Sunday, June 3, 2012

Math Tests and Quiet Spots

Last week I was having a hard time concentrating. Ever since I got my laptop, I've done all of my writing on the kitchen table, which sometimes isn't the most conducive place to write especially when the kids get home from school.

So last week, my son had to write a math test in order to get into honors math for grade 9, so I went to the school and sat down in the cafeteria with my laptop and wrote for an hour and a half (that's how long the test was). I was amazed at how much I was able to write and edit. I almost have the chapter that's been plaguing me for years (not an exaggeration) done.

There are so many distractions at home. The internet and email being the prime one. I think I might take one day a week where I go somewhere to write where I have no distractions.

Now I just have to pick a place.

Do you ever leave home to write, and if so where do you go? Or are you way more disciplined than me?


And just to brag, my son got into the class.

11 comments:

Bonnee Crawford said...

Congrats to your son :)

I find that I often do a good job of editing and writing when I am at school, where all of the internet sites worth browsing are blocked from the network. I get way to distracted at home. I really should change that...

Wendy Paine Miller said...

It's so hard for me to write in noise and I find anywhere I go outside home is cluttered and noisy.

I stick to the quiet.
~ Wendy

Martin Willoughby said...

As I have a quiet home with only one kid, writing at home isn't a problem. If I do go out I take pen and paper.

Colene Murphy said...

Yep! Totally feel you. I am WAY more productive at work during my lunch break at my desk than I am all weekend at home. It's too easy to be distracted there with people and all the things you could be doing. Library, coffee shops(though I get distracted by people watching there), in your car (sounds weird, but radio, and closed off space where people aren't going to mess with the weird chick in her car on her computer), etc. Good luck finding your place!

LTM said...

oh, goodness no. I have to be in my cave at home if I plan to get any serious writing done. But yay for you for finding your own special cave. A school cafeteria, no less (which I would think would be the most distracting place of all--LOL!) :o)

Miranda Hardy said...

Congrats to your son. I'm very distracted at home, so I like to venture to the library to write. I pick a nice quiet table and just let the hours roll by. I'm most productive outside the home.

Angela said...

Congrats to your son! I totally need to find the writing zone where I'm not distracted by social media. Maybe go to the park or something.

G.M. said...

I came to your blog via Bonnee and now waiting for your blog aboout soccer. In my novel the MC plays girls soccer on highschool, so I hope to make it authentic by reading stories about teen soccer here.

Stina said...

I write on my computer, which isn't portable like a laptop, but I do go into the basement and disconnect my wireless internet from the modem. Then it's too much work to just "check" my inbox. I'm much more productive when I do that. :D

Heidi Willis said...

Congrats to you son! :)

I feel the same way. For years my daughter was on a swim team, and I was most productive writing by hand in a notebook there. Something about the change of scenery.

I've been thinking lately about advice I heard years ago - to not do work in your bedroom because then your brain subconsciously mixes up work and sleep and makes it harder for you to sleep. I wonder if that's true about my laptop. I work there, but I also goof off there, write emails there, hunt down Pinterest things there, facebook and blog there... I wonder if I'm distracted by all these things when I write because I haven't separated the purpose of the laptop of work from having fun. Hmmm....

Unknown said...

That's awesome that you've found a great place to write at home!
I don't leave my home to write...I take my laptop to a couch and sit there and write a lot. I don't know why but I can't write in cafes or places like that. Maybe it's because I can't concentrate so much with people talking and walking by. :P