Any suggestions on maintaining focus?

[Vanguard]

I am not sure how professional authors come up with their ideas for their works but with me, it seems there is a constant swirl of ideas in my head that I enjoy putting to paper. The tough part is maintaining excitement about one particular idea long enough to fully tell the tale. As it stands, I have 5 lengthy stories I have started before I decided to focus entirely on one before working any more on the others. Every advice book for writers that I have read suggests this strategy. It seems to be working out and I have made impressive progress on it but some days it is hard to keep excited on the one without my thoughts meandering to the other plots vying for attention within my skull. Anyone else empathize?

[Neurolanis]

Yes, I'm easily distracted. I close my door and leave my fan going on high (even in winter time) to block out sound. I'll also play music if I must. To think or find inspiration, I go into the woods, away from people and vehicles to distract me.

Somehow you must cut out the distractions of the world so you can think clearly.

[eleika]

I agree on the white noise principle.

Also, lately I've found I get more writing done if I "schedule" it in as if it were an appointment.

[Dragonfleet]

I too have the same problem of concentrating on one particular story. It's very easy to get distracted and work on something else. One of the problems of creativity is its infinite matter, its wild and expanding and sometimes you need to keep it contained and tame it while you work on a particular story. Sometimes working on multiple stories helps since you get to cover all those different ideas across a vast field of imagination (and lots of pages!) and it often suppresses the urge to 'jump ship'.

I go for walks to clear my head and think about where I'm going with a story. Sometimes that can help to keep focussed. It's wrong to wait for inspiration to occur and it requires hard work to produce a piece that is yours but the mind needs to relax sometimes and give time for thought.

Actually I've found the best thing to do about a story in regards to focus is to talk about it with someone with an interest in writing. I try to discuss it with my parents but they're not really attuned to their creative side enough to give me much encouragement and ideas. That's why I like sites like these with people who also enjoy writing and/or reading. You can get rid of all those blocks and problems you're having and get back on track.

Just my 0.02c

[Grand Evander]

One of my old writing instructors, who recently published his collection of short stories, recommended leaving a piece of writing alone if you've lost interest, even temporarily. If you're not interested in writing, then why should the reader be interested in reading? Some of my best inspiration for my WIP comes when I leave the story alone and concentrate on a poem or research for my job. I don't believe the desire to develop other stories is a major distraction (unless you're really, really eager to finish one as soon as possible). Sometimes taking a small step back actually helps put things into perspective and can be helpful.

My workplace is usually a small room that attached to the back of my bedroom. There's just enough light and just enough furniture to be considered a study. I find music can be helpful if it's music that I've heard over and over, since it becomes more of a drone with a melody at that point. I also find having a cup of bitter coffee helps me to keep focused (the taste is actually more effective than the caffeine).

I recommend finding your favorite time of day to write (10pm-2am for me) and finding a comfortable chair. Have some place where you can pace or walk around and have someone to talk to who's enthusiastic about anything. The person doesn't have to be passionate about writing, almost anything will do in my opinion. I find being around a person with energy, who demonstrates a passion for whatever it is that they do, can be invigorating and can rekindle one's own zeal.

[Dragonfleet]

Hmm I seem to be the opposite with music. Normally I listen to soft sounding tracks and whatnot and yet that just distracts me. If I write with no music playing I find it's a lot easier to think as I'm typing. Then again I do use headphones so my music is 'in my face' as opposed to just using speakers.

[Grand Evander]

Yeah, for me listening on headphones doesn't really work either. For some reason, when music is the only thing you can hear booming in your ear, it becomes very distracting for me.

[eleika]

Well, the music I tend to listen to is music I've heard repeatedly on my playlist, so I already naturally tune it out. Every so often a song catches my ears and distracts me, but overall my focus is on whatever else I'm doing.

Then again, I don't always listen to music. Sometimes the white noise is better. Instrumental music also works. Some of the best music I have to work to is dance/techno music and game music.

There's also a very big difference between playing it on your computer speakers and listening to headphones. Headphones are definitely more distracting.

[Dragonfleet]

Yeah, most songs I usually tune out but since I'm using headphones it's a lot more distracting. Sadly it's usually the afternoon that I have time to write and I don't want to annoy ppl with my speakers.

[NeoScribe]

Music helps me concentrate. However, I easily lose focus on one story if I lose my track of thought and then my other stories will rise in my mind and keep me from GE while I jot down more details for them. The faster I write stuff in my notebook, the faster I'm able to push it to a corner of my mind and focus on my main story.

[eleika]

Have you considered instrumental music? That way the words at least can't distract you.

[Mornara]

Has anyone used soundtracks? Like Troy, Zorro, the instrumental stuff, that works really well for me. I also listen to Rammstein, as the words are in German, and I don't process them. Although, I've listened to them enough, I think I'm starting to understand the words!!

Actually, what works for me probably doesn't work for most. I'm ADHD, and don't take meds, so I have to have a bunch of things going to settle down enough to focus. Ie: tv on, one headphone on playing music, drinking coffee, have about 5 windows open, flitting between them constantly. Get the idea? It's a nuisance, but once I focus, I'll work for hours.