Help! Help!

and other pesky things while you're trying to write.
You know, the one that reminds you that you haven't yet done the dishes, or that you really should walk the dog, or that you have failed to water the garden in over a week. Did i leave that element on?
Does anyone have any handy hints or tips for silencing the voice mentioned above? Lately I have been having a really hard time switching off to 'life' in order to get stuck into writing - and thats assignment writing as well as creative writing.
Generally I have some music set aside for this very task, its mindless, i don't know the lyrics and is has this flow to it that helps me detach from the real world (despite the fact that I'm not even sure I like the music). It has simply stopped working for me though.
Any ideas would be appreciated!

http://vyanae.blogspot.com/

If anyone has answer to this I'd love to hear it too....

what used to work for me was shutting myself in the office as soon as the kids had left for school without doing anything else first- just me and my breakfast (still in my PJ most of the time) while I got stuck back in to writing. (the housework did get done- mostly in the afternoon when the kids got home- but why waste the quiet?)
It was really effective for a while there, except for the rather embarrassing situation of answering the door in your pjs at 2 in the afternoon if I was having a really focus & productive day.
Unfortunately we've moved - I haven't got an office anymore and can't shut myself away from the world.
Music does help a little though..

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
Mark Twain

I do know the feeling. I lost my study when my daughter was born and ended up working on a desk in the lounge. That is fine when it is only me around but a problem when others are watching tv etc. So I resort to 'hiding' at times. I take my laptop into our bedroom and work there.
This is the big advantage of having a laptop. So I create an office where I can. It is not ideal but it works.
But about the bills and housework. This was my biggest problem when I was writing my thesis. Believe me, any distraction is welcome, so I would clean the slightest bit of mess I could see.
The solution - practice at saying, who cares about the house, ok the bills are slightly more important. I have taught myself to switch off the tidy gene, it has taken years. As a result the whole house can look like my daughters room but I have found two hours of cleaning up the whole place works, if you can ignore it until it needs it.
Recognise the procrastination and try not to give into it.It is hard, like not giving into chocolate. But like the writing, practice.
And if you answer the door in pjs at 2pm, we are all jealous. Use it in your stories maybe, how many reasons can you think of for being that way other than a creative moment.
I dont know if any of this helps but it is more common than you may realise. I know of someone who wallpapered his house only during exams.

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NaNo winner 2006, 2007
SocNoc winner 2007,
WWWwace 2007, 2008!!!
Easter challenge winner 2007
Body count: 1 Institute heads, 4 professors, 2 postdocs, 2 PhD students, 2 sequencing technicians and numerous bad guys...
Oh I wish I could put that on my CV.

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LOL thats so classic! I can imagine me doing something like that.
Last year I was well ahead of assignments for the entire year, somehow this year is just turning out different, well, its still early days. Thanks for the advice, I will practice at ignoring the voices like i practice at any other things and just keep at it. It's comforting to know that the same voice plagues many others as well.

http://vyanae.blogspot.com/

I often answer the door in my PJs due to shift work. It's actually great for getting rid of salespeople etc. because they take one look at you and go:
"Oh, I'm sorry, aren't you feeling well?"

To which I tartly reply:

"No, I WAS asleep because I'm on night duty at the moment. Good Bye."

No embaressment experienced, and instantaneous unwanted visitor gotten ridofness! Feel free to use this, and see how effective it is!

Trying to find the time (as usual)!

I don't really have the same problem - I have no kids and my wife is very understanding of a crazy person taking time away from watching TV.

However, if I did have that problem, I would try writing about it. Work it into the story - talk about the bills, the dishes, the house etc...

In the end, these are all familiar problems and can add weight to the story. You can take them out later, or you can open a new document if it doesn't fit in with your high fantasy novel. Keep the writing flowing! :-)

Travis.
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http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Simple: work the creative writing in shifts - I use ten minute bits throughout the day - when it's writing time, I drop practically everything else, and write for the ten minutes (15 if I'm in the "zone"), and then skive off to other things until the next ten minute session.

Voices telling me what other things I should do? No way - If they really don't shut up, I write a littel note telling me what the big worry is, and drop it into the "worry jar" - I worry about the things in there, maybe 20 minutes per week!

Find more about me here!

Hm, I agree with thepengun, if something really is bothering you, just write it down. Make a list of all those tasks and tell yourself you'll do them later -maybe allocating a time AFTER your writing for it. If they keep coming, just acknowledge them, write them down, and then go back to your writing. Hopefully, the voice will turn silent >_<

Do you think giving my kids little notes would make them be quiet? ;)

But yeah that does sound like a good idea for clearing your head of those annoying little things- I've heard that recommended for people who can't get to sleep at night. Write it down and sort it out the next day.

In my Pj's and proud!
scuttling off to do some work- came to ask a question and got disracted- drat!

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
Mark Twain

If there are things that bother you constantly, like whether you turned the oven off or not, or shut and locked the door this morning, try systemising those tasks so there is no possibility of you forgetting them, therefore the thoughts won't bother you. Put a kid's whiteboard next to the oven and sign it every time you turn it on and off. After a week you'll be in the habit and won't think about it. Do the same with any 'static' issue you have trouble with.

As for other distractions, that's a lot harder to deal with. I find I can write if people are watching a movie in the same room, but have great trouble if I am expecting an important email and can't concentrate until it arrives; everyone is different. The best thing is your own comfortable area, where you can make as much mess as you want, sit without disturbing others and tap away at the keys (or scratch away on paper) while you are relaxed and at ease. To accomplish this you might need to go and check the door, the oven and the kids before starting; that way you have less to 'intrude' on your writing time.

Just a thought....

I guess I should put some funny quip here.