The best part? There are only three weeks left until I get to be a full-time writer. Well, at least for the summer (the benefits of being a teacher who gets summers off). This will be the first time that I'll be devoting my summer to writing, and I'm excited!
Of course, if I had my way, this would be my view from my desk:
But since I don't own a private paradise--at least not yet--I'll settle for my humble writing desk. Besides, how could I write with that outside? If my full-time writing experience is going to be effective, I have to limit as many distractions as possible.
I'm curious, what do you do to limit distractions? Do you set a writing schedule or a word count? Do you plan your blogging/commenting time? Do you reward yourself for good behavior? I'd love you hear your suggestions before I embark on my new adventure.
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15 comments:
I actually need o turn off the internet to get writing done!
I have more time to write in the summer as well! Isn't it great?
I set a 1k word count goal for myself, but I up it in the summer.
Good luck with those essays. :)
I go in the bathroom and lock the door. Sometimes it feels like that's my only option! LOL!
Have a great weekend! :-)
I definitely try to shut off the Internet and put the phone away. And a word count goal helps too. You'll be great!!
I need this advice big time! I don't get as many days off during the summer, and so I have to make the most of each one!
Thanks for posting the good question!
First of all--New Follower! *waves* And I'm #99. One more and you hit those exciting triple digits!
Not sure how I've missed your blog all this time, but I've found you now (dun dun dunnnnn). I love connecting with other writers.
Personally, I don't set goals as far as word count, just because sometimes I get stuck on a scene, and will get very little done, even though I worked for a long time. So usually I just limit my distractions. I lock the cats and husband out. Close all my web browser windows (even turning off my WiFi if I have to) and set a time limit for how late I must work till. Works really well. Though the best was having my agent put a deadline on me. Boy did THAT get me to accomplish a lot. :)
Anyway, sorry for the rambly comment. Look forward to getting to know you!
Send some of that better weather over to us, please....
When I'm on a project, I have a page count or word count that I try to meet every day, or at least five days a week. And that means for a couple of hours each day, no internet, no e-mail, no twitter.
I'm terribly jealous of your summer off -- not jealous enough to go back to teaching, but jealous nonetheless!
I'd like to say I have a daily word count, but that's not always the case. I literally have to put my rear in the chair and make myself work. If not, I wouldn't get anything done. Did I mention I am A.D.D.? ;)
No way! Am I really your 100th follower?
To limit distractions, I give my 3yo crayons or a movie while the baby naps. My 6yo is not so easily amused, though, but I'm hoping his best friend will keep him busy this summer.
I use a word count, but I don't freak out if I don't reach my goal every day. I've got to make some allowances for bad days.
How do I limit distractions... I don't. It's terrible. I'm constantly distracted by the internet, by socializing, heck sometimes I'll even do housework while I'm supposed to write. But once school is out (I substitute teach, so I hear ya about the summer) then I'll work harder on limiting distractions.
To limit distractions, my writing desk faces a paneled wall, not a window. I do not listen to music. I have the best success if I resist the internet or email till at least noon. I set a word count for myself. A page count would work, too. What doesn't work for me is a time allotment, because you can fool yourself about how much you really got done. Time doesn't produce a book; words do. I schedule my blog posts 2-4 weeks ahead, and often spend one Saturday per month blogging for the next month. Commenting on other blogs is a little more free-form, though I schedule it to some degree. I don't really reward myself for good behavior. I find that the good behavior itself makes me feel good, whereas sloughing off really doesn't feel good. How excited you must be to start your full-time summer writing adventure. Hope it goes great!
I've had an awful time with distractions - but now, I've made a schedule for myself. Work comes first: edits, critiques, next wip, study the craft (read books on how to write more gooder, ha!). Then I get to play: social networking and blogging. It's working well so far, and I feel better about how I spend my time.
Good luck coming up with what works for you! :)
This is really hard for me. I let myself get distracted by the internet too much. I've often thought that I should plan an hour or two a day this summer where I go somewhere that doesn't have a hot spot so I can write without thinking, "Ooh, I wonder if Amy has written another blog post."
Maybe I'll actually do it this year.
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