From the wit and wisdom that is Neil Gaiman’s journal, this morning I bring you his commentary about deadlines and how to focus:
The best suggestion I can make is to stop doing other things. Turn off the computer, or take a laptop somewhere they don’t have wireless. Don’t play solitaire or bring a mobile phone. Then write.
It’s amazing how much time you can spend not writing, without even trying. Make a rule that you can either write, or not do anything at all. (No TV. No long baths. No reading New Scientist. Staring out of the window is okay.) Pretty soon, you start to write, because it’s more interesting than staring vacantly out of the window.
I need to go take his advice, and stare out the window until I get bored enough to write. :)
That’s remarkably similar to my 1 known successful dissertation analysis/writing strategy. I particularly like the strategy of “if you CAN’T get to the point of doing nothing at home, take the laptop and GO AWAY.” If I’m at home, I always get distracted by the mess/cooking/cute cats and if I address those things I’m working, so that’s okay, right? Uh, no. I might spend half an hour walking to the coffee shop, but once I get there there are no distractions, just the cursed computer or watching the dumb tourists be lost. The computer wins.
that reminds me of a quote from where I can’t remember:
“Writing is easy…all you have to do is stare at the keyboard until drops of blood start out from your forehead. The rest is easy.”