Writers hate a lot of –tion words–particularly procrastination and distraction.
Procrastination isn’t my worst enemy; well, at least not as formidable a foe as distraction. Distraction is a shape-shifter: it takes many forms. Mostly, it takes the form of something that ends with .com, and is accompanied by its favorite –tion travel pal: justification.
Chapter 1: I’ll just check my stats on my blog. That’s legitimate. I need to make sure things are going well with my site.
Chapter 2: Oh, and while I’m at it, I’ll just pop over and check my twitter. That’s important too.
Chapter 3: I’ve been meaning to look up… for my novel. I really should understand that better before I finish that next chapter.
You see, justification helps along distraction until I have written an entire tome full of such chapters, and wasted 1, 2 3, hours, but not actually gotten to the task at hand.
But, I, too, have a secret weapon. It’s the off switch on that little internet box. Bye bye, demons. Cell phone’s in the other room. I am perfectly safe to sit down and write those query letters, which is exactly what I am doing right n… Hold on.
Ergh. Distraction, you’ve shape-shifted again. At least you helped me into a useful
–tion: production, accompanied by inspiration.
Those aren’t such bad –tions, after all.
And the query letters await.
What are your best procrastination and distraction techniques?
I know what you mean, Deborah! Thanks for reading and responding.
I work in a one-room studio separate from my house. There’s no phone service and no internet, just a wood stove to heat the place, and a bird feeder out the big window. Yes, I spend a fair bit of time staring out the window, looking for inspiration. Sometimes, I find it.
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