I was just talking with a client the other day about the writing life. She’d struggled with getting started on her novel. Then, once she started, she said it was as though she couldn’t keep her backside in the chair. Everything else caught her attention: laundry, dishes, kids, dogs, yard work, and on and on. And when she finally managed to write most of the book, there was that darned ending! She’d written and rewritten and rewritten it again. What’s more, she was about to rewrite one more time!
“Am I the only one who struggles with all this? Does anyone else?”
After I snorted my coffee—and then cleaned up—I told her the bald truth: “Only everyone.”
Okay, maybe not every writer struggles with these things. But more writers do than don’t. It’s SO much easier to do…well, anything…than to stay focused on writing. It’s not that we don’t love what we do. Of course we love it. But it’s just so hard! And getting immersed enough in the story to stay immersed can be a real battle. So what’s a writer to do?
Well, use the different level of focus, for one thing.
I’m firmly ensconced in the camp of writers that has trouble starting, continuing, and ending well. Which is what got me focused on focus to begin with. And here’s what I’ve found. It helps a great deal to start out with mountaintop focus. How? By looking at the whole picture, I can then break it down to bite-sized pieces. And breaking things down into bite-sized pieces engages my love of puzzles and my desire to “fix” things, which gets me fully engaged. I do this as often every week, or as little as once a month, depending on how the writing is going. Any time I realize I’m out of the chair more than I’m in it, I take a day to do an overview—mountaintop focus–of the book. I consider the following:
Overall Story
- Am I staying true to my core message? Has the story gotten sidetracked? Is it going the direction I thought it would? If not, what has changed, and what does that mean for the book as a whole?
- Have I made the world of my story vivid enough, or do I need to go back and layer in details and descriptions?
Characters
- Are the characters staying true to their motives, issues, arcs (character, spiritual, relational). Or has something changed for any of them?
- Are my characters multi-dimensional, or have I fallen prey to creating clichés? (I find this can happen most often with the antagonist. It’s so important to be sure our villains ring true.)
- If something has changed, do I need to reconsider that character’s place or role in the story?
- What characters have shown up without my permission? Why did they pop up? Do I need to keep them or should I incorporate them into existing characters?
I also evaluate pacing and plot. Once I’ve done this, I can use my mountaintop-focus points to break what I need to work on into smaller pieces. For example, in the Character category, if my overview has pinpointed issues for a character, I zoom in on that character and consider dialogue, beats, actions, emotions, interactions with other characters, and so on. I work on these aspects to ensure that character lives and breathes on the page. Once I’ve finished, I move on to the next character as needed.
And so it goes.
I’ve found this works well for all stages of writing, be it research, first draft, or rewrites.
So if you are a member of the “Oh, look! Laundry needs to be done!” camp, give the spectrum of focus a try. Whether you’re a plotter or, like I am, a seat-of-the-pantser, it really will help you keep your backside in the chair, and your fingers on the keyboard.
Now, let’s hear from you all! What helps you stay focused on the work?
Karen, your posts rock. What keeps me focused is a) a quality set of headphones to drown out the household, and b) a writing partner (Gina Conroy aka “Super G”) who will talk up my story until I’m excited about it again (my only contribution to her work is offering snarky male comments for her male characters).
It’s still tough, though, especially after my work day, the daily workout , food, and thirty seconds of conversation with my wife. I also force myself to set aside the last hour before bedtime for reading. I guess that would be c) read at least one paragraph from a writer “how-to” book–James Scott Bell is my favorite.
Oh wait, there’s a d) start the next novel as soon as the first draft of the current wip is complete. It’s hard to stay excited about writing when you’ve been doing nothing but editing for three months.
You can’t even know how much I needed to read this today. Thank you.
I was once startled to read a statement by Jerry Jenkins (aka, the Book Machine) in which he admitted to struggling with procrastination. He said specific deadlines help to keep him plugging away. I now set deadlines for my various drafts and revisions. I don’t always meet my self-imposed deadlines, but they push me farther along than if I didn’t set them.
Thanks, Karen, for some perpetually timely advice!
Karen, a terrific post with advice I can use today in the midst of two projects. Like Ron mentioned, I use music. I never thought of it as a way to stay focused. Music brings out the creative side of my brain so I can keep writing when I might otherwise be stuck. And depending on what I listen to, helps to create the mood I need for the scene I’m writing. So yes, it does help me stay focused!
