Comments on: The Biggest Mistake Writers Make? 5 Tips for Writing More, Writing Better

By: alex

alex — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:54:13 +0000

so funny – i was actually eating breakfast at my laptop while reading this, having found it via a link from twitter, with my email inbox open in the background. The only one I *don’t* do is talk on the phone, just because I’m not a phone person. Doing “research” instead of writing is my FAVORITE – I can justify spending weeks looking into some obscure point for a paragraph I end up cutting anyways.

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:22:10 +0000

Thanks for your comments! I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t stopped multitasking….Daphne needs to keep banging me over the head with the perils of constantly checking email, Twitter, blog stats, and various forums.

Seriously, I believe multitasking is the biggest mistake I make as a writer. I need to be more diligent in turning off the email and focusing on whatever I’m working on.

Writers, unite! Stop multitasking, and develop a laser beam-like focus on writing!!

By: Corra McFeydon

Corra McFeydon — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:02:31 +0000

Excellent post. I’m guilty of everything listed above!

Thanks for sharing this.

- Corra

The Victorian Heroine

By: Ann Elise

Ann Elise — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:39:44 +0000

Multitasking could be my worst mistake, though it’s because I check Facebook and Twitter and read blogs rather than any other item on the list. I forget to check my email (oops) and, when in the zone, often entirely forget to eat because that’s just how intelligent I am.

My other multitasking gaffes are of a somewhat different nature. I have multiple novels going on, since one is in edits and I need something to work on when I go out and can’t take my laptop or forget to print off more chapters to edit. At least, that’s my current reason. I started other ones when I’d only just started to take my writing seriously two years ago and got bored quickly. As I became more engrossed in my main project, I managed to stay focused better but I still sometimes slip.

I suppose it partly comes down to my age, especially when I started my first book, since I wasn’t used to focusing on one task for a long time. I had a talent for putting off school projects until the last minute, which is something I still do.

I’m going to stop now before this comment gets any bigger

By: Arun

Arun — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:35:26 +0000

I am a total amateur when it comes to writing even if I wish not to think so compared to all you great guys on “Authors helping authors” but want to be rubbing shoulders for I feel doing so might make a difference to my writing.

Multitasking is a mistake and probably the reason I am so unsuccessful when it comes to writing.

When I sit at the PC I do all the things I should not be doing, including eating, drinking coffee, listening absent-mindedly to some good background music, checking my mail,going over Facebook, doing research.

I lose myself in a world of my own and at the end of the day find I have written just about nothing worthwhile.

You have a great set of pointers there Daphne Gray-Grant and thank you for them.

I found a good way to avoid multitasking is to use a laptop that is not hooked up to the net and work isolated, alone, in the relaxed atmosphere of your bedroom, with just about nothing to distract you. It works!

By: Jennifer Oliver

Jennifer Oliver — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:22:57 +0000

The research one resonates. I’m having to do a lot of research for my book and all I want to do is write, so I find myself typing away at a chapter and then breaking away to look something up or double-check a fact. No wonder I’m finding it so hard to focus (and I thought since I was researching for the book, I was still technically in the zone).

Thanks for the post!

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:17:56 +0000

I read this post on my email while writing an article last night — and got right back to writing. Yup, checking email is the worst! Bad, writer!

Melissa

By: George Angus

George Angus — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:47:00 +0000

Hi Laurie,

I wouldn’t say that multi-tasking is my biggest mistake. I’ve got a lot of contenders for that prize spot. These are true points however. Maybe folks should consider them multi-distracting

“If you’re going to take Vienna, then take Vienna!” – I don’t remember who said that, but it kinda fits.

George

By: Courtney

Courtney — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:22:07 +0000

I made a New Year’s resolution to check e-mail only once per day (and to make neat lists instead of plastering my desk with post-its). I’m down to twice, which – trust me – is a substantial improvement!