OMG i LOVE Diner Dash! i used to have it on my phone, and would play it until i perfected it!
Joan - sadly, i have not seen Sense and Sensibility. But Alan Rickman is indeed full of awesome sauce.
Palindrome - who don't?
I am the queen of easy distractions. Just give me an excuse and I'm on it: kids, food, phone, blogging, food... :-)
Distracting? First and foremost, my own self-doubt is my biggest distractor. After that, it's Facebook, Flickr, the blogs of others, my animals, watching my bird feeders, cleaning, Picnik... oh honey, I could go on and on.
(and is it creepy that my word verification for this is "kilit"...?)
Shannon - mmmmmm food distractions are delicious
Zen - oooh i forgot about self doubt. That is a WIP killer!
Hahahaha! Shooting zombies...oh my word. I'd have nightmares for an eternity (though it doesn't take much to cause that).
Anyway, the sad thing is I love writing, live for it, and get totally anxious when I let too much time pass without it. And yet, I still find every excuse not to. Bizarre, no?
Good luck with the ending to your novel!! You can do t!
I get distracted. Or, really, things come up that I have to put higher on the priority list. But, I generally shame myself into getting something done every day. Mini goals help.
I like your idea of getting a new pen. I know I have a certain pen I like using for my editing.
Carolina - ahh, but you see, shooting the zombies PREVENTS the nightmares. Because, they're all dad. Natch
Dominique - i mean, who doens't like buying new pens? i'll take any excuse to go shopping...
I wish my shame was as strong as yours.
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