Any suggestions about doing this? Beginning this week, I will be working in the afternoons, so I want to spend some time writing in the mornings. Unfortunately, I'm not very disciplined and easily distracted. Anyone have any tips?

Sue

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One of the best quotes from science fiction humour writer Douglas Adams (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, etc) was about deadlines.

"I love deadlines. I like the wooshing sound they make as they fly by."(*)

And he had editors to get him in line! He was always hospitable and friendly with them, but around deadline time I'm sure everyone was miserable.

I know that in building amazing.com, I have had similar problems - it would be much easier to play around on the Internet than do sustained work. But I've also found that working when I'm in a bad mood or unproductive is rarely good either. Often the problem that seemed unsolveable the night before becomes easy when it faces the light of day.

When you feel inspired, leap to it and don't make the fact that it's not the "proper time" for writing bother you. Inspiration is like a Unicorn - it seems to come and go very fast and needs to be grabbed when you see it.

And when I'm not inspired and must be nonetheless, I find that a change of scene helps. In your case, I'd recommend going to Malibu and soaking in the beach. (D'Amore's Pizza Connection serves exceptional pizza.)

If you had a laptop, you could bring it and write when the fancy strikes. I've done some of my best programming and design work in the bath or the car. As long as I write it down as soon as I can, I can save most of it and get the brain working.

Is there anything in particular in your life that inspires you to write? That might be a good starting point. Frankly, I don't think being disciplined is going to help that much. Perspiration beats inspiration only in writing Medicare Bulletins and the like.

Another question is what are the main things competing with you for time?

Hope that helps.

D

(*) See The Guardian article for the quote in context.

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I'm afraid I haven't been feeling terrifically inspired for a while. I hope that by planning a time and sitting down to do it than inspiration will follow. Otherwise, nothing will ever get done...

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You could always visit Ventura Harbor. Maybe there will be a good story in the boats and the sea.

I have to admit that I'm rarely inspired by schedules. I think there are some people who are and some who are not. I'm part of the latter class, unfortunately.

Have you tried thinking about your ideas while driving or taking a bath? That's where a lot of my inspired ideas pop up.

D

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I do visit Ventura Harbor periodically. It is starting to look a little run down. They are always talking about fixing it, but nothing has been done.

Sometimes I do get good idea riding around in my car...

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Is Oxnard better, worse or the same?

I think I overdid the indentation levels for replies. Do you notice how badly we get squashed when you view the entire discussion?

D

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Oxnard is still the same. Hardly anyone goes to the harbor in Oxnard. They are always planning to work on it, too, but nothing gets down.

Yes, long discussions do get very squashed toward the end. Maybe a smaller indentation would be a good idea.

Sue

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There you go, you ask and thou shalt receive.

How's it look?

Do you notice any speed improvements?

D

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I like being less squashed, but then I've always been claustrophobic.

Definitely seems faster -- good!

Lisa and Zak both apparently took a look around, but neither of them are interested in joining. I don't know why exactly, except that they are both very busy. I, on the other hand, am not busy. I don't want to be busy, either. :-)

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Glad to hear the speedup's working for you!

Well, that's what happens when you wait decades between projects, I guess.

Thanks for trying!

D

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way to deal with that issue.

Sue, did you write today?

Maybe if I start to bug you like that you'll start writing to shut me up!

Of course then you will ask

"David, did you write today?"

and I'll have to say, embarassed to be caught out,

"Only software."

(laugh)

D

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Okay, I admit it. I did not write today. However, I did pull out all of my unfinished/draft stuff that I've had for years and I read it. Some of it was better than I remembered and some was worse. I plan to further narrow my focus tomorrow and decide exactly which piece to start working on!

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