It's that wonderful time of the month (as opposed to the awful time of the month) where we gather around to do the blogging circle prompt. If you cannot tell by the title of the post, this month is about distractions. Distractions are the nasty things that pull you from what you're doing. They can be anything, from a daydream to a nap to... well, a very cute and furry puppy. Yes, Cookie, I mean you. I would say stop being adorable but I do believe you will be a Nermal puppy (go look up Garfield if you don't get the reference).
Also, blogger thingie, I did spell it right. On the first time. Geek points for me, fail points for you. Ha!
But back to the point at hand. Let's copy/paste a bit here.
We all have them , whether they are living, mandatory, optional or fun. How do you work around your distractions? Do you separate time out or do you let the distractions come as they may? Are you one of the lucky ones that can shut it all out and write for as long as you'd like?
Before we get into the questions and answering and all, let me explain how I view distractions. I view a distraction as something that happens when I'm actively working on getting something else done. So, I'm writing a blog post and a police cruiser comes along, the police cruiser is a distraction because my eyes follow it to see what's happening. This is different from just being a lazy butt and playing Freecell all day. Mostly because that's procrastinating. :)
Alright, first question - how do you work around your distractions?
I try to schedule work around them. I know that, as soon as mom comes home until she goes up to bed (so, 5ish to 9ish), I will be distracted by whatever we're doing. Usually dinner making and then watching television and whatnot. Playing with the puppy as well. So I try to make it so that I write before she gets home and then write a bit after she goes to bed. Usually this works out well. Sometimes it doesn't because I get distracted / not want to do my writing. I also know, around 11 pm / midnight, I want to get on World of Warcraft and kick some Horde butt. So, my writing day, on a day where I don't give into the want of not writing, is usually writing from about a hour after I get up (sometimes two, depending on the mood) until 5ish. Then a break until 9 and some more writing until the WoW want kicks in. That's how it's supposed to go. It rarely goes that way, but I'm trying to be better.
Second question - Do you separate time out or do you let the distractions come as they may?
Well, the ones that I know are coming (see above question), I schedule around. The ones that happen chaotically - meaning the puppy is involved - have to come as they may. Same with the puppy needing me to play with her. I just get up, spend some time with her, and go back to writing. She seems to understand my writing time and is happy to curl up between me and the laptop. Sweet thing.
Third question - Are you one of the lucky ones that can shut it all out and write as long as you like?
I can! But only if the planets are aligned. Meaning that it needs to be November, I need to have the noise canceling headphones on (with a fresh battery for the noise canceling part), and be at a Starbucks. Then I am a rock star. Same goes for when I write in a group / word war. Unless the puppy needs something, I am good unless needed for an emergency. :D
So yeah, that's distractions for the ... day. I so want that person's convertable. And ooo a puppy (not mine)! *goes back to looking out the window*
