IWSG – Dealing With Distrac—“Oh, look! Squirrel!”

Our May Question is: How do you deal with distractions when you’re writing? Do they derail you?
Oh, thanks! Give me THIS question when I’m co-hosting and trying to appear ultra professional! I’ll get this confession out of the way – I’m ADD/OCD. I know. That’s like pouring hot fudge on plain white bread. Hmmm, I wonder if we have any hot fudge in the fridge, maybe some marshmallows . . . Oh, sorry. Back to the topic. Distraction.
My eldest son was three when I got the call from New York to publish my first book. I was proofing the galleys to Book 3 in the hospital after giving birth to my second son. Since I’m not a night owl, I’d get up at 4:30 a.m. – every day! – grab coffee, my WIP and get to work (on legal pads and a manual typewriter prior to my first computer!) before my boys woke up. Then it was ‘Professional Mom mode’ time. I wrote when they were at school. I wrote longhand on note paper at little league games and did mental edits while driving to scout meetings or while washing dishes, and plotted scenes in the car on my way to my 9-to-5 once the boys were in school full-time. My motto: “The path of least resistance.” If you need the time, you’ll find the time. No excuses. No distractions.
You’ll never guess what my worst problem is now in getting writing done.
Too much time.
Now that I’m retired, you’d think I’d be cranking out a four-to-five book series every year. I wish. TOO much time is its own distraction. It seems like the second I fall into a writing rhythm, I hear the fam wandering around or watching talk shows or sports LOUDLY on TV or trudging up the steps to my office to pet the cats. Sigh . . . It makes me wonder if it’s time to just let the writing career go and become a retired Netflix-addicted cat mom. I could do that . . . for about 8-to-10 days. Then those plots would start spinning and those character voices would begin to whisper, “When am I going to get my story?”
Time is on my side . . . I just need to make use of it.
And this month, that means promoting two sales in different genres and by different names . . .
From May 1 to May 15, it’s stalking the dark sidewalks of Las Vegas with a woman looking for her memories and a centuries-old vampire trying to save his lost love, in MIDNIGHT CRUSADER, only $0.99.Preview Midnight Crusader (Touched by Midnight Series - Book 9)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 4, 2011Length: 228 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→Preview Love's Own Reward
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: May 27, 2014Length: 190 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
And, from May 16 to May 31, a fraud-busting journalist searches for the true story behind a shy researcher gifted with a huge windfall for saving a child’s life in LOVE’S OWN REWARD w/a Dana Ransom, a rewarding heart-twister for just $0.99.
But now, off to my job as one of this month’s co-hosts to glean your wisdom on how to deal with distraction. I’ll be taking notes . . .
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the May 1st posting of the IWSG will be are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
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