When I am up against a deadline and I absolutely, definitely have to get on with my work, I use a few tactics to force myself to concentrate:
- Switch off email. I don’t start Outlook (or if I do, I disable all the notifications that tell me I have new mail).
- Isolate myself. I use Bose noise-canceling headphones but don’t plug them into anything. The silence really is golden.
- Greed and guilt. I remind myself how much money I’m getting paid for a particular assignment and how ashamed I will be if I miss the deadline. This actually works sometimes.
- Stop with the blog already. When I’m pressed for time, distractions like blogging and hoovering become very compelling. Knowing this makes it easier to resist.
- Get up early. 6am is the most productive time of day for writing. No distractions. It also feels more virtuous than staying up late with work.
- Little treats. I bribe myself: ‘Matthew, if you write another 500 words, you can have a cup of tea and a biscuit.’
- Chunking. Setting a timer or alarm clock for 15, 20, 30, 50 minutes and doing nothing but writing until it goes off and then taking a break seems like a good way to make progress.
- Go full screen. Switching Word into full screen mode (from the view menu) eliminates all distractions but the piece I’m working on.
- Shitty first draft. Splitting the work into distinct writing and editing phases breaks the job down nicely and it takes off some of the pressure to ‘get it right first time’.
- Change location. Sometimes, if I’m really struggling to get started, taking a laptop or my notebook to a cafe and scribbling out something there – a fresh new location – is a good way to jolt-start an assignment.
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In Joan Bolker’s excellent “Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day” whe tells the story of a poet who wrote a lousy first draft, but then proceeded to hone it 17 or so times. She then makes the point that everyone’s first drafts are lousy – it’s where you take them to afterwards that’s important, and concludes: First make a mess, then clean it up. That is, that first lousy draft is an essential way to get to the other drafts.
Not as colourful as “a shitty first draft” but much the same message.
regards
Michael
I have discovered that the Brain Gym’s PACE method is a great way to center myself to prepare for “cognitive heavy lifting”. Originally designed to help children get ready to learn, it helps me get rid of the ‘jitters’ that prevent me from truly tuning in and getting on with my work. It sounds silly, but give it a try. It’s described here: http://www.ysu.edu/rdg-studyskills/PACE/introduction_to_pace.htm
The soon to be released Scrivener (OS X only) has a full screen mode, in addition to many more features that can help a lot of writers.
Good info!! but i kinda lost interest and CONCENTRATION after the first comment…anywayz, c ya all later! Id go for a Cigarette right now!! (sapo)
great tips. especially the full screen one,
only problem, ive just spent close to 20 mins reading the comments, what a waste of crucial essay writing time!!!
I’m even having trouble sleeping let alone writing will all the noise these days. Constant bombardment of emails, text messages, phone calls and beeping machines. Give it a break!
I am not a writer. The problem with me is switching from one task to another. The solution I try is to take a few minutes break between the tasks to meditate i.e. to make my mind blank. Works sometimes!
Keep work and home separate. Ideally, you need a separate room or outbuilding for work. It’s good to shut the door on work at the end of the day. It also shuts out distractions. I also use Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones with noise-canceling but no music to shut out sounds from outside.
Great little piece of Bad Language from Matthew Stibbe (via Matt Bartlett) with some useful and witty hints on writing to a deadline. I need all the help I can get. and do you konw where a\i can buy wood nike shoes and wood car ,thanks !
Thanks for four article. GBU.
Excellent tips. Im finding it extremely hard to concentrate on anything at the moment and this will help a lot.
Right now, I’m preparing a technical offer and I’m not concentrated on it. And I check on google how to concentrate on writing and your link appears. Now I’m going to switch off my email and going to my paper, because I think about how much I’ll loose if I miss this assignment. Thank you very very much.
I find that I program greatly if I chain my leg to the chair, with a rope and a clip lock. If anyone tries to make me get up (usually for some trivial thing) I point to the chain and say I can’t remove it for another hour.
Getting started is often the hard part. If I’m feeling reluctant, I take the path of least resistance by starting with a little editing on yesterday’s writing. This is like a singer warming up on scales. Within 10 minutes, I’m usually warmed up, fully engaged, and ready to roll.
I found this because I’m trying desperately to finish an article but simply can’t seem to concentrate. Out of sheer frustration, I typed “Concentrate” in my Google Toolbar and came across your post. I especially like the full screen idea. As soon as I submit this comment, I’m going to try that and hope like hell it helps
The real quesiton is: why are we forcing ourselves to do, things we don’t want to do? Why is life so shitty that we have to do this? Why can’t we be doing the things we *want* to do?
Hello I just came across your page when i was trying to find some way of concentrating on the chemistry im reading i think it really helped me especially the change place hadn’t thought of it. Great Blog. Thanks for helping me and wish me luck on the test Matthew!!
My tip – I write long pieces of text in notepad. No Formatting of anykind, just to get the words out. Otherwise, you’d be amazed at how much time I can spend determining font size, margins, line spacing, etc..etc..etc.
A nice post. I really enjoy your blog–especially when I am supposed to be doing something else!
Awesome, even though I found this while being distracted from an essay. Its quite funny, in a way.
and yes. Tea and biscuits are the best bribe. ever.
I agree most with the 6am work. Not only does the work turn out better when you are rested, but it is the quietest time of day.
Here’s one I find helpful. Buy a used computer, doesn’t have to be new or state- of- the t art Keep it in another room. Leave it free-standing & you won’t be tempted to take a minute and surf. Make it a dedicated device for writing only.
Write write and write some more. Shut down your main computer and follow the advice on this site. That way the temptation to take a break and break your concentration are eliminated. Of course, save everything you put down. Send your kids & wife to go shopping. Put the cat out.
I do all of these things! All but the noise cancelling headphones trick. THAT idea is especially golden.
Excellent, excellent post!
hi, nice to see this, actually i did this long time ago and i was really impressed when i got a very close result to yours.
Thanks for four article. GBU.
Loving the idea about the noise cancelling headphones, will definately try those out, not too sure about the 6.00am start though, it’sa bad enough at 7.00!
I found these ten tips extremely usefull. I’ve been trying to put together some new copy but find myself getting distracted far too easily. following these tips should help me
Start early, highest priority first, work only 50 minutes then break 10, then 50 then break 30… repeat 50,10,50… Stop and come back tomorrow… Works for me…
Guys, this kind of article is really worthy ready it. Remember the methods above, and you will be a good writer.
I agree most with the 6am work. Not only does the work turn out better when you are rested, but it is the quietest time of day.
I also pack & light one of my pipes. I can’t do any work on my stories without a pipe. (antis: shut up in advance)
ghest priority first, work only 50 minutes then break 10, then 50 then break 30… repeat 50,10,50… Stop and come back tomorrow… Works for me…
Thank you for the tips! I’m writing a story for a friend and can’t wait til I get this stupid writer’s block out of my head.
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