Intervention needed! All the things we do instead of write our books…

[Lynn]

So it has just smacked me in the face that I've typed out more words today on a contentious thread than I've written on my book in total in three days of supposed effort (384 words). Gah!

 1. I need an intervention.

 2. Why do we do this to ourselves, because I refuse to believe I'm the only person this ever happens to?

 3. What are some of the best ways to catch yourself doing this stuff and put a stop to it quick so you can divert that energy to writing your book instead?

 4. Do I have to resort to turning off my WIFI? (Please say no. I get really anxious when I turn off my WIFI. :D)

[dgcasey]

If NaNoWriMo started letting us count our daily social media word count they would have to raise the challenge goal to 100,000 words.   

[elleoco]

You are most definitely not the only one, but if there's a way to fix us, I haven't found it.

[Shoe]

Lively debate is great fodder for fiction. Earlier today I tinkered with a WIP. Post delivery, a “woke” mom, filling out a birth certificate, is stumped and turns to her husband:

“What should we put here, honey?”
“What do you mean, what should we put there?” asked Carl while looking over her shoulder.
“I mean, for sex? We have to write down the sex.”
Carl thought for a moment. “The baby has a penis, Laura. How can you even ask the question?”
“Yeah, but, do we really want to add that kind of pressure?”
 “What do you mean by pressure?”
“What if he doesn’t want it?”
“Of course he will want his penis. Why wouldn’t he?”
“He might change his mind. You never know. He might not feel like a boy when he gets older.”
“Leave it blank, then.”

I'm not saying it's hilarious, but it does infuse a bit of the current zeitgeist into the narrative.

[123mlh]

Write first before logging into anything that will distract you like author forums or FB.

[sandree]

I have no answers. I’m taking an abstract painting class. I suspect it has something to do with avoiding finishing my second book because I’m afraid it’s crappy. 

[Lynn]

Seems like to a certain extent recognizing the problem is half the battle.

I also very very quickly hit the start button on my trusty writing timer before I could think twice and actually spent the last hour writing! ;D

[ingobernable]

Me too.    But I'm off to write now. I hope. 

[alhawke]

Yeah, like we started all this stuff to write books, right? I need help too. I'm addicted to reading and writing posts.

Initially, when I first joined, I have to admit it was for information about how to publish. Now I just enjoy seeing what others are thinking who have a similar addiction (even, I must admit, reading some of the controversial stuff).

Right now I should be writing. Maybe this is why I don't add anything to those word count threads anymore? Today my word count = 50 words on posts in writersanctum and that other site that shall go unnamed.

Anyway, I guess I'll go back to writing.

[Anarchist]

Forum debates stem from ego. We want to share our opinion. We want our opinion to be seen as trumping the other guy's opinion. We want to be the "winner." (Many people would claim they don't care about "winning," but I suspect that's untrue when a discussion transitions to a debate.)

Meanwhile, writing is work done in isolation.

Satisfying the ego (or trying to anyway) is more immediately gratifying.

[LilyBLily]

There is ego involved, but there is also a desire to connect to the world outside this room. Humans are social animals, even the introverted, antisocial types such as myself.

[TimothyEllis]

I use anything which causes me to write as a way of getting me writing.

Before I start my usual writing session, I will often write answers on Quora. It gets my brain going, and the fingers typing.

This helps me move straight into my writing session.

It also provides the 'write something every day' thing, when the WIP is being difficult.

[Lynn]

I use anything which causes me to write as a way of getting me writing.

Before I start my usual writing session, I will often write answers on Quora. It gets my brain going, and the fingers typing.

This helps me move straight into my writing session.

It also provides the 'write something every day' thing, when the WIP is being difficult.

I have to admit, I feel like my one hour writing session went super well after all the posting! ;D

[Lynn]

Forum debates stem from ego. We want to share our opinion. We want our opinion to be seen as trumping the other guy's opinion. We want to be the "winner." (Many people would claim they don't care about "winning," but I suspect that's untrue when a discussion transitions to a debate.)

Meanwhile, writing is work done in isolation.

Satisfying the ego (or trying to anyway) is more immediately gratifying.

I also noticed that roller coaster feeling when I would think about writing a post and then write it. That clench in the gut that happens right before the big dive. So maybe adrenaline feeds the need? :D

[alhawke]

I have to admit, I feel like my one hour writing session went super well after all the posting! ;D

Me too. I wrote 3.5k words after my post! So, we can still be productive despite posting away.

I'm a write-in-spurts writer. I can't be productive everyday and I'm heavily prone to writer's block and distractions.

But liking the posts!