You just can't write when...

[Ann]

Budgies are squeaking? Germs are lurking? There are other more boring things that need to be done?

What kills your muse?

[J]

Unwanted noise definitely kills my muse. Also the thought of having to go somewhere undesirable later in the day kills my muse, but the primary killer of my muse is when my splicer enzymes cannot withstand all the viruses attacking my cells. I was sick for the past week, and it's just very hard to function. Even reading is hard--thinking is hard.

And when I'm burned out.

[G.G.]

I hear the sound of an incoming email on my Ipad. If I'm going to write I need to leave that thing far far away from me!

[Ann]

The facebook pop is a real killer.

Also I've only been awake about 4 hours in the last 48 so thats why my twitter hasn't been very inspirational lol

[J]

I really hated it when they added that facebook pop sound. That's why sometimes I just do some handwriting on the patio with no electronic gizmos around.

I've been awake, but not operational. xD

[J. David]

Like @Josh, I cannot write when there's unwanted noise, but in particular, I can't write with the television on! It makes me crazy, I have to turn it off, or if someone else is here watching, I have to get away from it. Earbuds only do so much to shut it out. Have to go to another room, close doors, etc.

[Ann]

Lol willow :p

I have to have my mind occupied while I write. I have my monitor split into several sections, usually a video playing, music without lyrics preferably, twitter and other things open.

If i could I'd have 8 monitors on my desk. very terry prachett of me.

[Giulia]

I can't write if I'm on GR;) it's a huge distraction. Music sometimes helps me write but mostly I like it quiet, which is the total opposite of how I wrote all my university papers lol

@Josh feel better, being sick is the worst muse killer.

[Topaz]

I definitely can't write when my sister is screeching away on her violin. Drives me crazy - that's why I usually stick the earbuds in and put on some nice, relaxing piano music ;)

[J]

@J - I've left rooms before, too so I could keep writing. xD
@ Bisky - I don't think I could get anything done that way haha :3
@ Bitten Jewels - Thanks! I've been feeling all right for a couple days--still recovering. xD The other night I spent an hour at night filling up a white board in a classroom with notes. Sometimes when I'm sick, I end up just thinking about writing a little, and I ended up figuring out a few things to help out the plot. :3
@Jennifer--Reading your comment makes me never want to have kids. lol :3
@Topaz - If she's screeching, I guess her music isn't any good. lol Maybe when she improves then you can stand listening to her play when you write. :3

[Ren]

When my 2 year-old and 5 year-old are screeching and yelling. Ahh!

[J]

@Ren - When I visited my aunt and my cousin (who was probably 4 or 5 then) I got up early to do some writing, and then when they woke up, I couldn't get anything done haha

@Jennifer - haha, I was joking. lol Yep, I know the 'junior high' feeling. :3

[Giulia]

Siblings never get along till they're older.

@Josh glad you are feeling better! I'm never productive when I'm sick.

[J]

Thanks! :3 I had to write a few things for class and finish reading a book, so my brain still managed to 'exercise.'

My brother and I used to conflict when we were younger, but as you said, we get along pretty well now that we're older. :3

[Michael]

When my roommate was (literally) deathly ill it was very hard to focus on writing, partly because of the need to care for him and partly because of worry and unnecessary interruptions. I took to taking mornings to go to a local coffee shop to write.

When I am 'in the zone' it's hard to distract me but people do manage...

[Giulia]

Uh, class. That reminds me I have to plan my lessons for next week. Hate doing work on the weekend.

[Dawn]

People. Just... people in general. With 4 additional people in my tiny house, some days it's impossible to find a quiet spot to write without distractions. Even when I do find solace, the phone rings, people come knocking, or someone needs my attention. UGH. Let me write, people! Go read a book!

[Giulia]

Yes, people are a distraction. My mother likes to call when I'm writing. It's annoying.

[J]

@Michael - I have to get a way from my roommate, too, sometimes to get things done. But usually he's gone more than I am so I guess it works out. I wish my zone seemed more impenetrable like yours. xD

@Bitten Jewels - I was working on a paper in a study area in my favorite building on campus (has huge windows so plenty of daylight which I love) and I overheard some girls working on lesson plans for an education class they're taking. It seemed like it was taking a while for them to write them. xD I'll probably take that class next semester. :3

[Giulia]

It takes hours to plan things if you want to do it well.

[Christopher]

I absolutely cannot write in heat. If I don't have AC it's over...just over.

[Giulia]

UnderstNable.

