Bad, bad Internet
I finished writing Chapter 1 of Con & Conjure this weekend, and have started Chapter 2. At the moment, I'm going for a chapter-a-week pace. But when starting another book, the enemy of productivity rears tempting head, and tries to distract me by any means in its considerable arsenal.
It's the Internet. Specifically Twitter, various blogs, and news sites.
Procrastination is a writer's bane and writer's temptation.
I don't remember how I procrastinated before the Internet came along, but I'm sure I found something to lure me away from the humongous manual typewriter I wrote my two "practice novels" on. Procrastination and writing go hand in hand. Nowadays most writers (including myself) write on computers, and the vast majority of those computers are connected to the Internet. Some writers can claim research as an excuse. I can't. I'm a fantasy writer; what I write, I make up. Don't need the Internet for that. That's the main reason why I'm so productive at my family's mountain cabin -- no Internet, no TV, three radio stations. That's it. I get an amazing amount of work done. Hmmm, I wonder why?
To stay on track (and on deadline), I'm going to have to "just say no" to surfing, by limiting it to 15 minutes when I first log on. Heck, I'm even thinking about getting one of those little wind-up kitchen timers. Because when I'm online, I lose track of time. I think we all do. Of course the exception is responding to comments on my blog and answering fan emails. I'll always make time for that. : )
Lisa
It's the Internet. Specifically Twitter, various blogs, and news sites.
Procrastination is a writer's bane and writer's temptation.
I don't remember how I procrastinated before the Internet came along, but I'm sure I found something to lure me away from the humongous manual typewriter I wrote my two "practice novels" on. Procrastination and writing go hand in hand. Nowadays most writers (including myself) write on computers, and the vast majority of those computers are connected to the Internet. Some writers can claim research as an excuse. I can't. I'm a fantasy writer; what I write, I make up. Don't need the Internet for that. That's the main reason why I'm so productive at my family's mountain cabin -- no Internet, no TV, three radio stations. That's it. I get an amazing amount of work done. Hmmm, I wonder why?
To stay on track (and on deadline), I'm going to have to "just say no" to surfing, by limiting it to 15 minutes when I first log on. Heck, I'm even thinking about getting one of those little wind-up kitchen timers. Because when I'm online, I lose track of time. I think we all do. Of course the exception is responding to comments on my blog and answering fan emails. I'll always make time for that. : )
Lisa
Labels: writing tips
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:19 AM
9 Comments:
Hi Lisa :)
I've found time flies when I'm online too. I've started locking the Internet off when I am writing.
Thanks for sharing,
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo
I think this will be my problem when I eventually get to the writing part. Not necessarily the internet itself, but more like books, TV, guilt. Yes, guilt. I have a very close family, and we don't live that far apart, so we visit a lot. Not visiting family so I can stay at home and write just seems... not so great. Yet I do feel guilty over the smallest thing. I guess I'll just have to deal, or get myself a schedule, lol.
I know some aspiring writers who unplug the internet when they write, so they are unable to use it. I wouldn't be able to do that as I would probably break something, haha!
Kind of completely unrelated, but my villian made himself known to me today! Hurrah! He's yet to tell me his motivation, but I'll coax it out of him soon :)
Jo, Yea for finding your villain!
When I was finishing Bewitched & Betrayed, I switched off my computer's Internet connection. Did a world of good.
My approach has always been two-fold. First, all I do is check email and a few specific website (including this one). Once that's done, it's writing time, with a goal of 4 pages. It dates back to when I had dial-up internet access. I've had broadband for a couple of years now, and nothing's really changed.
BTW, today writing time is research time. I have to got to the library and look at microfilmed newspapers for a nonfiction project. Then tonight is promo time; a book talk in the small town of Marion, Kansas.
PS - good for you, Jo!
Ha, I have the same problem. I think of the internet as being similar to Pringles... or pistachios. Once you have one it's like you become possessed and can't stop, until the entire container is empty... but the Internet never ends.
It took me ages to figure out that the only way to get any writing done (or any legit activity on the computer for that matter) was to unplug myself from the internet completely and sit across the room from the ethernet cord. Thankfully we have no wireless lol.
Oh man, Pringles and pistachios -- serious danger for me. YUM!
We have wireless, so I have to flip the switch on my laptop and smack my hand if it strays toward it.
Ung. Yeah, the internet is the worst tempter out there. I happen to be a hard-core gamer and play world of warcraft so when I need to do homework or write another chapter I usually switch to my old laptop that doesn't get internet and go sit in the patio. It's really hard to concentrate some days when life just kicked you a knew one and all you wanna do is go laze away on the net or, in my case, get on WoW and kill a few monsters and talk to friends.
Being able to write up in a cabin with limited technology actually doesn't sound that bad. Sounds kinda cozy really, lots of forests I imagine. Wrap up with a blanket by a sunny window, morning coffee and a laptop. That would be awesome.
I'd suggest turning the wireless modem off all together but you've prolly got others in the house who need it as well. Weather pending, why not bring your laptop outside? Picnic or something.. ah wait. Stupid winter is coming. Gr.
Like the others, I have the same problem with the internet-- and we have wireless,too. (like right now for example, I'm supposed to be writing, but I'm reading Lisa's excellent blog.) But I swear, I'm going to write as soon as I finish....
As for avoidance-- I'm going fore sheer willpower.
LOL! Patti, I was writing, but popped over here to check comments.
Back to writing now. I swear . . .
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