Here it is, Friday night and I just realized that I had to provide a blog for this coming Monday. I plan to be out of town for the entire Labor Day weekend … not coming home until later Monday afternoon. Thank God for the timestamp option on our MagicalMusings blog. I can pound this out tonight and have it ready to fly on Monday.
Anyhoo … its late, we’d gone out to dinner and I’ve had a couple glasses of wine, so this is going to be a short blog. Deal with it.
As writers, we deal with every type of interruption. Whether it’s the day job, family matters, holiday weekends or the child deciding to jump off the garage roof with an umbrella because he/she saw it done on a cartoon. Gotta admit that this interruption would probably involve a trip to the emergency room.
The fact is, we’re geared towards regular breaks in our writing day. The washer needs loading — interruption. Darlin’ daughter needs her lunch — interruption. The cat is puking up a hairball — interruption.
How do you tune it out? You want to get into a good writing rhythm. You want to feel those words flowing from your mind and into your fingertips as you type them into the computer. That nirvana of creativity that is sheer bliss. Problem is … just when you get to cookin’, something comes up. You could close the door to your office/closet/sanctuary and threaten blue murder to anyone who comes knocking with anything less than flowing blood, but we all know that doesn’t work. Particularly if you have young children around.
So, what is your method? Do you ignore the fights between children, trust hubby (or significant other) to referee, or have you learned to tune it out? Inquiring minds want to know.
Liz, you write pretty damn good after a couple of drinks.
I can tell you, threatening a pet with blue murder doesn’t work either. I’ll sometimes be in the flow of writing and that’s when my dog starta barking. She needs to be taken in or out. RIGHT NOW. CANNOT WAIT ONE SECOND. I usually try to type in a few more words before it reaches the level I can’t stand. Like you said, I deal with it.
My husband’s pretty good about running interference for me when I need a few hours’ uninterrupted writing time, but I can only get a day like that *maybe* once a week. Most of the time, I have to write in 30-minute or, if I’m lucky, 60-minute bursts. I’ve had to train myself to switch into writing mode with virtually no warm-up. I used to require at least an hour to get into “real” writing, but I just don’t have that kind of time anymore.
One thing that has helped me to be more productive in those limited windows for writing is taking a few minutes at the end of the day to make assignments for what I’ll tackle in the next few writing sessions. I’m flexible about it, of course, because sometimes you have to go the way ideas are flowing. But when I sit down for half an hour or however long I’ve got, I never want to waste a big chunk of that time wondering what I need to work on. By making assignments and planning out what I have to do next, I can always find a way to be productive.
At work, our floor has little phone rooms that are great for getting some writing done at lunch. Each room has a chair and a counter top big enough for your laptop and your lunch, and — best of all — there’s a DOOR.
I tried writing in the cafeteria and my floor’s break room, but I always ended up talking to people instead of writing. Before I knew about the phone rooms, I’d go to a nearby sandwich shop and settle into a corner with my pen and paper.
Wow Liz, what a timely post (for me). Yesterday I wrote about a related aspect of this. This weekend the weather is soooo beautiful, but I have a book to write. So, I shut the blinds…
It’s harder with children at home. I used to write in the wee hours of the morning, while anyone with a lick of sense was still asleep. It was the only way I got anything done. Best of luck.
Hey Liz, hope you had a great holiday weekend! Let’s see, next week we have two days of grandparent lunches at an elementary school with our grandkids. I have a hair appt, etc. At a glance on the wall calendar, I know what days are totally open. I use those full-throttle, so the outside busy days can be creative hit-and-misses. I’m not a hard-core scheduler, I just won’t miss anything that concerns family. For me just to make a notation is really saying something.
When the girls were little, I wrote after the dayjob, right after dinner till whenever. Now that I don’t have the little darlin’s making noise throughout the house anymore, I’m much better able to enjoy and handle the writing time. I want the best of both worlds, family/writing, so everything I do moves that along. Oh, forgot to mention, I learned to us the word “no” to outside requests if I seriously want to.
It’s dangerous to tune out when you’re the home alone with the small children *heh*. Just ask the chandelier we used to have. I have no advice otherwise. The interruptus has pretty much stymied my writing at this particular juncture of family life. Good luck!
