Welcome to May and this month’s IWSG question:
May 1 question – How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
Yes and no. It all depends on what I’m writing and when. If I am in the creative stage and am running along on a great plot or character development scene and the phone rings or my husband comes in to ask a question, then yes. The interruptions derail me and I have to take a few minutes to go back and reread what I have done to nudge the idea into existence once more. Sometimes it works; at others, the idea is gone. That usually tells me I wasn’t going down the right path anyway.
If I’m editing, it isn’t quite as bad since the creative thinking is over, and it’s just a matter of tying up loose ends and making sure that I haven’t left any plot points hanging. Then, I just pick up at the start of the paragraph and move on.
Want to know how others feel? Check out the other group members’ postings.
https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Published by Susanne Matthews
Hi! I live in Eastern Ontario. I'm married with three adult children and five wonderful grandchildren.
I prefer warm weather, and sunshine but winter gives me time to write.
If I’m listening to music, it will be something from the 1960s or 1970s.
I enjoy action movies, romantic comedies, but I draw the line at slasher flicks and horror. I love science fiction and fantasy as well.
I love to read; I immerse myself in the text and, as my husband says, the house could fall down around me, and I’d never notice. My preferences are as varied as there are genres, but nothing really beats a good romance, especially one that is filled with suspense. I love historical romance too, and have read quite a few of those.
If I’m watching television, you can count on it being a suspense — I’m not a fan of reality TV, sit-coms, or game shows.
Writing gives me the most pleasure. I love creating characters that become real and undergo all kinds of adventures. It never ceases to amaze me how each character can take on its own unique personality; sometimes, they grow very different from the way I pictured them!
Inspiration comes from all around me; imagination has no bounds. If I can think it, imagine it, I can write it!
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Living the Dream 
I’m the same way. I do my best writing when there’s nobody home, which isn’t often. LOL. And editing is somewhat easier.
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We both work from home, but we are the only ones in the house. Usually, he stays in his office downstairs and I stay in mine upstairs, meeting for lunch at noon and a cold one with friends when the day is done.
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Interesting observation – the idea is gone, perhaps like forgetting what you were about to say when interrupted. ?
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Exactly. And maybe it wasn’t such a good thing afterall.
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Rereading what you’ve written is a great way to stay focused. I usually use this technique when I start my writing for the day.
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I usually start my day rereading what I wrote the previous day. It settles me inside the plot.
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It’s hard to leave that creative world when someone talks to you, innit? I’ve been accused of ignoring people, which isn’t true. I just didn’t hear them! Good post, Susanne.
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Exactly. You weren’t rude; you were focused.
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I hate being pulled out of my creative world, but I find rereading is a powerful technique to get me back on track. Happy IWSG Day, Susanne!
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It’s frustrating, but when it happens all I can do is suck it up and move on.
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Interruptions during the creative flow are so annoying! But, alas, they’re like death and taxes…
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Adventures in Audio: An Introduction to Audio Production
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Yup.
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