Today's Road Trip Wednesday over at YA Highway asks: What kind of writing coach do you need? When you have to coach your friends, what kind of coach are you?
When I'm in the writing zone, I don't need much of a coach. I get drawn into my work and can be quite productive, relenting to little distraction. But, in order to get into the zone, I first need to GET OFF THE INTERNET and get my work started. That's the tough part. So, my ideal coach would be someone who gave me a little electric zap whenever I strayed to the WWW so I can instead jumpstart my work. If he looked creepy as all get out, like this guy, even better.
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| electric fingers and a laser eyeball. meep! |
What kind of coach do you need? What kind of coach are you? Play along with YAH's RTW.
More Electric Feel, for amusement's sake:
9 comments:
This is not productive coaching! I am now doing that dance the girls do in Electric Feel!
*arm flap* *arm.... flap*
Hmmm... I wonder if someone's written an app that would block your internet connection for a period of time? You could set it to give you, say, 15 mins of internet time (enough time to check email and perhaps a few blogs/Twitter), but then it cuts you off for an hour so you have to get on with writing. After an hour you get another 15 mins of internet, then off again for an hour. Theoretically, it *could* be done. Perhaps I need to spend a few hours googling to see if someone has done it... :)
Ah, see that's where the trusty notebook comes in for me. No distractions. And writing in the bathtub is even better—no electronic devices at all to distract. Safety first. ;)
The internet is the devil. I have a tough time staying off of it, since I need it for "research." But when I'm super-dedicated, I turn off my laptop's wi-fi. If I need it, I can turn it back on, but it takes a few minutes to find my connection, and by that time, I usually realize that I didn't need the internet to help me think of names for my MC's cat, or whatever inane detail I wanted to Google, lol.
I'll second your motion for internet zaps. Though knowing my level of addiction I'd develop a tolerance for tiny zaps because, you know, OMG PANDA BEAR ROLLING DOWN THE HILL? THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE!
I haven't used this much, but I just downloaded FocusBar on my computer. It's a free Mac app that let's you write down what you should be doing ("writing right now") and any time you click to a new window it pops up to remind you of your goal. The major downside is that it doesn't have electroshock therapy built it. But maybe this is the beta version.
Kate: I'm sorry!!! Also, GET BACK TO WORK. Also2, *sends refund*
Colin and Crystal: Good points! I know there are programs that can help keep me off, I just don't have the will power to install them. :/ However, as a last resort, I will head to the UW library where, even though I'm an alma mater, I can't recall my campus sign-in password and therefore can't access the internet, hehe.
Tere: I love a good notebook.
Tracey: WHERE ARE THESE PANDAS????
Now this song is in my head and I am watching the video. Where are those zaps when I need them?
Hahaha, I love this post. I can't believe I didn't think of the motivational zaps myself, actually, with all the psychology experiments I studied in school. I don't know that I could handle that creepy creature you included though!
As far as programs, I sometimes use RescueTime to keep track of my distraction vs productive time. I also know there's a program called Freedom that will shut off your internet for a specified period of time - but like you I just haven't had the will power to install it. :-D
That is very inspirational stuff. Never known that feeling can be this diversified. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to extend such helpful information on this post.
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