The only interruptus I have is my ADD-riddled brain. I’ve struck a deal: 45 minutes, I work hard and fast. 15 minutes, I do whatever I want.
It’s not like I don’t want to write, and sometimes I’ll get swept away. It’s just my brain would rather be unfocused, silly it.
My cure all do not interrupt me under any circumstances line is this, (said to my family): “I’m cranking up the iPod and putting in the earphones. Unless there is a National emergency do not interrupt me, and that includes phone calls.” Works like a charm. In fact it works so well, I get room service without asking! Now if I can only explain in feline lingo to my cats that this means no laying on my desk, climbing through my plants or wrestling in my office, life would be perfect!
Although, it is only husband and me at home, my family still manages to intrrupt. They call, they e-mail, both I will ignore when really writing. It ‘s tough, and I admire how young mothers still manage to write with small children. I tried it this summer and wasn’t very successful with my grandkids. Now the cat, she insists when I’m in the zone (she somehow senses it) wants to be on my lap, or on the dest watching my fingers move.
Ho-kay … I’m back in town … not relaxed and certainly not ready to roll. Geez, the weather in Rio was something like 95 degrees. We got back to Milwaukee to something like 15 degrees less. Whew! If I weren’t so tired, I’d be relieved to be home.
Anyway, thanx every one for weighing in. I’ll answer comments as much as I can. I have a little darlin’ to get ready for her first day of school tomorrow and after the weekend we had, its gonna take more than just hosing her down.
Very appropriate … my anti-spam word was “kitten”. Pets are a HUGE interruption – especially if you don’t have any children underfoot. They do not understand the meaning of “go away under penalty of death”. With family you can at least say the words … whether you actually mean them or not, the threat is there.
Edie, I know what you mean when a critter wants attention and wants it NOW. There is no reasoning with them.
Same here, Lynne. I can usually get hubby to run interference when its absolutely necessary. I generally manage to get the few minutes here and few minutes there … if I’m lucky. Never thought about making a pre-game plan, though. Might be a good idea. Generally, I give my next portion some thought while I’m doing other things so that I get into the mood easier.
Nice days is another big problem, Deb. I took my laptop with me to Rio with every intention of getting some work done. Did I even crack it? Not a chance. It was too nice/too hot/too many things to do/too many beers to drink. Too much interruptus.
I hear ya about young children, LaD and Jody. Even when they’re quiet, you cannot ignore them. You KNOW they’re up to something no good. I’d love to hear the chandelier story sometime, Jody. Going by your blog, you always have some catastrophy happening in your household.
Nope … no sympathy, Spy. You cannot blame yourself for interruptions.
At this point in the game you should have some sort of discipline.
Humph … anti-spam word is “kitten” again. Just when I was responding to Karin’s.
Very good idea to give the family the heads up and kudos to them for respecting your need.
I personally wouldn’t count on convincing pets … particularly cats of the need for no interruptions. Independent creatures that they are, even if they understood, it would make no difference.
Email is a PITA when trying to write uninterrupted, Lee. Which is why I’ve gotten into the habit of writing on my laptop, which is not connected to the internet. Its the only time that I actually manage to get some decent writing done. However, if I’m at home, there’s nothing to stop me from going to the desktop and checking periodically.
I also meant to say, Lynne, that I love the idea of “phone rooms”. Privacy and a door. What more can you want?
The only kind of interruption in my house was the one I answered to just as I was about to reply to your blog. The timer for the brownies was going off.
What better interruption than that? The only thing the bunny does is interrupt me with his cuteness when he lies between my feet. He’s so soft and cute that it’s hard to ignore the little guy.
Whining pulls me out of my work, every time. Nothing else can do it quite so instantaneously. And I get snappy
. But when your kids are as young as mine, telling them not to interrupt is sort of pointless. I try to give them activities that will amuse for at least 30 minutes and hope for no fighting (or whining).
A HIGHLY legitimate interruption, Marcia. I don’t think anyone would argue with that one.
Nails on the chalkboard, Michelle. Nothing worse that a little kid (or two in your case) hanging on you, complaining ’bout the other or just insisting they’re bored and have nothing to do.
Yep … that’s high in the category.