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

[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!