Dump The Distractions

For the last two days I’ve travelled four hours each day between London and Manchester on a Virgin train. I’m least distracted when I write on a train or a plane. I’ve worked out the reason for this, both are spaces where I experience least distractions. At home a thousand things can easily pull me away from the page, there’s a book to go find, a quote to go searching for or should I clean the bathroom, load the dishwasher, do my emails or paint my nails? But when I’m on a plane or a train these distractions are minimized. If I’m lucky to get a seat in a quiet coach on a Virgin train I’ll have very little noise to distract me from my writing.

On planes with the minimum scenery out the window and few spaces to walk around in I’m stuck usually for several hours in my seat.  And bums on a seat is an essential requirement for the serious writer. Perhaps that why so many writers including Maya Angelou write in rooms without a view. They’ve cottoned on to the no distraction rule. Now I’m not suggesting that this is how I want to write all the time but it really does help for those times when focus and concentrating on what’s in front of me is just what is needed.

1. Where are the spaces you are least distracted?

2. What kind of writing is best to do in this space? First drafts, editing, playing with ideas?

3. Plan to write in those spaces as often as you can but also locate the quiet spots in your neighbourhood.

4. Or if all else fails buy a pair of sound deafening ear headphones.