Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Distracted Writing Nightmare



It is so hard to get any writing done with all the distractions.  The TV in the background, the kids, other gadgets in the background.  Worry about this and worry about that.  What's this kid doing?  What is that kid asking from me.  This kid is bored and just wants some attention.  Can I make them this, can they have some of that.  What do I want for supper, asks the wife.  Am I going to cook this for this holiday.  So and such is doing this at work and I must be informed of it.  What time is it?  I have to pick this kid up from school.  The dog has to be walked....again.  Why are the kids so quiet now, I have to go check on them.  I have to clean this mess up.  Now it's time for me to make a meal already, didn't they just eat?  What is it with this damn phone...  I can't ignore the phone in case it's an emergency. 

I honestly don't know how I get any writing done and definitely know why it takes me forever when I do.  But where do I find the time?  I can't wait until they go to bed.  By time it's bedtime, I am exhausted as well.  Plus I must get up early with them.  So there's no waiting for them to go to bed and writing.  there is no free time during the day, as a child is in need of something every few minutes.  Autistic kids are extremely high maintenance.  There is no where to take them for a short period of time.

So how do I do it?  I am writing this not just to vent....okay, maybe a little.  But I know there are other people out there that have the same sort of problems.

So how do I get any writing done?  I keep my writing program open all day and work on it in between doing this and doing that.  As a "stay at home dad,: you'd think I had all the time int he world to write.  It simply is not true.  Little writing takes place during these periods.  It is done sentence by sentence.  Sneak in a paragraph here and edit another one there.  Then in the evening after dinner, I grab my laptop and go into the room, shutting the door behind me.  My wife is home now and she can deal with the ever needing kids for a couple hours.  They are usually busy with the TV.  But even then, it's no so.  Someone is at the door or in the room every few minutes needing something.  It doesn't matter what I say or ask, whatever it is will only take a minute and it's important.

So I persevere.  Many days, I have the writing program open and write....nothing.  The kids are taken care of, the laundry is done and thank goodness for whomever invented the crockpot, because the roast is on and I don't have to babysit that - although I still have to peel the potatoes and cut french fries for those that won't eat anything else.  I'll get that in a moment.

Never give up...it will happen.  It just won't happen as smoothly and as quickly as I'd like.  But I never give up and write whenever the opportunity presents itself.  That is how I write with all these constant distractions.  It can be done, it's just not very easy.

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