When Distraction Is a Writer’s Best Friend

distraction

In some ways being a writer is like being a magician. Whether it’s pulling a rabbit out of a hat or a story out of a blank page, we entertain audiences with the unexpected. Simply put, we make the impossible possible. With a little distraction and misdirection, we surprise our audience with things they’ve never seen before.

The Magic of Writing

The problem is that sometimes writers are the ones who get distracted. It’s not always easy to find the motivation to finish that work in progress. We all have those times when our heads are not in the game. Maybe we are trying to cope with stress in our lives. Sometimes it’s writer’s block. Whatever we call it, we have to get out of our own way.

Like the magician who has to practice to make their trick seamless (no one wants to see the hidden Ace up their sleeve), the writer has to press on until the work is done. Thankfully, there are ways to get your focus back. You may actually be able to use distraction to your advantage. That’s right. You can actually distract yourself back into writing! It may not involve elaborate card tricks, but here are seven strategies you may want to try.

1. Change Your Scenery

If you work at home, you could be distracted by the stacks of dishes or mounds of laundry waiting to be washed. A coffee shop could distract you with the buzz of people talking or music playing in the background. A library could distract you with people shhhhhh-ing you for chewing bubble gum or for diving into your bag to look for another pen. Practically speaking, going somewhere else would remove those distractions.

Distract yourself with a simple change of scenery.
You may find inspiration by working in a new place.

2. Outline Your Story

One of the biggest complaints a writer has is not knowing what to write next. You may be quick to blame it on writer’s block. You may accuse your muse of leaving the building. Thank goodness there are ways to work around it. Take some time to brainstorm or better yet write an outline. Whether your outline is a few bullet points or dissertation-like in detail, knowing what comes next in your story will keep you writing. No excuses.

Distract yourself by working on an outline.
Time spent now may save you time later.

3. Put the Tech Away

It can be hard to keep with the flow when you are constantly receiving calls or texts. If social media links are open on your computer, if headphones are blaring in your ears, or if phone alerts keep going off, it can be easy to lose focus on the job at hand and be less efficient in your writing. The world will move on without you, I promise, even if for a short time. Consider turning your gadgets off.

Distract yourself with your actual work instead of social media!

4. Set a Timer

As the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt said, “I learned a long time ago that a person can stand just about anything for 10 seconds, then you just start on a new 10 seconds. All you’ve got to do is take it 10 seconds at a time.” Hopefully, you can make it longer than 10 seconds. Set your clock for 10, 20, or 30 minutes and commit to writing the whole time. What you put down doesn’t have to be great, it just has to exist. This may be the push you need to get writing again.

Distract yourself with a short-term writing goal.
Each goal will get you that much closer to a finished project.

5. Take a Break

It can be hard to focus when you are physically exhausted. Trying to write under those circumstances can be especially tough. Whether it’s from lack of sleep, from dealing with stress, or from being out of shape, you need to make room for a bit of self-care. Take a quick nap. Meditate for a few minutes. Go for a short walk. Even a brief respite can recharge you and help to clear your head for the task at hand.

Distract yourself with some much-needed self-care.
When you physically feel well, you are likely to perform better.

6. Work on Something Else

After staring at the same words for days or weeks on end, it can be hard to get excited about your work. Sometimes you need to step away and work on something different for a short time to get your mojo back. The operative word here is short. If you step away for too long, who is to say you will ever come back? Set a reasonable time frame for your return, whether it is hours, days or weeks. When you get back to your project, you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes.

Distract yourself with another writing project.
It will keep you in writing mode and give you new perspective on your work.

7. Write Stream of Consciousness

When you think you’ve run out of words, think again. Literally. Thoughts are constantly running through your mind, even when your partner asks “what are you thinking” and you answer “nothing”. Open up a new document or get a fresh sheet of paper. Write down whatever comes to your mind. Who cares if it is complete gibberish? It doesn’t have to be about your story either. Writing stream of consciousness gives you permission to explore your thoughts and ideas. It will keep those creative juices flowing.

Distract yourself with freeform writing.
There is always a writer inside you.

Go distract yourself!