Where You Write

Where you write can make all the difference. For me, it can make or break my concentration.

If I am sitting on the couch (as long as there isn’t something distracting on the TV) I can be productive. My kids playing video games, not a problem. But put on a TV show or movie, even one I’ve seen a dozen times, and I’m lost. But I love to sit on the couch because we have a big window that lets me look out into the world and I don’t feel so trapped.

If I am sitting at the dining room table I’m good to go as long as everyone is doing their own thing, because it drives me nuts if people are walking behind me and trying to look at my computer screen. So it’s not an ideal place seeing as how as soon as I whip out my laptop the whole house turns into Spy vs. Spy and tries to look over mom’s shoulder.

My next option is sitting at my sons school computer desk, that would be great, but it runs the same risks as the dining room table seeing as how it is in the same room.

Moving on… My last hiding place is my bedroom, where I actually have a desk, but do I get to sit at the desk? Nope, because my comfy office chair has been taken over by everyone else. It can either be found in front of my son’s computer or in the living room parked right in front of the TV/Xbox. And since I never use the desk it has become a holding station for all items in the house that have no home of their own.

That leave my bed. I actually do like working there but only for short periods of time. My legs get sore sitting cross-legged and eventually my firm mattress wreaks havoc on my lower back.

Can I get work done in these places? Yes, if I really stay focused. But will it be productive work? More likely than not, no unless the atmosphere is right and distraction free. Right now is a very productive, ideal writing time. As I write this I am on the couch, my son is at his computer so the TV is off, the house is quiet and this is actually the second blog post I’ve pounded out this hour. It’s quite productive out here. If I were in my room I would have maybe made it through half of the first one and then called it quits. At the dining room table wouldn’t have worked either because my son would be more tempted to say “Mom, I need your help.” Even though he really doesn’t.

So my spot, at least for now, is the couch. That is the spot that makes all the difference in my being productive. I can work, for the most part, uninterrupted and distraction free. Until 4:30 hits and everyone else gets home, flips on the TV and totally messes up my writing juju.

Do you have a place where you find you are more productive? Is there a spot you know once you sit down you won’t get anything done? Are you distracted by the TV? Music? Birds outside the window? Let us know in the comments.

The BLOCK

There are writers who claim that there's no such thing as writer's block, but then later will tell you they are in a slump and can't write. Sometimes it is because they write so much in a day/week/year that they get burt out, other times it's caused by nothing that has to do with writing, and other times it's because of doubt. No matter the cause or what you refer to it as, something will block you at some point. I'm in that point right now, I know what's causing it and it's an uncontrollable factor, but I know I can't just sit here and stare at a black page. No. I go through different things that will get the words, no matter how bad, flowing. Since I know I'm not the only person with this problem I decided to tell you how I deal with the block.

1) Take a hot shower. That sounds strange I know, but the heat helps clear my mind from the stressed of the day and allow me to focus on what needs to be done. It helps relax me, if I'm relaxed I can work.

2) Work in my note book instead of on the computer. There's something a little less intimidating about a loved notebook than a glowing computer screen. Be it brain storming, hand writing out a scene, or just brain dumping, it helps.

3) Brain dumping: writing, drawing, anything that represents what is currently occupying my mind. This is something I do when I'm stressed. Worries, fears, stresses, hopes, grocery lists....all kinds of things come out during this time.

4) Set small goals. 500 words. Simple to hit. 500 is better than 0.

5) Sprints. Do nothing but write for a certain amount of time, I normally do this with other writers and we compare word counts after.

6) Music. Enough said.

Remember, getting the words down is the first step, then you can focus on editing and polishing up. So no matter what, get some type of progress done during your dedicated writing time/days. Blocks will happen, but you can move past them.