This series on writing obstacles has looked at three of the four main excuses writers use for not putting words on the page: no energy, no motivation, and no ideas. In our final installment, we’re going to look at lack of focus.
What do you do when you can’t keep your mind on your work? When the ideas are there, but you can’t focus on what you need to write? Here are some tricks to get back on track:
1. Clean up. It’s easier to focus when your space is clear and organized.
2. Chew gum. It will help you focus. Again, not sure why, but it is a trick often used with ADHD patients.
3. Limit your scope. If you can’t focus, it might be because you are trying to do too many things. Limit your work to the next line. Don’t worry about the ending or even the next scene. Focus on one line at a time. Or break the work into more manageable pieces.
4. Leave breadcrumbs. If you don’t want to plot, and many don’t, at least leave yourself breadcrumbs to follow. Jot down ideas as they come to you so you aren’t lost when you get to the next scene. It’s okay to plot along the way.
5. Schedule your writing time. This will help you prepare the right mindset for the work.
6. Take breaks. Short ones. Say 15 minutes every hour or two.
7. Or write for short periods with a tiny break in between. For example, write for 20 minutes and then take a five minute break. Repeat until you hit your time or word count for the day. This is called the Pomodoro technique and it is quite effective.
8. Develop a daily schedule and stick to it. If you break that schedule, get right back on it as soon as possible.
9. Block distractions. Use noise-reducing headphones or isolate yourself. Turn off your phone and notifications. Clear your screen of everything except your work.
10. Shut down your inner editor and critic. They have no place here. Just write. Don’t go back and edit or fix things while writing. Save that for later, no matter how tempting.
11. Write what comes to mind, not what you think should happen next. Let your imagination be free to go wherever, unless you have a meticulous plot that needs following, and even then, let your words flow freely.
12. Set daily or session goals to keep you on task.
13. Do one task at at time. Multitasking is not your friend and will slow you down.
14. If you get ideas for things you have to do on other projects or in your real life, jot them down on a piece of paper and get back to your current writing project. You can handle those other things later. But it will help clear you mind if you write them down.
15. Use a timer for your writing sessions. The literal countdown may help you focus. Writing against a clock or deadline can motivate certain writers. That’s why sprints work.
16. Do a sprint or short-term writing challenge with others. The crowd will help, even if the crowd is you and your best friend.
17. Get outside your usual writing space. Sometimes a change in venue helps. Go to the park and sit at a picnic table. Or head to another room in your house or go to the library (if it’s open).
18. Change up your writing schedule. Maybe your lack of focus has more to do with the time of day you are trying to write. If I try to write in the morning, I fail. It is not my ideal time to write. Afternoons, evenings and nighttime work best for me. Maybe you are scheduling your writing at the wrong time for you.
19. Try journaling or doing Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” to get the words flowing. Sometimes getting your fingers moving on something not related to your project helps warm up the writing muscles.
20. Meditate and clear your head.
21. Reward yourself when you hit your goals. Bribery works. Come up with something that will keep you going. Chocolate. Wine. Whatever works for you.
22. Put your commitment to the test by signing up for an app like StickK where you put a financial punishment on the line for failing to meet your goals. Fear is a great motivator. So is the prospect of losing money.
23. Find someone to write with—it could be a writing buddy, a friend, a virtual writing partner or a Forum.
24. Don’t stop to look things up. Just mark the spot and keep going. Keep a list of things you will need to look up later. If it essential to your plot, save it for the end of your writing session and do your research before your next writing session. Do not stop mid-writing to fall down the research rabbit hole.
25. Remember your commitment for doing this. Keep your reasons in mind and then get back to it. Some days it won’t be fun. But that is why you need to make a commitment early. It will help you get through the tough days. And there will be tough days.
26. Know why you are writing. Why it matters to you. Why getting back to it matters. It could be as simple as “to pay my mortgage” or “to fulfill my dream”—whichever reason you have, hold it close. Your why should help you get back into the right mind frame to write.
Making writing a practice is not easy. It takes time and practice to develop the ability to focus and make it happen no matter how you feel or what your inner voices are telling you. Keep at it. You will develop techniques to handle the issues when they pop up.