by Ellen Buikema

We live in a world packed with distractions. Our attention is pulled in various directions keeping us from getting our tasks done.

Distractions can have an adverse effect on our mental health as well, possibly stopping us from achieving our goals. While these distractions aren’t necessarily going anywhere, finding ways to deal with and overcome them can help you stay on track and better focused.

Identify the cause of your distractions.

It’s difficult to overcome distractions unless you know what causes them - internal (exhaustion, lack of motivation, non-stop thoughts, wandering mind, worry), external (environmental stimulations including clutter, your computer, noise, people, phone).

Internal distractions can be hard to avoid.

• Make sure you are rested and have eaten before attempting a task requiring concentration. Tired, famished brains are easily distracted!
• Use positive imagery to deal with anxiety and worry.
• Speaking with a professional for support with managing internal disturbances may be helpful for some.

For external distractions:

• Set aside a particular time or space and request not to be disturbed.
• Keep your phone out of reach during that time and only use it during defined breaks.
• If there are still too many distractions, consider a place where you know you’ll be able to work undisturbed, like the library.

Break distraction habits.

To break distraction habits:

• Develop new habits to rid you of distractions and keep you focused.
• Look at your daily habits, and then start weeding those distractions one at a time.
• Schedule the most important tasks first.
• Try starting work earlier, include exercise, or meditate.

Changing habits may seem like a simple thing to do, but it takes dedication to pull it off. Sometimes a minor shift, only one habit change, is all you need.

Declutter your environment.

There’s a lot battling for your attention, so it’s important to free yourself from the obvious distractions. When your mind or workspace is cluttered it is easy to feel distracted. Try organizing your desk, or simply clear it.

With notifications popping up on the screen when you’re trying to focus, it’s frustratingly easy to become distracted. Find your worst distractions and eliminate them.

To assist in building your distraction-free zone:

• Use a website blocker.
• Wear noise-canceling headphones
• Grab a carafe of coffee, and decide what you want to accomplish.

Set an artificial project deadline. (Lie to yourself.)

Do you have several hours to write an article? Set a timer for 45 minutes. A sense of urgency may produce surprising results. Changing a task into a challenge forces you to spend more attention and energy on that project because you’ve limited the time.

In this way, we can block distractions ahead of time, work with intention, and reclaim our attention. It’s harder to chase squirrels and fall down rabbit holes with a short deadline, even if it is artificial.

Take timeouts.

 

Whether you can stay focused forever or work better in shorter bursts, it’s good to know what task/break rhythm works best for you and go with it. Even short breaks can help improve focus. Take the occasional mental break to recharge your attentional resources.

Try taking several deep breaths and focusing on each one. When your mind wanders, bring your focus back to your breath. This is how meditation works.

There is no magical time limit needed for meditating. A few minutes may be enough. I’ve built 20 minutes of meditation into my morning routine. When I miss a day, I can feel the difference.

After focusing for however many minutes works best for you, take a break. Do something enjoyable that requires getting up and away from the desk. These breaks are part of your work day and should not be skipped. Breaks help you be more productive.

Recognize how distractions have affected your life and ability to accomplish goals. If you find yourself sidetracked by unimportant details, it may be time to place greater value on your time.

Be present.

 

Be fully in the moment. Staying involved in the present sharpens your attention and keeps your mental resources focused on what matters at the time.

Try this exercise to practice being in the moment:

• Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and then open them and really “see” where you are.
• How do the walls look? Color, texture, curved, straight?
• What noises do you hear? Human, animal, mechanical, wind?
• What patterns do you see? Color, shape, size?
• How many windows are in the room? Not just number. Do they make a pattern? Are they decorated?
• What about the floor and ceiling? Tiles, wood, old, new, color, shape?
• How many lights can you count? Color, shapes, size?

When you stop to truly observe your environment and take in everything around you, it's easier to be in the present.

Final thoughts.

Try book-writing software.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? People who write by the seat of their pants (pantsers) may prefer a looser, more flexible way to organize chapters, scenes.

