Music is the perfect blocker.

 

Lately my one hour sprints have produced startling results.

Tuesday = 1.6k

Wednesday = 1.4k

Thursday (only managed 42 mins) = 1.1k

A year ago and I just managed to hit 800 words.

Go back to 2011 and I was scraping in 500 words an hour.

So what’s changed?

Simple – I’ve removed distractions (not so easy for all I know) and added in another.

As soon as I get home I feed the cats, make a drink, pull on my thermal socks and boot up the computer. Whilst Word is loading up, I switch off email notifications (or just shut down completely) and ensure that Twitter/Facebook and all other forms of social media are deactivated.

I need peace.

And then – I add music.

But it has to be instrumental music that lifts and drops me into worlds and emotions that are unlike your favourite band or album. Epic music made by little know composers always works for me.

Latest one I’ve been listening to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuwnaADH-GM

The music absorbs me – and – releases me to be thrust into my novel. I am away with the words.

Long may it continue.