Users are struggling with maintaining focus while writing, especially when using digital tools. A feature that helps manage distractions or provides focus techniques could greatly enhance the writing experience.
I've always liked writing, but times I've actually written much has been few and far between over the last few years. I feel like I have a bit of trouble following the "just write" advice, and I'm wondering if anyone might be able to relate and have strategies to help in actually sitting down to write. Lately, I have been trying to write more, and I've written a good 5k or so words over the last couple weeks. Sometimes I'm motivated, but I've also had to "just write". I can do this, but there's a couple of factors that I've found to make it difficult: * It feels like a constant fight against the subconscious; the conscious me wants to write, but the subconcious me never wants to. My subconscious mind is saying that it's too hard, or my writing isn't good enough, "what's the point of writing another 700 word scene today? You're so far off finishing still". I try my best to ignore it, but it's tough. * Actually sitting to write. I use Obsidian since I can sync my writing on all my devices and easily track notes and scenes, but sometimes I just hate sitting at a desk, or even just looking at a screen. It doesn't help that I work a full time desk job, which often means the last thing I want to do is sit at a desk on a computer even more, which combined with the tiredness makes me use the excuse of being too tired to write, and so I don't. * I'm easily distracted and often have trouble maintaining focus, especially when the words don't just flow out and I have to actually think about what I'm writing. This isn't just with writing, but other areas in life as well. It's rather vexing. I guess what I need is a way to help myself work around or counter these thoughts, so that it becomes less of a fight within my mind to write and more of a natural activity that my whole mind wants to do. * Perhaps actually implementing a schedule. I find this difficult, but perhaps routine will reduce the resistance the subconscious mind has against writing and make it a natural activity over time? * Not sure what to do about the times that I don't "feel like" sitting at a computer. I have a laptop, too, or I could write on my phone, but it doesn't really help. I love the idea of writing physically, but having split physical and digital notes sounds like a pain, and I'd have to type up the written scenes later anyway. Does anyone actually use and manage both physical and digital notes? * I think my difficulty with focus is at least partially that looking at a screen makes me a bit "hyper". I think it's because my mind knows I could be doing any number of other things on said "screen" that my mind gets distracted, even when I have nothing else open. However, I'm not sure that's the entire problem. How do you maintain focus? I'd like to know how other people deal with these types of blocks themselves.