The Art of Distraction
For most creative writers, we know it’s easy to get distracted from, well, writing. Whether it’s finishing up a project for work, watching the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, or folding laundry, there’s always something else you can be doing that doesn’t require you to sit and stare at a blank screen until something brilliant (or, let’s face it, half-decent) strikes.
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that these types of distractions tend to multiply ten-fold when summer rolls around. Your cousin invites you to a last minute dinner party. Your kids want to go to the pool. You take a road trip to the mountains, the beach, the city that’s better air-conditioned than your own. Some variation thereof. I remember a friend once advising me to query agents about my novel in the winter months because, “They’re all cooped up inside in the city in the winter. Come summer, they’ll all be at the Hamptons or at late-night dinner parties.” (I’m not sure this really holds up, but at the time, it sounded pretty wise). Okay, so most of us aren’t jetting off to the Hamptons in the summer, but the point is, we’ve got a lot more stuff going on.
How To Stay on Task
So, how do we, as creative writers, stick to our goals when our minds (and seemingly everyone around us) are screaming “fun in the sun!”?
Here are a few ideas we at Plume recommend (If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a huge proponent of lists):
- Take a notebook everywhere
(the park, Jiffy Lube, the doctor’s office, work, Target–you never know when you’ll have a stolen moment or a zing of inspiration)
- Have at least one standing writing “appointment” with yourself
Whether it’s every day, every week, or once a month, carve out a window that you dedicate solely to your craft.
- Get others in on the action
Encourage your family and friends to join you in a summer writing challenge. Even if they don’t identify as “writers” (say, if they’re a 3.5-year-old who’s still learning the letters), see if you can get them on board to engage in some quiet writing time with you.
- Say no sometimes
We often feel obligated to agree to and keep plans with friends and family. But once in a while, say no up front, or let them know you’ve changed your mind about attending (Maybe not a wedding, but say a casual movie night or a brunch date…). Not only will it feel good to extricate yourself from a commitment, but then you’ve freed up some time to do that thing you’ve been avoiding: writing.
- Think outside the box
If the idea of sitting in front of a computer or even (gasp!) holding a pen in your hand during the brightest part of the year is too much, you could always try voice typing software. It’s not cheap (which is why I still regret turning down a relative who offered it as a holiday gift years ago because at the time I thought it sounded weird), but this could be one way to get in your word count while lounging with a cocktail.
What are some of your own hacks for how to keep your writing momentum going during the summer? Let us know in the comments and/or on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We’d love to hear from you!