Distractions
Distractions
by Saralyn Richard
I’ve never been diagnosed with ADD or hyperactivity. In fact, my whole life I’ve been able to focus and concentrate whenever needed. I can read for long periods without becoming antsy, and I’m equally good at listening.
All of these stand me well in writing novels, because long sessions at the computer would be dreadful otherwise. But lately, I find myself ready to jump up in mid-chapter, mid-paragraph, or mid-sentence.
I’m distracted by the internet. Let me just search for a certain outfit for my character to wear to a luncheon. How close is the hurricane to people I worry about? What quasi-newsy item is trending?
Maybe I should check on my brother, who is recovering from major surgery. Oops—I forgot to take out something to cook for dinner tonight. And heaven help me if I have a phone call, even if it’s from a robot.
What are the latest polls saying? And what is going on in the Middle East, or with the British royalty? The dishes need washing, the dogs need walking, the plants need watering, and on and on.
Back to the chapter—I crawl back into Quinn’s point of view and detail what happens to her. I share her fears and angst, and I feel good about moving her story forward, but no matter how involved I am, I can’t stay there as long as I want or need to.
I have too many distractions.
The same thing happens to me with reading. Or watching a movie. Or even watching the news, as riveting as it can be these days.
I’m hoping this is a passing phase. Maybe after the election and after hurricane season, things will settle down into a more peaceful routine. In the meantime, I’ll plod along, hoping that, despite distractions, I’m writing a captivating and touching mystery.
Are you similarly distracted? How do you manage?
Saralyn Richard is the author of the Detective Parrott mystery series, Naughty Nana, A Murder of Principal, and Bad Blood Sisters. Her work in progress is the sequel to Bad Blood Sisters.
Quinn’s family always joked about death, but this summer death stopped being funny.
Oh my goodness, Saralyn, you are not alone. I started writing this morning, and I’m trying not to sit to much because of a hip injury. So I set the timer to remind myself to move. However, I’m having company on Thursday and want a clean house (ha ha), so I ate a quick breakfast, returned to my chapter, then decided I needed to change the sheets (but forgot to wash the pillowcases). They’re now in a separate load. I too am worried about everything you’re worried about and have managed a measly 497 words.
Like you, I used to be able to focus for hours. I was upset when someone dragged me away. But what do we do when it’s a 24 hour news cycle and life interrupting us. I will say I haven’t checked email this morning. Is that something?
Good luck!!!
Sounds like you have the same “bug” I have, Donnell. May we both persevere through it all!
Saralyn, I think we’re all in the same boat these days. We’d do well to turn off emails and the internet while we work, but we’ve been too conditioned by FOMO to do that.
What is FOMO? Or better yet, don’t tell me–something else to worry about??
I had to look it up too, Saralyn. FOMO means fear of missing out!
Thanks! Learn something new every day!
Me too. I blame it on changes in my mental state since covid isolation, doom scrolling on social media, too much information so I no longer watch the news, and ordinary distractions like what to thaw for dinner tonight. But, I’m with you. I don’t remember being so distracted before. We never lived with so much information in our earlier years. Maybe it has something to do with being retired. When I was working, I had a schedule that focused me. Hmmmmm….
Misery loves company, and it seems I have a lot of company with this post. Glad to hear from you, Susan. May the focus be with you!
Saralyn, it’s been that way with me since 2020. I remember well how I used to be able to focus on writing from morning until dinner time. Then life changed for me and for other people I know. Nowadays, I have the attention span of a flea, hopping from here to there and back and somewhere else again. I make progress, but only in snips of time, so each project merely creeps toward completion. Yes, the election is a major stress point for many of us, but there’s plenty more to worry about after that. Still, life goes on, and we gotta keep going in spite of it all.
Sorry you’re suffering from the same ailment, but hoping we both can conquer this malaise. Good that so many of us can still produce great mysteries under the circumstances.
Same thing going on here!
Keep the faith, Debra.