Writers endure cycles of varying productivity, and since I turned my novel in to my editor July 1, I’ve been trying to find my groove again. Sure, I took it easy for a few days, then edited a short story and brainstormed my Deals with the Dead series (oh yeah, edited 43k in that), but lately it’s been back to writing new words, and with that, trying to find a reasonable word count goal each day.
I’m a pantser. With every new cycle to explore new horizons I ask myself if I should try outlining, and each time I end up just writing the next scene. This often means I’m brainstorming as I write, and I’ve learned that with internet access I tend to associate browsing the internet with brainstorming. This leads to pretty embarrassing word/minute totals at the end of the day. Sure, I hit my 750 word mark 4/5 days during the week, but rarely more than a thousand, and honestly, the days I didn’t were without excuse.
Then I see this tweet from Bryan Thomas Schmidt, author of, The Returning, Book Two in the Saga of Davi Rhii, his space opera series.
After I what I expect to be a 2k+ day today, I’ve written about 10k in that amount of time. Sure, it’s only a little under 1k a day, but still paltry in comparison.
The obvious problem to my lack of productivity is internet distraction, so here’s what I’m going to do for the next week: write longhand, only using the internet to check email while I eat, and then typing the words in when I think I’m too tired to write any more. As of writing this sentence, 3:06pm on Monday, I’ve longhand written 8.5 pages in my notebook and had a blast. The typing in later might feel redundant, but there is the bonus of polishing up what I wrote in the process.
Besides the enjoyment of larger productivity, I’m feeling like a writer again. Writing in long enough stretches without distraction reminds me of why I love writing: the escape. The constant checking of worthless emails and social media streams does nothing but rub in my face that other people have books for sale, or that I’m just a bum on the internet, hanging out.
That’s all for this week. Mad props to Bryan Thomas Schmidt for his productivity and inspiration. His blog post “Write Tip: Diligence Pays Off-Success Equals Talent Plus Work” was also helpful, and now that I’ve identified a solution, I’m off to enjoy it. In thanks to Bryan, I’ve included cover images and links to his books. He’s working his butt off to make this a career, so why not see if his stuff is for you.
Tim, shut off your wifi connection or your modem and write. Set a goal and do not reward yourself with online time until you get there. Not that there’s anything wrong with writing longhand. David E. Kelley and Aaron Sorkin supposedly write all of their scripts that way and I used to. It makes the typed in version an automatic second draft, which speeds things along. But there are ways to stay on the computer and stay offline. Also search and you’ll find programs that you can download free and set times when they will block the internet for you. Once you turn them on, you can’t reset the time while a block is in place but can adjust it or turn it off later. Lots of writers use these programs. Yes, the internet is a distraction. I sometimes turn it off to write but mostly once I get in the groove, I just keep going. I wrote while talking with you the other night, in fact.
Wow, you got Bryan Thomas Schmidt to comment on your post! Rock on!
I almost always write my first draft long-hand. The internet is a huge distraction for me, and even if I turned the internet off there would still be Solitaire. I can’t focus nearly as well sitting in front of the screen as I can in front of a notebook. My flow is better, too, and my imagination works better. Keep on! Or off, as in the internet.
I always write longhand. But if one wants to be prolific, dictation is apparently the key (think Henty or Churchill) . I just haven’t been able (translate: too lazy) to get my brain to think that way. A buddy who worked a big law firm was told he had to learn to dictate OR ELSE.