People who meticulously plan their book (plotters) might want something more structured. Book-writing software may assist with your unique writing style.

Book-writing software may to help writers stay organized and on task, which is a good thing.

Accomplishing anything worthwhile takes time. Limiting distractions will help get you to your goals.

How do you limit your distractions? Do you use any website blockers?

* * * * * *

About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

Top Image by Andreas Hoja from Pixabay

by Julie Glover

Having finished Act I of my current work in progress, I stared at the opening of Act II. What should happen now? It’d been a while since I’d written a fresh novel, and my brain felt a little rusty on story structure.

No worries! I popped over to my file cabinet, pulled out the folder titled Writing Classes, and found a workshop handout that covered romance structure well. Soon, I was back on track, excited to dig deeper into my story. Thank goodness for my wonderful writing instructors!

The Learning Curve

Like many writers, I began my first novel not knowing what I didn’t know. Soon, however, I discovered I had plenty to learn. Like the fictional hero on his journey, I went on a quest to gather the know-how I needed to pursue the writing career I wanted.

I read plenty of books and took plenty of classes. From presentations at writing chapters to conference workshops to online courses to writer retreats, my experience ran the gamut. Not only in the type of instruction, but also how useful it proved.

I had a learning curve with writing but also a learning curve about which resources would best help me. In hopes that I can shorten your curve—or remind you of what you already know—here are four features my best learning experiences had in common.

Topic/Information Aligned with Needs and Goals

What stage of your career are you in? What knowledge or skills do you need to develop? Have you figured out your writing process? What would writing success look like to you? What outstanding questions do you have that need answering?

Asking these questions can help you determine whether a resource could be helpful. For example, a newbie might be overwhelmed by an advanced workshop and a multi-published author bored by a beginner workshop. Meanwhile, a presentation about traditional publishing won’t have as much usefulness to a self-pubber, and vice versa. Some “proven” marketing ideas work well for one genre but not another.

Also reflect on how you write. Early on, I took some workshops that urged writers to pen messy first drafts and only go back and edit after reaching the end. That approach did not jive with who I am as a person or a writer (see my post In Defense of Editing as You Go). Thankfully, I figured that out along the way, though sadly, not before wasting valuable time trying to align myself to the information instead of the other way around.

When considering a learning opportunity, ask whether it matches with your current needs and goals. You don’t have to turn down anything that isn’t an exact fit, but most of your learning should be on target for you.

Enlightened and Engaging Teacher

Does the presenter know his/her stuff? Do they have something fresh to offer? Do they present information in a way that grabs and holds your attention? Do you have the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered?

Some teachers stand out as excellent—not merely because you enjoyed the lesson but because you retained what you learned. They had deep knowledge in their field and presented it in a way that excited you. Plus, they seemed eager to help you, and other participants, pursue and achieve success.

Perhaps you could name a few standout instructors. Some of mine have guest posted here at WITS!

But I could also point to workshops that sounded like they’d be great, yet the presenter didn’t keep the audience engaged. Or even someone I thought would have a lot to impart, but not so much. Being an expert or successful author and being a good public speaker don’t automatically go together.

The best way to know if someone presents well is to ask around. Whose classes are worth taking? Which speakers are must-hears? Which retreats or conferences consistently have quality speakers? Prioritize those on your list of future learning experiences.

Opportunity to Put Learning into Practice

Does the lesson involve more than lecture? Does the presenter provide examples or demonstrations? Are you challenged to use the information in some way during the workshop or soon after? Is there accountability for doing your “homework”?

There’s something called the Forgetting Curve, a hypothesis that memory of information declines over time, unless you take steps to remember. First proposed in 1885, the original study’s results were replicated in 2015, giving credence to the theory.

We’ve all experienced this phenomenon of hearing good advice, walking away, and forgetting it. Or perhaps we remember it vaguely, but not enough to really make a difference. What helps us retain what we’ve learned is interaction with the information.

