WIP Update: Working Through Distraction
Posted by annastan on July 14th, 2010. Filed under: WIP, Writing Rants.I’ve been a little distracted recently. Between book deal excitement and new dog excitement and it’s-so-hot-my-brain-is-melting excitement, my WIP has been a tad neglected. But this week I decided enough was enough: I was going to work on my retelling if it killed me.
Monday was hard. I couldn’t stop checking my email every two seconds and going on Twitter and the Blueboards, and talking to the dog, but finally I managed to get some actual work done. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to tell my husband: “I actually wrote today!”
Yesterday, it took me a while to get focused, but finally I went to e.ggtimer.com and set it for 30 minutes. During that 30 minutes I only checked my email once; the rest of the time, I worked on a new scene. And when that timer went off, I kept writing because I’d finally gotten into the zone. Within an hour and a half, I’d written the scene that had been intimidating me for weeks. It’s not pretty, but at least now I have a draft of the scene that I can rework.
So now it’s Wednesday and I’m almost halfway through the WIP. Even though I’m sure there will be lots of distractions today, I’m determined to keep working. Now that I’ve found my way back into the zone, even if it’s only for an hour or two at a time, the task of revising doesn’t seem so huge. My goal is to get to the end of the manuscript by Friday – think I can do it?
How are you all doing with your WIPs? Are you drowning in distractions or are you managing to work through them?
BTW, have you entered my celebration giveaway yet? You know you want to!
July 14th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Don’t talk to me about distractions. Sheesh. But I’ve found I’m tackling a new draft differently, hoping that will help. I just blogged about it, too.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:20 am
The Zone!!
I hate when I get out of the zone habit…which happens every time the structure of my life changes. Like right now, with summer vacation. I struggle with not messing around and losing the day to stupid stuff.
might have to try the egg timer!
Shelley
July 14th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I have an alarm clock in my office. I tell myself I only have to write until my alarm goes off (I usually set it for an hour later). Then when it does, I’m so in the zone I continue writing for as long as I need. It really works!
Good luck in your writing zone!
July 14th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Isn’t it fun to arrive in that zone? Sometimes it’s so challenging to get started, but once we’re there, it’s so satisfying. Good luck with it!
July 14th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
I go through a lot of distractions during the day. It’s infuriating, but I know I only do it to myself. Normally when I try to focus for half an hour or more at the time I just eyeball the clock. I’m now in loved with the Egg Timer site, thanks for the link!
July 14th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Andrea, how exciting that you’re trying a new approach. I hope it’s going well!
Shelley, I find that happens to me too. If my daily schedule changes, the zone seems to go on its merry way. Maybe I can lure it back with cookies?
Laura, isn’t it funny how we have to trick ourselves sometimes to get into the zone? Once I actually sit down and focus, it suddenly seems easy.
Michelle, I wish I could figure out a way to get into the zone anytime I want to. But my brain likes to fuss a little first, I guess.
Meadow, I do the same thing. If I try to write for a certain amount of time, I just stare at the clock. That’s why the egg timer can be good because I hide the window and forget it’s there – when the alarm goes off, I’m usually immersed in writing.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I hear you, Anna. Since summer began, there have been many days of dawdling before writing and slipping into the zone. And now there are music festivals and weddings coming up. May have to take another blogcation so I can focus on my WIP.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Isn’t it ridiculous how we know distraction won’t help with the writing, and if we just give ourselves time we’ll get back into the zone, but we still have to trick ourselves into it? Hate that.
Nice to have such wonderful news (and a cutie pie dog) to distract you, though!
I’m in a strange place with my writing at the moment. I’m working through writing a scene I’ve really struggled with. I’m almost there, but it’s taken me a lot of time, and required a lot of space and breaks. I think I needed all of that to get it done, but it does feel rather inefficient.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only distracted one. AFter a week vacation with the extended family, I sat down Monday and read/revised my WIP from Chapter 1. Then I felt ready to tackle the rest of the first draft. Yesterday I procrastinated all day. Today I’ve sat down to write but keep checking email and blogs as well as stare into space a lot. In spite of it all, I’ve written two pages. At least tomorrow should be better–I hope.
July 14th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Doing pretty decent. But getting offline now…:D.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Kathryn, as much as I love summer, it does seem to be filled with distractions, doesn’t it? Good luck with everything!
Anne, I’m starting to suspect that there’s no such thing as “efficient writing.” It sounds like you’re making great progress – you’ll get there!
Kay, that sounds like my writing schedule: get some work done, procrastinate, procrastinate some more, do more work. You are definitely in good company here!
Way to be strict with yourself, Marcia! I’m still working on that.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Gosh, with all that’s happening in your life right now you definitely have reasons to be distracted. Now me? Just laziness! The fact that you set a timer and got to work is a good example for me to follow.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:12 am
I have two young boys, ages 5 and 2, so I KNOW what distractions are like when it comes to working on my WIP. It’s extremely difficult, especially during the summer when school is not is session for the older one, and we can’t afford summer camp. So I do what I have to do, like write in the middle of the night. It’s the only time I have where I am all alone.
July 15th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
If only I could claim that the same thing was distracting me!! I’m still so excited for you. I can’t wait to read that book!
July 17th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Catherine, I know the laziness well – it creeps in and likes to hang around. We just have to fight it as best we can!
Nicole, I don’t know how you do it! I don’t have kids yet and it’s already hard to stay focused. Good luck!
Aw, thanks Lisa! It definitely has been an exciting kind of distraction, but I’d hoped to get this WIP revised weeks ago. Must focus!