Writing to the Rhythm #OpenBook Blog Hop

Jan 4, 2021

How you keep focused during long writing sessions?

My immediate reaction to this week’s prompt? Not very well.

I have a hard time staying focused, and it’s gotten worse as I’ve got older. Even writing this short post, my mind is going in scattered directions, thinking of the things I need to get done. Finish taking down the Christmas decorations. Cook supper. Or maybe splurge and get takeout instead. I’ve had a hankering for Chinese. Balance the bank account. Finish editing the last chapter of The Ranger’s Dogtags and get it ready for my editor. Don’t forget to redo Chapter One. Check my email. Worry about the big project at work in the morning. It’s Sunday, so I need to water my flowers.

I do hold on to a precious hour at the end of the evening to focus on writing. But one hour is not a long session, according to my definition.

Photo by Rodolfo Quirós from Pexels

Take me to a cabin somewhere in the mountains, where I can sit on the porch and watch for wildlife. Play some John Denver or classic rock. Give me a pad of paper and several pens. Let me sit and tune in to Mother Nature and find my voice.

That’s a lot to ask for, especially as we aren’t going anywhere these days. Those days will come again.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my late-night hour. I’ve been exploring Celtic folksongs as my background music. (If anyone has a recommendation for an artist to check out, please put it in the comments. I’d love your suggestions.) I’ll put on headphones, open my current writing project, and shut out the rest of the world. Balancing the checkbook can wait until tomorrow.

What can’t wait is checking out the other posts in this blog hop. You can, too, by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Jan 4, 2021

How you keep focused during long writing sessions?

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