2: The Write Environment (no matter the circumstances)

The neighbors are constructing what sounds like an entirely new flat (and have been for the last 2 months) and I can hear every step of the process through our newspaper-thin walls. The kitchen sink is spurting water like the American side of Niagara Falls. And I just realized that despite a visit to the site itself 8 years ago, I always thought it was “Niagra”, not “Niagara”. Yet in spite of these trying circumstances, here I sit with my headphones off so that I can fully enjoy the orchestra of saws and hammers next store while I write.

As writers, we must be strong, tenacious, and persistent. We must learn how to stick our pens to the paper’s sticking spot and not fail. But with all the outside distractions of life leading us into the gaping jaws of madness, this can be quite difficult in practice.

I’ll be honest. I’m a noise-sensitive person. I can’t fall asleep if I can hear anything outside of the rain noises on my phone. I hate it when other people chew and I certainly can’t focus if I can hear someone else typing. Even if you’re not a person who gets irrationally annoyed by minuscule noises, you can still get easily distracted and for me, writing demands focus and long-attention spans.

There are a few steps that need to be taken or that can be taken in order to create an oasis for writing amidst the chaos of of our lives. Here they are:

1. Earplugs

2. Headphones -- I use white noise because I can’t focus while listening to music and it blocks out other impeding noises, but hey, you’re your own person and can choose to listen to whatever the hell you want!

3. DON’T LOOK AT YOUR PHONE

4. So, this is harder than it sounds.

5. Only kidding -- it’s just as hard as it sounds.

6. Solution: Set time limits during which you can’t look at your phone. 20 minutes -- no phone, all writing. Flip your phone over so you can’t see an alert light flashing. Hide it in another room. Give it to your dog to hide. Flush it down the toilet. After 20 minutes is up, you can have a 5 minute phone break as a reward (if you can still use it). Then -- back to the grindstone.

7. If you’re someone who doesn’t need this kind of protocol, then kudos to you. The rest of us aren’t hopeless. We just seem that way.

8. Write by hand first, then type. If you can only write by typing -- well, you do you, but personally I find it less distracting if I don’t have my computer open at all until I get to the editing stage.

9. Sit in a comfortable position and place, alone. A cafe can provide amazing inspiration for conversation, characters, etc. (so long as you can speak the language -- a detail I no longer take for granted), but mostly a quiet space works best.

Once you’ve made the “write” environment, your pen will be able to take you anywhere! Best of luck and happy writing.

#writing #advice #thewriteway #enviornment #distractions