Are you a highly focused writer? Do you sit down at your desk and get straight to work ... only to emerge, blinking, an hour later to find you've written several pages?

Or do you, instead, find yourself sitting down, rearranging your pencils, writing a few sentences, getting up for a coffee, writing another sentence, checking Facebook quickly, following an interesting link ...

Most of us do get distracted. Writing is a high-energy task: it's difficult to stay focused when there are many much easier things you could be doing ... and plenty of interesting diversions around. The problem is, if you give in to distractions too often, this becomes your normal writing routine, and you'll find it even harder to focus.

On the flip side, the reverse is true: if you're in the habit of sitting down and working solidly on your writing, then staying focused doesn't require so much mental effort.

Here are five simple ways you can boost your focus when you're writing:

I know I've mentioned this once or twice before. ;-) One of the simplest ways to cut distractions is to switch off your internet connection – completely – when you're writing. 

(Obviously you might need it for research; either do that ahead of time and have your notes offline, or leave a [note to self] in the text to look up facts when you've finished.)

Some writers switch their phone off altogether when they're writing: if that works for you, please do it! If that's not practical (e.g. you need to keep it on in case your kid's school rings), then put your phone across the room.

If my phone's in my handbag at my feet, or on the desk next to me, it's all too tempting to pick it up and quickly check Facebook or glance at my inbox. If it's across the room, I'm too lazy to get up. ;-)

Some writers love to have music playing while they work, and many will choose different types of music for different projects (personally, I tend to listen to film soundtracks while I'm writing non-fiction and heavy metal while I'm writing fiction). Once I'm into the flow of writing, I barely notice the music, but it helps block out more intrusive noise ... and it's a powerful audio cue that gets me in the writing mood.

If you prefer to work in silence, that's absolutely fine. Do take steps to try to boost the quality of the silence you're working in: shut the door, ask other household members to use headphones, and so on.

If you'd quite like silence but it's simply not very practical, try background noise. I love the site Noisli for this: you can use it to listen to birdsong, waves on the beach, the wind in the trees, whatever suits you. (Don't get too distracted playing with it, though!)

Whatever you're writing, it helps to plan ahead. I'm still trying to establish this habit with my fiction – but I certainly find I write more smoothly, with more focus, when I've jotted down a brief outline for a scene before actually writing it. 

As well as the structural and time-saving benefits of planning, you'll find that a plan boosts your focus because you don't have to worry about where you're going next. You can just keep writing. You'll also have a clear sense of how far through your piece you are – which can make it easier to keep going if you feel like you're running out of steam.

Also, if you have to finish your writing session before your piece is complete, your plan will make it easy to get straight back into it next time.

It's very easy to end up skipping a writing session (or slacking off during it) because you're the only person who'll ever know. There are lots of ways, though, to use the power of accountability to keep you on track:

Focus really is a habit, and the more you practice focusing, the easier it'll become. Good luck!