Device Free Time
Let’s take a peek at the cogs inside the machine and talk about why I write and how I write on Behind the Scenes Sunday! Today I’d like to talk about the importance of going device free when engaging in creative writing work: why I started this practice, the struggles I’ve had keeping up this regimen, and the benefits I feel it has given me.
As much as I love writing, I am also the master of avoiding writing. There are no lengths I will not go to sometimes in order to not write. I will do things I usually hate: I will clean showers, I will do yardwork, I will cook – there are no ends to the things I will do to occupy my time when it comes time to write. Again, I stress, this is not because I dislike writing. I love to write! But I do dislike doing hard things, and so often the start of writing especially is (there’s just no way around it) hard.
In the past, one thing that I would use to keep myself from writing was looking at my phone. I’d put my phone down next to my computer and within three minutes it’d be back in my hand. I’d check for text messages, phone calls, scroll through TikTok and Facebook, lose countless productive minutes and hours to cellular nonsense. And if someone actually called me on the phone? Oh boy, did I always pick up!
Noticing this pattern of behavior, I resolved to make my writing time a device free time. Now, when I write, my phone goes on silent and it goes across the room, well out of my casual reach. It’s been a hard adjustment, and sometimes I forget to do it. But I do feel it has helped my focus and productivity immensely. Yes, writing is still hard. Yes, there are other distractions to occupy me. But now those distractions are less attractive and easy to get to! If you’re considering going device free, do it! You have nothing to lose but lost time!
As always, if you’re interested in supporting me and my work, thank you: Hungry is the Night, my urban fantasy, is available on all major platforms, as are my classic murder mysteries with scifi twists, The Cadence Turing Mystery series!