You sit down all gung-ho, pumped up and ready to write, but...you can't. Writing can be hard sometimes.
Telling ourselves to simply suck it up and put our fingers to the keyboard (or pen to paper) and get writing (no matter how terrible the words are that come out) can sometimes be the solution we need, but there are things we can do to optimize the time we have set aside for writing. In this blog post, I'll share with you some of the things I do to optimize my writing space, therefore optimizing my writing time.
Tip 1: Get Rid of Clutter/ Organize Your Space
This is a big one. If you have piles of unnecessary stuff all around you, it will distract you from your purpose. Clear the space that is going to be in your vision as you write. For me, this is the family computer desk where I am sitting right now. There are some things lying around (a clipboard, a notebook, my phone, another computer, and...my brother's baseball glove?), but they all kind of belong, and are not a source of distraction. Even the baseball glove seems normal, because I am used to seeing it in all kinds of random places around the house.
If you see anything that will thwart your attention away from writing, remove it.
Tip 2: Gather Required Supplies
When I am writing for my blog, the main thing I need is often a family laptop. Sometimes I need a couple of notebooks that I consult for notes and inspiration. I try to gather these at the outset, before I start writing.
If you are mainly a pen-and-paper writer, or if you need somewhere to take pen-and-paper notes as you write or research on a computer, grab your notebook and a sharp pencil or two. You might want a pencil sharpener as well.
Water is always on my supplies list. If I am in the midst of an extremely productive writing session, the last thing I want to do is go fetch water because my head has started to hurt. I try to start my writing time with a glass of water within easy reach. Sometimes I will even fill an additional water bottle and set it on the floor beside me. If that is what it takes for me to stay properly hydrated and headache-free as I write, I'll do it.
Sometimes I will also have a small snack at the ready. I hate breaking my writing flow to go eat something.
Tip 3: Eliminate Electronic Devices
If you write on a computer (or other device) like I do a lot of the time, obviously you can't eliminate that particular device from your writing enviroment. You can, however, eliminate distractions on your device. When I am working in Wix, I have to write in a browser. If there are many tabs open besides Wix, I am notorious for getting distracted (I like diving down rabbit holes, okay? There are so many possibilities! So many things to learn!).
I have learned that the best practice for me is to open a brand-new browser window to work from. I open the Wix website, and that is all, unless I have to do research of some kind. If I have to leave the Wix page, I try hard to keep myself from getting sucked down some writer's rabbit hole (and believe me, it is work, work, work to stay on track!), and as soon as I am done with a web page, I close it. There is a wonderful History bar at the top of my screen that can help me find recently closed tabs in the event that I accidentally close a tab before I am truly done with it.
A bonus thing I like about keeping only a few tabs open is the speed at which my computer works. When I have a dozen tabs open, nothing loads. It takes way longer to get my work done.
Because the computer I use for writing is a family computer, I don't have a lot of notifications coming through to distract me, but if you use a device to write and find that you have a lot of messages and/or notifications coming in, turn on your Do Not Disturb setting. This will keep notifications from popping up on your screen and distracting you while you work.
If you have other devices lying around on your desk, either put them on Do Not Disturb, or throw them out the window until you are done writing. Honestly though, I often find that having extra devices sitting in my vision can be extremely distracting (that phone I had sitting here earlier? Gone.). I'd recommend opting for the window.
Tip 4: Turn On Music!
Listening to music as you write serves a few purposes. It can help get you in the mood to write, help cover other noises, and help you focus. It'll also help you build routine. Let's go over each of these benefits in a bit more depth:
MOOD
If you are writing fiction of some kind, try playing instrumental music that matches the theme of the writing you are working on. If you are in an intense section of your book, play some intense music. If you are in a sad part, play some sad music. If you are in an exciting part, play exciting, upbeat music.
You get the idea. Match music to the mood you are going for. I have yet to try this, but I do know that music can deeply affect mood. If I am happy and I turn on sad music, my mood will change to mirror what I am listening to.
If you decide to test out this suggestion, do yourself a favour and listen to positive music after your writing session. You don't have to stay down in the dumps with your characters. Be strategic and mindful of the music you are listening to.
NOISE BLOCKING & FOCUS
Noise blocking is a big one. It's one of the main reasons I listen to music while writing. I have two noisy siblings in the same house as me. Sometimes it is necessary to block them out. I often use headphones (noise-cancelling would be great, but I'm cheap. ;), or I'll go into a separate room, close the door, and turn up the classical music. You could also use a fan for this purpose, I suppose, but I find music more enjoyable.
The purpose of blocking extra noise is to help you focus better. I find it best to play wordless instrumental music, as music with lyrics tends to distract me. My absolute favourite kind of instrumental is darn near anything performed by the Piano Guys. This playlist is a good place to start. I also have a different three hour playlist of Piano Guys, which is what I have playing in my headphones currently.
I don't know the science behind why music helps with focus, I only know it works. If you haven't tried this, give it a shot!
ROUTINE
Simple acts such as grabbing a glass of water and turning on the same playlist of songs each time you sit down to write will help you slip back into writing more easily. Even when what you are writing isn't familiar, your routine is. Good routine is important in all areas of life, including writing. Following the same routine each time you go to write signals to your brain that this is time set aside for writing, and writing only.
Writing routines are really a whole different topic of their own. I'd like to do an article focusing on crafting a healthy, sustainable writing routine, but for now, if you'd like to dive deeper into crafting your own writing routine, here is a useful article I found.
Summing It All Up
We've gone over four main tips in this blog post:
Get Rid of Clutter/ Organize Your Space
Simplify and organize your space in a way that helps you be most efficient, clearing away excess clutter and the like.
Gather Required Supplies
Supplies could include things like...
- computer
- paper/ notebook
- pens/ pencils
- pencil sharpener
- water
- snack
Eliminate Electronic Devices
Our devices are constantly trying to get our attention: messages dinging through, phone calls ringing loudly...I'm sure you know what it is like. Eliminate these distractions by throwing them out the nearest window, or by putting them on Do Not Disturb for the length of time you intend to spend writing.
Turn On Music!
Music is great for blocking out other, distracting noises, and for helping you focus and zero in on your writing. I find that wordless instrumental music works best for me. Keep in mind that music can really affect your mood. Use this to your advantage!
I hope these four main tips have helped you as much as they have helped me on my quest to write regularly and productively. I wish you luck as you pursue becoming a better writer!