Writing is hard work. It takes effort and focus. And there will invariably be moments when you feel the urge to stop writing and do something easier ... like scrolling through Facebook, checking the news headlines, seeing if that webcomic or blog has updated, or simply staring into space and wondering what you're going to make for dinner.

These distractions come from within. You might consciously notice them as you're writing. As I drafted the previous paragraph and mentioned news headlines, that reminded me that I haven't looked at the news recently. I had to resist the urge to open up a new tab and look at the Guardian's headlines.

But, quite often, I don't manage to successfully resist distractions! I might be writing away happily for a while, but then I find my attention wandering ... and before I've even realised what I'm doing, I'm picking up my phone or opening up a new tab.

Maybe the same thing happens to you. And I think we need to cut ourselves a little slack here: writing is hard work, even when it's also fun, and the world is a distracting place!

What matters isn't that you avoid every single distraction, every single time ... but that you have a reliable way to re-focus after getting distracted. 

Some things you can try are:

Taking a Short, Deliberate Break When You're Feeling Distractable

Feeling like you must know what's going on in the world or you need to check your Facebook messages? Set a timer for 3 or 5 minutes: take a micro-break, then get back to your writing. Having a time limit means you're less likely to end up wandering onto another website or social media app, then another, and getting thoroughly off-task.

Jotting Down Some Bullet Points Before You Get Distracted

One of the big issues with distractions is that sometimes you're writing away, the words flowing from your fingers ... and then you stop for a bit and forget what you were going to write next. If you can hold off on getting distracted just long enough to jot down a few bullet points, you'll have those to come back to when you start writing again.

Using a Song, Soundtrack, or Piece of Music to Cue You Into "Writing" Mode

Some writers like to have a specific song, album, movie soundtrack, or other piece of music (or even ambient sound) to get them into the writing mood. You might find that switching this off during distractions, and switching it back on when it's time to write, helps you to stay focused.

Clearing Space for Your Writing

After a distraction, you might realise that you have a whole bunch of tabs open on your computer ... perhaps the Google doc you're writing in, your brief or outline, your email, several research tabs, tabs for all the things that you got distracted with, and so on. Close your browser, then start again with just the tabs you need. The same goes for your physical space: clear away books, magazines, or other clutter that's accumulated while you were writing and while you were distracted.

Setting a Timer for Your Next Writing Session

It can be tough to find the momentum to get back into writing after getting distracted, especially if you've gone off-task for a while. If I'm resisting getting started again, I find that setting a timer can help. Promise yourself that you'll write for 15 minutes without getting distracted, and you'll soon find you get back into the flow of what you're working on.

Whether you're a frequently distracted writer, or whether you tend to get distracted at particular times (like when you're tired or stressed), I hope some of these tips are useful for you.

Above all, please don't guilt-trip yourself over getting distracted from your writing. However much you love writing, and however committed you are, it's human nature to get distracted at times. What matters is having a plan for getting on with the writing again afterwards.

Happy writing,

Ali

P.S. If you missed this week's blog post, you can find it here:

Choosing the Right Viewpoint and Tense for Your Fiction [With Examples]