Classes that involve examples or hands-on exercises are more likely to make an impression. And if you can put what you learn into practice in your writing right away, you’re far more likely to continue using the knowledge you’ve gained.

Ways to Follow Up

Did you get a helpful handout to revisit from time to time? Is there a book, course, or coaching that you can seek out later? Will you be able to stay in touch with other participants if you want to spur one another on?

Some workshop materials are so good that I reference them again and again while other presentations whetted my appetite for more. And having a follow-up resource made all the difference.

Another perk of an excellent learning experience is going through it with others who become a support network for your writing craft or business. I even met my co-author, critique partner, and best friend at a writing retreat! But she’s not the only one who’s helped me through the years. The network is real, my friend, and it’s worth connecting to.

A quality instructional experience includes ways to follow up so that you can reinforce what you’ve learned, expand your knowledge, and connect with like-minded writers. Not every class will do all three, but that scene should have an opportunity for a sequel.

In Summary

When deciding how to add to your knowledge or skillset, look for these four qualities in potential workshops or events:

1. Topic/Information Aligned with Needs and Goals
2. Enlightened and Engaging Teacher
3. Opportunity to Put Learning into Practice
4. Ways to Follow Up

Which of these qualities is most important to you? What else have you found helpful about the best writing workshops or events you’ve attended?

* * * * * *

Want a guarantee that you’ll get all four of these qualities? Cruising Writers brings in the best instructors with interactive workshops and opportunities to connect with the coaches and writers like you.

Our next cruise is focused on self-publishing, with industry pro Mark Leslie Lefebvre and bestselling author Erin Wright on board. You’ll get away to beautiful destinations, deepen your knowledge, and forge lasting friendships.

Sign up today!

About Julie

Julie Glover is an award-winning author of young adult and mystery fiction. Her contemporary YA includes Sharing Hunter, Daring Charlotte, and coming-soon, Pairing Anton, and she has written several YA paranormal stories. She has also co-authored five supernatural suspense novels and two short stories in the mythology-based Muse Island series under her pen name Jules Lynn.

Julie holds a master’s degree in counseling, has taught conference workshops and online courses, and serves as sidekick and sometimes-host for Cruising Writers, an incomparable writers’ retreat at sea. A native of Texas, she now lives in Denton with her hottie husband, her loquacious cat, and her large collection of cowgirl boots.

by Laurie Schnebly CampbellWe’ve all heard why someone’s relationship didn’t work out:

“So-and-so ate crackers in bed.”

“They always wanted to plan everything, not just let it happen.”

“I never felt like they really GOT what I was saying.”

Just about every such failure — whether it’s between spouses, friends, business partners, siblings, neighbors, or whoever — can be boiled down to a single statement:

“We don’t see things the same way.”

Our world-view, or how we see things, obviously goes FAR beyond just our view of eating crackers in bed. (Even though that’s an easy-to-blame description of what went wrong.) Instead, the view is more of a big-picture thing.

But it’s a book character’s view which makes this person intriguing to read about...because it’ll help get ‘em into trouble during the story. And that’s true even when their view is one that everybody would agree is pretty good:

1. They want to make the world better.
2. They love taking care of others.
3. They always do a spectacular job.
4. They’re never afraid of their emotions.
5. They’re great at figuring stuff out.
6. They work to keep us safe.
7. They can make any situation fun.
8. They know how to get things done.
9. They’re so easy to get along with.

What’s not to love about that?

At first glance, those ARE all wonderful traits. Until you’ve spent quite a bit of time with this person, and discovered the down-side:

1. They insist on proving they’re right.
2. They never give me any space.
3. It’s always about how they look.
4. Every day is jam-packed with drama.
5. It’s all just facts, not feelings.
6. They’re constantly staying on guard.
7. You can’t ever count on ‘em to show up.
8. They always have to be boss.
9. They never give their opinion.

What accounts for all those failings?

Let’s call it the fatal flaw.

