Kevin's Watch

I am leaving to spend my Saturday evening at Barnes and Noble. I find I cannot do any writing in the house. My mind wanders to the leak in the bathroom or the lawn that needs mowing. To teenagers suspended from school, to food that needs cooking.

So I'm off to find a comfy chair, my ipod and my laptop. What do you do to get focused?

suggestions appreciated.

Set a deadline. Otherwise I put it off indefinitely.

I usually just write. I can't say why or when. I take one or two core ideas and lay down the train tracks--writing on the fly. I've had times where I had to get out of bed to write something down. I used to listen to music, though I'd say it's a small aid and not the prime mover. Most of the time I'm completely silent, focused on the words and typing on the keyboard. I sometimes write on paper, usually in bed, which I feel gives you a different aesthetic, since you can't quickly delete everything or open up a Thesauruses on the Internet to pick a niftier word. You just have to think it out, nothing but your head.

I don't do anything to force the writing or use anything to get my mind ready. It's either there or it's not. If you have something memorable, you'll remember it and be able to put it down each time, just as memorable but perhaps in a different iteration. I usually finish a 30-page story in a blaze, without stopping, but when I do I can walk away from it for months, or I'll trudge through it laboriously, sometimes spending a month on a chapter. Any price until I know it's right, and the best gift of the writer is knowing when it's right.

So I guess I don't believe in the "write everyday" rule. I believe giving yourself as much time as you need can sprout ideas and energies for your story that you never would have fathomed had you just kept trucking on. This is the reason why I didn't write on my second novel for a year, and when I finally did I added two of its best, most shocking chapters; chapters I'd have never imagined had I not taken that pause.

Time is a great luxury. Use it to make your book perfect.

Smacking those suspended teenagers with a 2x4 might do the trick. And even if it doesn't help your focus, it would sure be fun!

Fist and Faith wrote:Smacking those suspended teenagers with a 2x4 might do the trick. And even if it doesn't help your focus, it would sure be fun!

OMG - I needed that laugh!!! Check this out - she was suspended for punching the vice principal in the face!

Wow! That is impressive! I hope she got punishment beyond suspension from school?

Wow-you'd either go to juvie court or be placed in an inbound program here.

When I was writing songs a lot and lived in Boston, I would go down to the Public Gardens and sit by a pond under a tree with my notebook and guitar. Gave me people to observe as well as a sense of peacefulness...

When I wrote poetry in the 80s I'd go to the University practice fields, gaze at the clouds and channel Shelley, or go to the river and channel Auden. When I wrote poetry in the '70s I was usually under the influence of something.

Which poetry is better?

both

The problem is trying to balance everything between work, school, family and personal time. When I was single I had countless hours to do whatever I wanted, think about whatever I wanted and was able to write when I wanted (including 2 am, if the mood hit).

Now being a mother and a wife, it's put an enormous amount of undue strain on my writing. There's so much worry and stress that accompanies my free time (what little I have) and I've found myself at a stand still in my writing. If the writing bug hits at 2 am, I'm either asleep or up with the baby trying to soothe him back to sleep so I can maybe get a solid 4 hours. Then I spend the rest of my waking hours worrying about what to do for dinner, did I forget to pay any bills, entertaining my son, trying to instill good manners in my son, feeding him, clothing him, cleaning after him, etc. It's exhausting.

When I finally get him in bed, then it's time for the husband. He has needs and feelings, too. And by the time it's all said and done, it's 2 am and I'm back up with the baby (or asleep). Where is there time for me to feel like me again?

I can't guarantee you anything anyone suggests is going to help. Emptying my mind seems to help the most, though I can't say it's an effective route as I can't even seem to do it these days. I approach my writing as I would acting: I need to feel what I'm writing in order to properly convey it empathetically. I often listen to music to reflect the mood I'm trying to write in. I also find it easier to pick up and write prose than poetry.

I think if you allow yourself to be confined to a certain type of environment it could end up hindering you more than helping you. And I fully agree with Lord Foul; a fantastic writer doesn't need to be prolific in order to be fantastic. One great piece is all it takes.

I heard of a book called "The Creative Habit" by Twyla Tharp... it's by a lady who records that she needed her regular routine of riding to her dance studio in a taxicab to be able to really dance.

Jaz- Owwww! I know I won't be the only one saying this, but - I'm impressed you're even trying to write right now! Your intense time invested in caring for your family is a such a gift to them... the "newborn / small baby time" is so rough it scares me. (and you're remembering your hubby has needs too at a time like this - GO YOU, Lady!) At the same time, yeahhhhh you're right, we do need to recharge.

So basically, GOOOOO JAZ! Now if I can only find that "clappy emote."

P.S. Lorin, wow, sounds like the girl's fearless, at least!

I'm with you Jaz. Having a family and a child certainly restrains your writing time! Inspiration hits me when I'm least able to use it!

I purchase packs of those little notepads and always carry one and pen pretty much where ever I go. I just scribble down any random thing, site, phrase, lyric, person, etc. that happens to strike me. I find it to be quite inspirational.