Habits - Just how engrained are they?

[kriadydragon]

With our "family" computer out of commission I've been using my laptop for the Internet, which means having my laptop where the old computer used to be - in our basement, which is our family room with the TV and the people  and the inability to concentrate when the TV is on...

And I've gotten more done on my original story in three days than I have in a month, and I wasn't even writing an action scene. I have to wonder why?

My first theory is - habit. I wrote my first novel on our "family" computer, when it was in the family room, where the TV and the people are. I would write mostly when people were out of the house or late at night when people were in bed. Last night, while everyone was in bed, I wrote a ton.

My second theory is - transition. With everything I spend time doing all in one place, it's been easier to switch back and forth between watching TV, playing on the Internet and writing my story. The thing about my writing is that when I dive back into writing after a day or two of not writing, it takes a little while for the momentum to get going. I write a little, then have to stop, take a break, think a bit, then go back and write a little more. At some point in time, the words start to flow and then I'm really flying. But it takes a while to get there, and having my laptop in my room and the Internet hook-up and TV downstairs made for a very difficult transition (not to mention a lot of time wasted trying to talk myself into writing.) With everything in one place, it's just a matter of turning off the TV and minimizing windows, and I'm ready to write. Because what I want to write is right smack in front of me. Then, when I need a small, quick break, I just go back on the Internet with having to go all the way downstairs (yeah, I know it sounds lazy, but it's not the physical effort that's the issue but the mental effort - going from downstairs to upstairs gives me enough time to think, and enough time for my brain to sabotage itself and provoke the muses into taking a hike).

I recall first getting my laptop and taking it into my room to write. I was working on Castles in the Sky at the time. I found writing to be difficult, but had blamed it on the difficulty of the story's plot. But I have to wonder now...


 

Comments

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

I'm really excited to hear that you've been writing. I'm jealous as I've had writer's block for about 3 years now. Really jealous.

But still, glad for you Chica! Well done!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Thanks :). It's mostly just my original story I'm focusing on - no fanfiction until its done.

When it comes to fanfic, though, I'm pretty blocked myself :P. I have ideas, I just don't like any of them enough to want to write them, and some of the ideas I've either done to death or others have done to death. What I do want to write are all long chapter fics, but I have no intentions of writing them until the original fic is finished. No more writing two stories at once - ever :P

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

ooo does this mean we are getting a new story soon?

I myself have similar problems when it comes to creative urges. When i am in the zone its easy.. but getting to the zone can be a hard and unpleasent slog.

I'm glad its working for you at the moment

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Well, an original story, not fanfic. And it will only ever be seen if I can get it published.

Yes, that blasted zone! It's so elusive. I started my original story in January and am only now anywhere close to the end (and it's about 260 pages thus far.) My last story - a 400 pager - took only about three months, give or take. Finding the zone has been a lesson in insanity :S

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's the change - being in a different place with different sounds loosened some of the barriers. Personally, I have a hard time writing in silence. It allows my mind to wander too much. I need something to block out in order to write effectively - music, TV, something.

Regardless, if the muse is happy, keep doing what you're doing.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

That's what I'm wondering. Writing in my room was possibly too quiet, too lonely and it made me uncomfortable so that I didn't want to be in there.

"It allows my mind to wander too much. I need something to block out in order to write effectively - music, TV, something."

Yes! Exactly. It's ironic, but having all those distractions at the ready seems to have helped a lot. The Internet especially, because as soon as I'm ready to take a break, I just get on the internet before I have time to think too much about my story.

[obsessed1o1.livejournal.com]

I cannot write unless i have very exact ciecumstances. I have to be on my own (AKA no-one else in the house) or late at night when everyone is asleep is even better (3-4am i get the most writing done) and i absoloutely have to have the telly on. If i have none of that i can't write at all.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if that's my case - I developed certain circumstances and surroundings that I have to write in, and changing all that had made writing more difficult.

What is it about the wee hours of the night that the muses love so much? If it wasn't for my allergies trying to take me down I'd probably never go to bed ;)

[obsessed1o1.livejournal.com]

Same here .... when i go home i stay up till 7am writing and i get so much done!

Oh i'm on the 30K mark for my SGA Big Bang - just got the last 10K to go which is the finale so i'm hoping that by tomorrow evening (Or the wee hours!) i'll be able to send you the semi-final draft!!

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

our "family" computer, when it was in the family room, where the TV and the people are.


I really believe distraction sucks the life out of creativeness,
e.g. when I was working, I had A LOT of correspondence, reports, etc. to originate. I needed my office door shut. I found my creativeness went downhill if that door was open because there was a lot of distraction outside in Data Processing. I had a private office but surrounding me was data processing....
I also told my admin. asst. that she needed to run interference for me as far as people who wanted to just
'drop by', something I hated (still do even now that I am NOT working)......because even if you tell them you are 'busy' they still come anyway.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on who you are. As seen in the other replies, some people need distractions - minor distractions, such as the TV or radio on - in order to write. I like quiet myself, but it also seems to help to have distractions readily available when it's time to take a break. If I think too much about wanting to write and the story itself, then my motivation to write fizzles out. With distractions at hand, my mind doesn't have time to over-process. So when I'm ready to get back into writing, I just switch from distraction to writing with no time in between to lose interest:D

People trying to talk to you, however, now that's a universal distraction. I hate it when I'm trying to write and people are talking - whether to each other or to me. I can write if the TV is on but only if it's muted. I can sometimes write listening to music, but not all the time.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I hate it when I'm trying to write and people are talking - whether to each other or to me.

That was the major reason I shut the door
My office was just to the left as you entered the space.
The DP people insisted on standing near the door, which was also near mine, to discuss anything and everything.
It drove me nuts.
My distractions from the writing were phone calls, leaving the space, etc., but the racket outside that door is what was a real problem.
I also hated it when I would have the door shut and they would manage to get past Paulette, open the door and ask "Mind if we talk?" and when I would say "Kind of busy right now. How about later?" (and it seemed like it always happened when I had a deadline e.g. we had a 48 hour turn around if we got a query from the senate or assembly)
it never seemed to register for them.
I made it a habit to write and then set it aside and do something else, to return later and see if it needs more or something deleted.
When I was in the Navy I sometimes had a private office,
however not always, e.g. in one of my jobs I shared my office with my staff and finally had to put in a dutch door, (half doors??, to keep other personnel out.....as it was so distracting, particularly for my clerical assistants.

[obsessed1o1.livejournal.com]

Oh i do find the internet is evil i have to say when i'm trying to write....i'll spend a few minutes on it and then end up on it for hours and realise i haven't actually written anything!

I don't know why i like having the telly on - i think it's just company while i write - i don't necessarily watch it but it's nice to have it there. If i was writing in complete silence i couldn't do it...

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I've been told not to read or write in the bedroom, it's for sleeping (and other things ;-)) You may have unconsciously defined the area with the family and TV as a good writing area. If so, go for it :D