I don’t know about the rest of you, but for the past few months I’ve been having a hard time focusing. I think it might have something to do with this newfangled thing called the internet and all its fun features such as email, IM, and Twitter. So yesterday I tried out a new time-management approach for my writing. I call it the Egg Timer Method.
The goal of the Egg Timer Method is to pull yourself away from distractions and make yourself focus intently for short bursts of time. I started by finding an online egg timer. Then I shut off all distractions and set the timer to 30 minutes. For those 30 minutes I did nothing but work on my NaNo book. When the timer went off, I took a break for a few minutes, checked my email, stretched, etc. Then I reset the timer for another 30 minutes and started again.
The result? In those two 30-minute sessions, I wrote 1700 words! Not bad for one hour of work, right? What I noticed in both of those half-hour slots was that it took me a few minutes to really get on a roll, but by the time I was at 25 minutes, my fingers were flying across the keyboard and I was really focused on what I was writing.
Since this method seems to be working for me, I’m going to continue testing it out. I’m planning on upping the writing time gradually – from 30 minutes to 40, etc. – until I can work for longer stretches without getting distracted. It’s sad that I have such a short attention span these days, but given all the distractions out there, I guess it’s not surprising. Having some time dedicated to writing and nothing else is a nice way of getting away from all those distractions, and a great reminder of how productive I can be if I’m really focused.
Happy writing!
- Categories: NaNoWriMo, Resources, Writing Rants
If you have a Mac, try Freedom. http://macfreedom.com/ It disables the networking on your computer for up to 8 hours at a time. It does not affect the other computers in your network–just yours. I find it a useful application because I’m notorious for getting stuck and saying, “Why don’t I google [Random Term] for inspiration?”
This software is, by the way, free; however, they accept donations.
I don’t have a Mac, but “Freedom” sounds like the perfect name for that program! I could easily disconnect my wifi, but I think my problem is less about the internet and more about not being able to focus in general. So having that devoted 30 minute time slot really helps. If that stops working, then I might think about axing the internet completely.
I know this is my age showing, but I’ve gone back to using a typewriter. Okay, I need to say that I love my Mac, but there are times I need to just write and not be tempted to google something or check my email. I put my Mac to sleep then pull out my Royal and just write. It’s wonderful. It’s freeing. And there’s something about the sound. You know the words are piling up because you can hear them. Plus you get into a nice rhythm, too.
I also like that I have to enter my work into a document, which gives me another clear look at the story as I rewrite it.
I think a timer would drive me nuts because I’d be worrying how much time I have left.
I used to love writing on a typewriter back in the pre-computer days! You’re right that it makes such a satisfying sound. And the fact that you can’t go back and fix things as you go is probably really freeing – it forces you to just keep going. Interesting…I might have to try to dig up an old typewriter somewhere and give this a try!
Anna, I hope you do try. I’m not saying a typewriter will replace your computer–it won’t. But it’s great for first drafts, to get the story down. Revising goes on the computer for obvious reasons.:-)
This is sweet! I’ll use it today
Oh good – let me know how it goes!
That’s a great way to focus! I sometimes wish that I did my first drafts on computer because then I’d immediately know how many words I’d churned out. Scribbling in my journal allows me to turn my inner editor off but I’ve only a vague notion of how many words in I am.
But maybe the egg timer can at least get me to focus on writing in the journal when I’m at home! My best egg timer is the subway. I know I’m trapped for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 at night so I write.
Sometimes I miss writing by hand. It’s nice not to worry about word count or spell check. But I’m so in the habit of writing on my computer now that it’s hard to switch back and forth. I have a 20 minute train ride and you’re right, it is a good “egg timer”! Often I use that time to take notes and brainstorm projects.
Thanks for the great idea of the timer and I liked the suggestion for the freedom software as well!