You might’ve heard that term regarding the nine personality types known as enneagrams. And although “fatal flaw” sounds wonderfully dramatic, none of those flaws HAS to be fatal. In fact, in real life, they hardly ever are.

But in fiction?

Oh, boy, dramatic tension! Clashes! Conflict!

Yep, we’ve got conflict. (Even if both parties are the SAME type.) All nine types are called things that identify their best -- and, when taken to extremes, their worst — traits:

1. Reformer, Perfectionist, Idealist, Advocate
2. Nurturer, Helper, Giver, Servant, Adviser
3. Achiever, Performer, Charmer, Succeeder
4. Individualist, Creator, Romantic, Artist
5. Observer, Analyzer, Thinker, Investigator
6. Guardian, Loyal Skeptic, Defender, Cautioner
7. Adventurer, Enthusiast, Experiencer, Explorer
8. Leader, Challenger, Controller, Attacker
9. Peacemaker, Mediator, Comforter, Adapter

So what kind of conflict/s do those lead to?

Here’s where every writer’s mind immediately kicks into action. “Okay, so Jalen and Ling are assigned to work together but they’re driving each other crazy. What types would they be?”

“Michael and Emma thought they’d love each other forever, but their relationship is collapsing. What type is he? And she?”

“The detective knows the villain is hiding this vital clue, taunting him to find it. What does that make their types?”

You already know there’s not gonna be just ONE type that fits the detective, the villain, Michael, Emma, Jalen or Ling. And that’s good, because if these stories would work ONLY with Jalen as a Six and Ling as a Two, the writer doesn’t get to do much creating.

Instead, we get to choose which type we want for a character by asking “What else do I know about Jalen?”

Well, let’s say it’s:

• Head of the class before joining this group.
• Traveled the globe as a child and still likes travel.
• Loves running.
• Never forgets Grandma’s birthday.
• Tends to be bossy at work.
• Has a phobia about — uh, let’s make it lightning.

Do any of those reflect a particular character type?

Well, we’re getting closer. Now we can narrow down the possibilities.

• Head of the class sounds like a One, Three, Five or Eight.
• Being fond of travel would characterize a Four, Five, Seven or Nine.
• Any type could love running.
• Never forgetting Grandma’s birthday could be a One, Two, Four, Six or Nine.
• Bossy at work would most likely apply to a One, Five, Six or Eight.
• Any type could fear lightning.

All right, so let’s look at the most frequent options: One and Five. Which seems more like Jalen? (Here’s where we dig into the enneagram descriptions, which you can see in various places including https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/ and https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/enneagram-types.)

Once we’ve looked at all the flaws a character might show, and what each one’s accompanying strength is — because EVERY type has its good side as well as its bad side — we’ll be able to spot which’ll best suit Jalen’s place in the story.

And what other conflicts it might lead to as we’re building the story.

Not only that, we’ll also be able to discover other good traits that’ll come into play. Those might be qualities Jalen and Ling will come to respect about one another, if we want these two to wind up cooperating.

Or, if we want their mission to fail, we’ll get to develop the qualities that’ll bring THAT about.

Either way, it all comes from knowing their enneagrams. Which leads to our:

Prize Drawing Question

Based on what the types are called (or broader enneagram knowledge if you have it), which of the nine sounds the most like you OR a character you’re currently writing?

Someone who comments will win free registration to Creating Your Hero’s Fatal Flaw, my August 12-23 email class on how to use enneagrams for building plots AND characters. On Monday morning, I’ll have random-dot-org draw a name and post it at the end of the comments — hurray, something to look forward to after the weekend!

About Laurie:

After winning Romantic Times’ “Best Special Edition of the Year” over Nora Roberts, Laurie Schnebly Campbell discovered she loved teaching every bit as much as writing...if not more. Since then she’s taught online and live workshops including the one at Creating Your Hero's Fatal Flaw, and keeps a special section of her bookshelves for people who’ve developed that particular novel in her classes. With 50+ titles there so far, she’s always hoping for more.

Top image from Depositphotos.