Managing Your Distractions: A Survey

I'm writing a blog post about avoiding distractions while writing, so I'd like you all to share and describe your methods and their pros and cons. Details are highly appreciated.

edited 2nd Jun '12 6:10:23 PM by SnowyFoxes

I've never had to worry about being distracted when writing, honestly. I only tend to get distracted when I'm doing things that I don't enjoy, and writing isn't among those things (unless it's pen-and-paper writing, I guess).

I have no problems managing distract— Oh look, a quarter!

I use Q10 which is basically the same thing as Focuswriter but pared down even more, and I tend to move from my bed (where my computer usually is) to my desk, so I can 'feel' a difference in what I'm doing.

I get off of TV Tropes. Pro: I can fully concentrate. Con: I'm probably missing some advice I could really use.

How do you stay off the site, though?

...You don't open it in your browser?

Nice Mathematician's Answer there.

How do you resist the temptation to open your browser?

Like I said, there is no temptation. I only really have to resist distractions if I'm not enjoying what I'm doing in the first place, which isn't the case with writing.

Then that question wasn't specifically addressed to you. I thought it was implied that it was meant for the people that actually have an issue.

edited 2nd Jun '12 6:17:20 PM by SnowyFoxes

Using FocusWriter helps a lot. The typewriter sounds especially, reminds me that every character I typed actually matters, and that motivates me to write more. Having a target word count is another plus.

I curse Microsoft Onenote with all my heart though, it compelled me to write useless outlines and ideas that are good once in a blue moon. Making my character sheets there really helps, on the other hand.

About no-TV Tropes part, I'm not particularly addicted to it. It's just once in a while I stumbled upon things like Faction Calculus, With a Friend and a Stranger and other interesting things.

edited 2nd Jun '12 9:42:31 PM by LimitRemoval

Resisting distractions. Huh. I suppose that's one way of going about it.

I've had the benefit of being unemployed since July. It's easy to write a thousand words a day when there's nothing you need to be doing anyway. I'll be starting college in the fall, so that's probably going to make things tougher. But for the most part, I really don't worry about distractions. I keep my story open, and when I think of what to write, I type it down. Sometimes, I'll get into a nice groove where I get a few hundred words down before I know it. Other times, it'll take me two hours to get the next sentence. All the while, I'll be doing other shit.

But like I said, it works for me because there is nothing I need to do on a daily basis. No job, no school, no friends - I have absolutely nothing going on in my life. Frankly, I should probably be writing three times what I do now.

Whenever I need to focus, I straighten up my posture, write down the time and date, and think about what I'm going to do. Then I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Discipline the body so the mind will follow, and all that.

I don't manage them. :|

Lock yourself in your room, put in some earplugs and get to writing.

I say you go to an internet dead spot and get to work. Either that, or disconnect the internet. Turning off the browser isn't enough. You gotta go all the way! >_<

Honestly, once I hid my stride, it's hard to be distracted...until you are.

I close Steam and firefox, though this can be a catch-22 when I need to ask my main editor something (whom IMing over steam is easiest), or need to reference the internet for technical details...

I make sure my outlines/plans are in easy reach, digitally or otherwise.

Finally I put on some music that, if it can't match the tone of what I'm writing, at least doesn't clash that badly with it.

edited 4th Jun '12 9:11:00 PM by CleverPun