Terrific evaluation questions, Karen. I’m a total plotter, so I don’t often get sidetracked or have new characters pop up. But asking those questions at various points throughout the writing process help me stay focused on the end goal (the light at the end of the tunnel) when I seem to be wallowing about, plunking down one letter at a time.
Well said, my friend…and oh, so true!
Practically speaking, to get my butt in the chair, I have my wireless router on a Christmas light remote. It gets turned off at bedtime and I don’t allow myself to turn it on until I have written 2000 words. Or, I’ll go to our cabin in the woods – no internet, no children, no housework – and have myself a marathon session. Find whatever is distracting you and eliminate it (okay, maybe not the hubby and kids LOL!)
Oh, did I need that! It’s good to know I’m not alone, but it’s also helpful to hear that I can strap myself in and just write. It’s doable. It requires discipline and that mountain top vision, which I’ve found tough to muster and hang on to in the last few weeks with end-of-year little people drama…but it’s absolutely within reach. I needed the kick in the seat-of-the-pantser. 😉 Blessings to you!
I’ve loved these posts, Karen. It only took me a few weeks into this school year (I have two elementary aged boys) to discover I’d planned my writing time very poorly. I’ve done what I could to stay focused, but I’ve not done well. A couple things that help me stay focused when i do have time is to determine I’m going to write for an hour before getting online or doing anything else. Sometimes going somewhere else to write also helps. Or talking out my story with a friend. Setting deadlines worked great for me when I wrote my first draft, but revising has taken forever because I haven’t figured out a good way to set deadlines.
Your posts are getting me thinking about how to better focus when I have time to write. Thank you for that.
Karen, I have loved these posts. They’re helpful and encouraging. I was only a few weeks into this school year (I have to elementary aged boys) before I discovered I hadn’t planned out much writing time for myself. I haven’t done a good job staying focused on my writing. When I wrote my first draft, it was easy to work to a deadline. With revising, it’s been much more difficult. Real life keeps getting in the way. 🙂
Things, along with deadlines, that help me gain focus are writing for a specific period of time, usually an hour without getting online or looking too closely at my house. Going somewhere else for a fresh outlook, and talking story with a friend.
I’m going to have to re-figure focus for the summer with my boys home. I am thinking bribery for writing time might be an option. 😉
Thanks again for these fabulous posts, Karen!
I really needed this today too! Thanks!
Thanks Karen! This post came on the tail end of a couple of “bad” writing days. Your suggestions will certainly help. I find that I can get distracted by the outdoors. I live on acreage with a summer garden, lots of dogs and an adventure just outside my door. What keeps me focused is setting a daily and weekly writing goal. I’m very task-oriented, so for those who aren’t this isn’t at all helpful!
I find it’s the time I spend away from my computer, thinking about my story, that motivates me to sit down and write, so I think your advice is spot-on. Even with this comment, after I read your blog, I got up to change the laundry (thanks for the reminder, by the way) and while I was shoving socks and sweatshirts into the dryer, I realized what I wanted to say. I don’t know about other writers, but my inspiration rarely comes in front of this screen. I usually need to be inspired–or to have been inspired at one point with a good idea–before I put my fingers to the keyboard.
A prayer that goes like this: Heavenly Father, I only have three hours of sacred alone time to work on this story you’ve given me. Spirit, help me use every minute to its fullest that I may be diligent in my work so that you, Lord, receive all the glory”.
I’ve been praying that daily for over a year now and oh, how the Lord has answered! He’s so flippin’ faithful!
This post came at the most opportune moment for me. Just before I was trying today to sit down and write the ending for the third draft, I read the beginning of this post. I was hooked, of course, and the advice about focus was very helpful. Finished draft 3 today (though I still need to play with some things). Thanks.
Thanks, Karen. This is wonderful information and so helpful in the battle for focus! I’ve done an extensive re-write on my manuscript and when I find myself taking too long or too many walk-a-bouts, I force myself to answer “why”? Often it’s because I’m feeling discouraged or intimidated by the story, characters, or timeline. Then, if I feel I need a break to get a better perspective, I take it. Otherwise, it’s back in the chair with a cup of tea or a tootsie pop. Revisiting the mountain focus is one of my favorite ways of reestablishing my story in my mind.
What fun to read your thoughts and reactions on these posts! Kudos, all, for putting focus into action. It’s so helpful for us to share our experiences and learn together. Thanks!