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For me, trying to carve out uninterrupted creative time with three little kids is my biggest challenge. By the time all three are asleep in bed it is usually at least 9:30 pm (NOT my best time to be creative) and the youngest is usually up by 6:00 am (AHHH….sleep). I think I need to schedule a certain time on the weekends when I can get away, maybe Saturday mornings early when my husband can watch the kids and I can just zero in for a few hours before we start the weekend as a family. Granted, that isn’t much time, but during this short (blessed) season of my life with little ones roaming around all over me it might be just what I need to take action and put some of the words in my head down on paper. Thank you for this bootcamp. I love it. Blessings!
I started reading this post from Twitter while I should be finishing a sentence I started on another screen. So, I guess you could say distraction is big for me. 🙂
Ummm… distractions! AFTER I get moved… I will address this AND the SPACE! I am in a bit of holding pattern for the moment but I can still cultivate inspiration and encouragement right? Oh, and I LOVE, love, LOOOOVVVEEE the four tabs. THAT will happen right away. I already do two! 😉
I love Twitter. Makes me feel connected to other writers. But I have to be careful what links I click and what blogs I read because I often find myself spiraling down a tunnel debating a topic that while I care about is not the project or passion God put on my heart.
Question: Margaret, how long did it take before your first book was published?
Distractions. If they don’t come from the outside, I create them with rabbit trails….. how to overcome? I find the best way to overcome is to keep the creative juices flowing. Thus, my solution has to be a place to go for ideas or a new activity that is full of idea making seeds…..this needs to be done with a journal, pen or camera in hand in order to bring back to my writing place.
My biggest challenge is being easily distracted by the plethora of sites available with just a tap of the track-pad. To eliminate this I will write for at least 25 minutes at a time, then if I feel like I really need a break or need to do some chore, I will take one. Otherwise I will continue writing until I reach whatever goal I have set.
Grammer and distractions
My biggest distraction resides on the internet – margaretfeinberg.com!! In addition this blog, my biggest distraction is walk-in interruptions. People from my team, my boss, etc drop by for important and sometimes not so important discussions.
Sometimes, the magnititude of a writing project is a distraction. It can also be demotivating. I have to make myself plow through a page or two and just write something before the creative juices start flowing.
Distractions, for sure. I am reading this blog because I want to, need to, have to, SHOULD WRITE and yet never do, for any number of excuses. Love what you have to say and am so thankful I found your site today 🙂
I have no sustainable system. The MBTI says I’m a ‘J’ but developing a system to keep myself and my writing on track has eluded me.
Mmmm. And I need to kick my husband and his clutter out of my happy green office.
Thank you for sharing the insight on having a separate space to write and deconstruct. I’ve known I need to change my writing space around for a while, yet didn’t put those two thoughts together. I’ve got an unused space I’ll be changing into a creative space for me this month- with two areas. One for writing and one for editing. Great advice. In addition, I’ll be attempting to take my writing outdoors to the park. It may help me write while my active homeschool kids play.
Question: How do you balance time between writing for a blog and writing a book manuscript? What is the MUST pace that you have found for either to keep on track? How many posts do you write, how much time do you spend between manuscript writing/ researching and editing?
Thank you for the boot camp!
I don’t have a system, let alone a sustainable one. That is why everything and anything distracts me. Granted I have some monumental challenges–health concerns, three little girls, full time job from home, home concerns, etc. But plenty of people have had these concerns and still had writing concerns. I am bound and determined this week to come up with a system. I am a night owl and yet I tend to stay up and watch TV. What a waste. It just takes one day at a time in turning off the TV and writing. Please Lord, help me resist temptation.
Discovering my creative sweet spot would be my biggest challenge, mostly because I have three very little children and so am forced to limit my writing to certain times of day, even if other times might be better for my creativity. This is, though, only a season.
I am easily distracted when I should be writing. I need to unplud from ALL distractions. I am going to make a list of all my distractions and eliminate each one!!!
Picking one challenge from the list is a challenge! But probably the distraction of the Internet is number one. I find that I do best if I don’t even look at my email until after I have had my writing time, but that is not always possible. When I start looking at the email I get drawn down a bunch of rabbit trails and suddenly realize one hour is gone. I will try to only look at the email to see if there is a pressing need then shut it down while I write.
I’m looking forward to joining in and learning from this challenge. I’m filing this away for rereading.
I think there are times I distract myself on purpose. I become timid or overwhelmed or self-conscious about where fingers moving to Holy Spirit will take me next, and maybe most definitely it will crack me open more than I already am. This I crave. This I cower at. This life? Oh I wouldn’t have it any other way! Okay, most times 🙂
Thank you, Margaret. And thank you to all the ladies commenting. Awesome.
Margaret,
You are now officially my new favorite person. THANK YOU for writing these for the rest of us.
The one I am most amazed at? The different days of the week thing. YES! I agree. I write best on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
And now, I know why.
I am a butterfly. So organized systems are not necessarily in my normal vocabulary…. BUT I love your idea, simple (word, I can handle that) AND I am IN LOVE with Google Docs (Now called DRIVE)…. the “idea” of being organized takes my creativity with it… #honest
Disorganized files. Will attempt the four word file system immediately. Great tips, thanks.
Facebook can be a big distraction for me – I totally lose my momentum in writing when I pause to scroll. “Ruthlessly eliminate” that Facebook tab when writing – good butt kicker for me! 🙂 I’m also going to set a timer for my writing time. If I’m flowing, I’ll blow past the buzzer, but if I’m struggling, I’ll keep at it until it sounds.
Thanks, Margaret – this boot camp is helping me a ton!
This is so incredibly helpful Margaret. Never even thought about places for creating and deconstructing and that makes such good sense. Also the different pages for each category: awesome! I think, no I know, I struggle with turning social networking off while I write. I struggle with finding the balance of needing to connect with people outside of the space where I write. I’m taking your advice to heart, its so timely for me actually.
Distractions are a biggie but I also need a better system. I wing it much too often. Or I approach writing without a realistic goal. Enough already. I need to just do it. I’m going to map all that out tonight! Thanks, Margaret! Enjoying your posts.
I struggle most with distraction. To overcome distraction, I will refuse to sign on to Facebook or Twitter during the time I set aside to write. When I get tired of writing or can’t think anymore, I will get up and do some calisthenics, which I hate, so I will want to go back and write. I will block a chunk of time for four days a week, same time, same days, so friends and family know not to disturb me during those times. I will let the phone record messages, and call back after my writing time is over.
Question: What is a very good way for a writer to get an agent ?
Where and when I create are my biggest challenges. I will be praying about where and when in my currents space God would have me release what He’s got floating around inside me. Just diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea & learning how to use the CPAP machine to breathe should help me be a lot clearer in the future. I used to write in the wee hours since I couldn’t sleep for long, now hopefully I will be sleeping so I will have to work on a whole new plan and I am sure my writing will make more sense!
*CURRENT
BIG pet peeve – typos! Soooo sorry! Still working from exhaustion…
4. Develop a Sustainable System.
I don’t use a roadmap. Huge mistake. My mind wanders and rabbit trails like crazy. I want to write down anything and everything that comes to my mind. I am severely ADD so a road map, structure, is necessary!
I plan on starting to write with a road map. Even if it’s just a blog post. I wanna make it a habit.
Thanks for sharing ideas. I think they are valuable.