posted
I can't seem to write at home. Even now, with my wife in CT for a few days, I can't put thoughts together in my head.
I thrive better at work for some reason, of course writing has to take a back seat to work at hand, and wait for free moments. But I seem to get more done there than at home.
posted
Very interesting! I totally have the same problem, if you can call it a problem. Almost all of my writing is done at lunch at work or in some of the strangest locations. (even a couple of very boring church meetings! but I didn't really say that). When I'm at home, even alone, I don't seem to be able to get the thoughts to flow. I sit at the computer, and stare. I try a little Pink Floyd in the CD, and a big bowl of comfort food and still nothing.
Then I sit in a parking lot at Walmart waiting for my wife to pick up some 'cheap junk' and out it comes. Go Figure.
Any ideas for making home the place for the best writing?
posted
Figure out what it is about the places where you can write that works for you, and what it is about the places where you can't write that doesn't work (home is too comfortable or is it too distracting?).
I suspect that boredom maybe a big factor in helping you want to write, and it may be that the boredom has to happen in a place that you can't leave (like work, or waiting for someone in a car).
If you can recreate the feeling (convince yourself that you can't leave your chair in front of the computer for an hour, perhaps?), you may be able to write even if you aren't in the place where you usually write.
[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited December 19, 2004).]
posted
IMO, if you work hard and long enough at it you can become accustomed to writing anywhere, using any medium. There might be a period of adjustment. I mean, they say it takes two weeks to form a new habit (good ones anyway). So a couple of weeks of awkwardness to make a more sensical adjustment seems to be worth the effort.
I've changed my writing venue 4 times in the past couple of years. Some for necessity, others for convenience.
posted
Kathleen, you're probably right about the comfort level. I've never considered home to be 'a place of work'. (except when the kids were home!) It's more like a place to get away from the everyday work. I need to change my mind set and turn the comfort of home into the place for creativity instead of doing a brain dump when I'm there.
Like Dakota suggested about developing habits. Do it until it your brain adjusts.
posted
Hi, Just passing through, thought I would check-in.
I can't write when the kids are awake, I don't know why. So all my writing gets done after 9 at night.
I can be really frustrating.
I think it is to do with what I feel I should be doing even if I know they don't mind.
Edit: But then again Tina and the kids have some great input into the stories (some not so great too but that's another topic) when they read them the next day. I am working on a YA story, so I guess I use the down time to generate or develop concepts and storyline etc, but write-time is compressed.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited December 19, 2004).]
posted
First off: There is nothing more inspiring than a good trippy album, Dark Side of the Moon being one of the best.
Second: Humans have been shown to be more creative at certain times (I think it was 10:00 when most people hit their peak).
Third: the lighting and furniture might have an effect on how well people work. You must remember that most work environments are designed to be condusive to work, and that would probably cross over to writing.
You may want to, on a day off, chart how much writing you do each hour of the day.
I think it is to do with what I feel I should be doing even if I know they don't mind.
This is EXACTLY how I feel, hoptoad. But, like you, I have a wonderfully supportive spouse and kids who are anxious to hear me read my stories to them.
It's a give and take. At least you're there in the house if they need you. You really can't devalue the importance of that. I would feel UNBEARABLY guilty if I left the house to write. So I adjust and get used to writing with the TV providing my background music, and the kids adjust to not bugging me every 30 seconds.
I tell them my thought pattern is often like a train. Chugging along. Chugging along. Chugging along. And when they interrupt me the train has to stop. And just like a train, it stops slowly, so I may not be much use to them when they ask me a question because my mind is still on the story. PLUS, it takes a train a long time to get up to speed again, so every time they interrupt me it slows down the process.
So, you see, you CAN write at home. It just takes some adjustment on the parts of all members of the household. Of course, a smoothly functioning household with children who respect their parents makes for a much easier adjustment. On the converse, establishing and enforcing the rules that allow you to write amid the chaos will help produce a smoothly functioning household.
Still, to write at home requires one very important thing--a supportive spouse/partner. Without that I could never have come to the point I have now. Without that I could never hope to fulfill my dreams of having my name on the cover of a book. It would be too difficult for me. I honor those of you without that strong support who struggle through anyway.
Still, would you give up your spouse for your writing?
I wouldn't.
[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited December 20, 2004).]
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