(no subject)

[hippybngstockng]

I'm curious... What do you do when your train of thought has been derailed? How do you get back on track?

I'm curious because I seem to utterly suck at it, and it makes trying to write deeply annoying when you live with children, people, dogs, air...

Comments

[braz-king.livejournal.com]

In my experience you can not write when you have other things to do. You need a set block of time, whether it is ten minutes a day or three hours on Sunday morning or one hours each night - whatever works for your personality and responsibilities. That block of time is non-negotiable. You don't talk to anyone, take care of anything, answer the phone - nothing. You just write.

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

*nods* You've been to our place though, you've seen where the box is, you can tell how this is still a difficulty for me. I try to set time and just block everything out, but I think you have a point- I need to actually book some time, and then perhaps consider having that time at an alternate location, like a library.

The other problem though, as far as my personality goes, is that I've always been somewhat of a spontaneous writer. I like to write when the mood hits me, and about whatever I was thinking about. These days I can only sustain it as long as I am not distracted. My tendency has been to get up before everyone else and try to use the early morning, but the variables involved never leave me with enough time, and I can sense it will end, so I get choked.

Spontaneity

[night--watch.livejournal.com]

I have the same problem. Every so often, I force myself to sit down and *write*, but I often get distracted as well.

So many half-pages of scribbled lines....

[by-sea-change.livejournal.com]

I just bought some ear plugs in a desperate attempt to find some quiet so I don't lose my train of thought. They help, a little bit. Tommy still interrupts me, though. I guess I don't have any good advice. :p

[kon-el333.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Can't help you on this one. I have the uncanny ability to digress yet can always retrace my steps to where I left off. It's one of my super-powers. ;)

[zauditu.livejournal.com]

Considering that I am checking Live Journal because I can't focus on any of the ten things I need to be doing, I'm not sure I'm the best person to comment...

[corwin77.livejournal.com]

If it's just I minor derailment I usually just shake my head and move on.
If it's a major one, like a tough life-decision or writers block I go to a club. Usually the Goth club. I find sitting in all the sound and chaos lets my mind drift to the things I need to think about. And if it doesn't work at least I get to check out cute women. ;)

[animated-max.livejournal.com]

One thing NOT to do is make your inner monologue outer and record it. People stare, sometimes get mad.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Sorry, what? Sorry, my mind was elsewhere.

Sadly, I haven't been able to finish anuthing for ten years. But you have my sympathy nonetheless.

[bookwormb.livejournal.com]

I'll echo G's sentiments. And as for spontaneity, I'm learning to schedule it (oxymoronic as that sounds)! No, seriously...especially now that we're in summer mode, I'm realizing quickly that if I leave our days completely unstructured, I may wake up in September wondering what I did/where the time went (!!!) BUT hanging out with homeschoolers, interestingly, I'm figuring out how to create our own BALANCED days (imagine that!)- not the crazyness of the school-year schedule but not the complete, admittedly necessary 'doing absolutely nothing' void of our first few days of vacation, either). Now I'm trying not to stray too far from your writing question, but I've found that certain activities I can (at least some of the time) reserve for a certain period of time (i.e. after the kids' bedtimes - well at least in the case of quiet activities like catching up with reading/writing). This doesn't sound spontaneous at all but at least I'm creating a consistent OPPORTUNITY for this to happen...then if I'm not in the mood, I just get more sleep...