tnt: write or die

[azuire]

Reminders: Editing Post and Week 2 Topic! :D

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Last year's NaNoWriMo introduced me to Write Or Die, an incredibly useful program for getting up to a wordcount within time limits. For people like me, who are constantly distracted by other things on the internet, it was a lifesaver, even if it has annoying music. I also regularly write with paper and pen to avoid the aforesaid internet problem.

So, how do you combat distractions while writing? Share away! and remember, if you have ideas for a TnT discussion, feel free to PM us.

Comments

[pipisafoat]

Heh. I embrace my distracted nature (*stares at your icon for a while*) and just roll with it. Not much gets finished, but I appreciate myself more.

Although sometimes I turn off the wireless in my laptop and put a password on it so it takes more effort to turn back on and get distracted online. but then I'll get distracted cleaning the house or something. not always the smart one, me.

[enci]

I have a tiny netbook that, with perhaps a healthy dose of irony, cannot connect to my wireless at home. It's great for writing. And because I use it only for writing (...and maybe some Spider Solitaire), as soon as I power it on I get into that mindset; I'm not looking for distractions.

Music helps me, too, but it almost always has to be instrumental. If there are words, I will be singing. I can't help myself!

[hellkitty]

I have a huge collection of world music--as in, lyrics not in English. Quite a number of them get me focused for writing. A BAD example, because the lyrics are in English (as in my native language) is the first album by Dirty Vegas. I wrote half of my dissertation to that: I'd put that on and sit down. It took merely a few days of that before that first song automatically triggered my brain into focusing on my topic! Even now, years later, if I NEED to hunker down and concentrate, that CD still works!

I'm also a huge fan of writeordie! For quick prewrites or working my way through a crux or story or even just getting a character's voice by a stream of consciousness monologue, nothing kickstarts like 10 minutes of Dr Wicked!

A friend of mine also taught me this one: an article of clothing you wear. In his case it was his Serious Poet beret. When he sat down to write poetry, he'd put on this most goofy looking beret you ever saw. I never thought much of the technique until I screwed up my wrist and had to start wearing a supportive brace when I typed. Somehow just putting on my brace pulls me out of 'surfing' mode and into 'writing' mode.

One last thing (wow I'm mouthy!)--timers! Complete cold turkey is terrible, but if you set a goal--ten minutes of writing or finish this scene or whatever and THEN I can spend X minutes checking email etc, that also helps! It keeps you focused but still squeezes in that surfing time--as a reward for productivity!

[draigwen]

I prefer to write with paper and pen - I tend to write better on paper anyway, and I find transferring to a computer is a great way to do a first draft.

If typing on the computer I'll often use a full-screen text editor which minimises disruptions. Unfortunately I also like to have thesaurus.com to hand (and google for research), which means that I rarely get rid of all distractions. 750 words was is also helpful because while it doesn't prevent you going elsewhere, the statistics makes you want to keep on writing.

Since my computer, my boyfriend's computer, and the TV are all in the same room, I tend to stick headphones on while I'm writing too. Music is a must if I want to prevent myself from being distracted.

I've always been terrified of Write or Die as I couldn't cope with losing work. It happened once through an error with 750 words and I never re-wrote the story anywhere near as well as the original version.

Anti-Distractions

[solumin]

I absolutely have to have music to write. Usually I listen to classical, since all the words are usually either in Latin or German, if there are words at all. But I'm very good at distracting myself.

Actually, I could probably function with just non-articulate background noise. I was in a creative writing class with a lot of idiots talkative people, so there a constant buzz of words while I was writing. It worked out somehow. What's interesting is that I need music while I'm driving because it helps me focus. I don't know why, it just does. I think it distracts the part of my brain that doesn't like to shut up.

Write or Die is fun! I've used it a couple times and didn't hate what I had written, so I consider it a success. I don't think I would use it for something like NaNoWriMo though. Write or Die is better for one-off stories, not for long projects.

[accodion]

Competition! I frequent the NaNoWriMo irc. During November, I'm never hurting for people to have word wars with. I'm competitive, and having people writing alongside me with a set time frame is GREAT for getting stuff down. And no matter how long you're wanting to war for, there's someone to go alongside you. I've seen wars anywhere from a minute and a half on up to two hours. I can thank word wars for the majority of what I get written.