[Rick]

I have a list...
When my girlfriend is upset at anything
When my dogs are barking
When clients keep calling
When I'm hungry
When I know I don't have more than a few hours to dedicate to the activity
When I'm thinking about food
When music is not playing
When I can't stop reading things on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads...
When I just can't get into it
When I totally forget where i am in my novel
When I'm sick...
...you know what i think I have just way too many excuses!

[Giulia]

Maybe. But then, I'm still having difficulties with just sitting down and getting to it. No judgement here.

[Carl]

Fatigue. Loud noise, voices--piercing. Work.

[Ann]

I read that as voices, piercings

I was thinking "Why would a nose ring stop you?" I need more coffee, derp.

[Giulia]

LOL get Bisky coffee --STAT!

[Christopher]

well it would be a little distracting if you're trying to write while getting your nose pierced. =) =l =p

[Michael]

If Chili (the brassy red cat) is doing something utterly adorable, I have to stop and kvell. I have an odd feeling that nose piercing would also be a distraction but I've never tried.

[Jennifer]

When I'm physically exhausted.

[Ann]

@Chris, I got my belly button pierced in a break of exams at college.

@Micheal, I was put off after my friend sneezed and hers flew out and hit me in the face. Dorky stuff happens to me when its not even me causing it.

@Jennifer, oh yes. Or ill :x

[Kay]

I can't write in total silence I've discovered. I need some kind of background noise. It turns out there's an app for that -laughs-

I also get really distracted if I spend too much time in my own space. It helps me to go out somewhere else.

[Ann]

If I don't have music playign I just cant write, too many thoughts to listen too

[Michael]

Kay, I took field botany here in Southern California where we never had to worry about our notebooks getting wet. They used to tell us horror stories about how difficult the class would be if we took it back east where the leaves fall off the trees.

[Michael]

Okay, non-sequiter ... I meant to post it in the "shower" thread.

[Valerie]

When my devices like my IPod or cell phone are near me. They make me want to check stuff for no reason at all. I also can't write when there's too much noise. I'm easily distracted.

[Dia]

For some reason it's become harder for me to write while I'm in my room, but when I'm outside I feel like writing all the time.

[Heidi]

I just can't write when I've put off a lot of my chores so I can write. They build up and bug me until I stop and finally do them. Then I don't think about it. Biggest offender is yardwork because it will take a couple of days.

I can start writing without music, but once it starts backing up and the words refuse to flow I realize what is missing and turn the music on.

[Ann]

I really agree with that Heidi! Sometimes I turn on a song and realise where ive been going wrong :3

[Carl]

An app for background noise. LOL!

[Mark]

If I'm hungry. Forget about writing, it's feed the engine.

[Brian]

It really depends on my mood. A few nights ago I shut everything off and the words flew. I got about 3K words written in 3 hours. Other times I need music or background noise to be that productive. It all depends on the mood.

[Agustin]

My roommate usually busts in my room when he gets home from work and wants to play video games or watch Netflix. I usually don't have the discipline to turn down the offer and keep writing. So I guess multimedia is the muse killer for me.

[Eric]

The cycle of checking stuff. Check FB, then Twitter, then GR, then insta, then amazon, then CS sales stats, then KDP sales stats, then email, then my website blog, then I google: poodles on rollerskates. And then I start the cycle all over again.

[Deb]

My 3 year old is talking, which is pretty much every waking minute... unless I subdue him with television... but then the TV is talking... although, it doesn't say "Watch me", "Look at me, mum."...

[J. David]

Eric wrote: "The cycle of checking stuff. Check FB, then Twitter, then GR, then insta, then amazon, then CS sales stats, then KDP sales stats, then email, then my website blog, then I google: poodles on rollers..."

I have a very similar ritual, although I've managed to make myself only check certain things in the morning or night. But if my phone is handy I'll check FB and Twitter INCESSANTLY.

[Brian]

I have a similar cycle of checking messages. When I'm writing, I flip my phone face down and put it out of reach. That way I don't get distracted.

[N.C.]

I think this winter we're having in Michigan is killing my Muse. I already have problems with seasonal affect disorder, so the constant below 0 temps and the many feet of snow is really killing my desire and ability to write.

[Nicole]

I just can't write when I'm super stressed or upset xp totally a mood killer in any situation but particularly in writing; at least as far as my novel goes. It really messes with the tone of the book so I just put it off and write some poetry instead until I feel better lol

[Carl]

Nikki, it will break soon. :-)