Friday, December 30, 2011

Playing Catch Up

K, so I decided that I seriously need to stop making excuses about not writing on my blog during school. I mean honestly, what other time of year do I write more? Or learn more about my craft? Do not all writing books suggest that writing at least ten minutes everyday will help any writer improve their craft? Is not a blog the epitome of puke on a page (a.k.a. practice writing)?

That's what I thought.

But you can't really blame me for being a little scatter brained. It's hard enough for me to concentrate on homework, much less blog time when I'm at school. I can barely concentrate on story writing to the point where it actually get's written down somewhere.

Once school is over my self diagnosed ADD gets even worse.

For example, today I made several goals which include but are not limited too: writing, sewing, knitting, shopping, cross-stitching, painting, drawing, hiking, planning, making workout flash cards, getting a job, cleaning the house-basement-kitchen-yard(not necessarily in that order), read, practice martial arts katas, study scriptures-anatomy-athletics-creative-writing-and-other-random-topics-that-I-find-interesting, calling my sister about her kids (glad I didn't get to that one since she's now past her due date and ready to shoot the next person who asks her about when her babies are coming out), study up on all kinds of folklore for the rewrite of Midnight Manor, and complete my 1500 piece new puzzle for the second time this year. It took me two months to finish it the first time and that was with help.

See, I'm full of plans and have time for little else. Most of the beginning of the list happened because I went to the fabric stores with my mother today. I'm hoping that it'll wear off in about a week or so.

Note to self, look up that cute blouse dress in that one sewing magazine and make a miniature for doll to see how it really looks.

In the mean time I've invented this.

The Creative Writers Guide to Combat ADD

1. Make a plan that includes writing. I drew up a schedule that includes a list of hours and what I plan on doing when. I have a whole hour set aside for just writing in the morning. It really makes the rest of my day.

2. Make sure the time you pick will involve no other distractions, set an alarm and let yourself drift into writers mode that feels so much like a cat-nap.

3. Play music. I find that music keeps my (Didn't I have something that needed to get done) thoughts preoccupied and otherwise sets the mood for a scene I'm writing.

4. Close the door. No distractions means no distractions. Face a white wall if you have too. Focus.

Coming Soon

Creative Writing lessons I've learned this year from one of the best Professors I know.