Comments on: Multitasking http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/ The podcast for wanna-be fiction writers by a writer who's still learning. Writer Mur Lafferty discusses rejection, cover letters and getting the oomph to keep going. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:58:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: OzWriter http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/#comment-796 OzWriter Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:01:33 +0000 http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=163#comment-796 G'day Mur,<br /><br />What I have done to remove distractions is setup another profile on my computer. When I am ready to "write" I log off my normal profile and on to the special one called, funnily enough, Writer.<br /><br />There are <b>no</b> icons on the desktop <i>except</i> for a shortcut to Word that opens my novel, Internet Explorer that homepages to Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, and iTunes so I have something to listen to and not be distracted by the TV in the other room. The rest of the screen is empty except for the pretty Windows rolling hills background. Ahh the serenity...<br /><br />Nothing else is setup in this profile, no email programs (to just check if someone has mailed me), no IMs (just in case someone wants to talk to me), nothing that might be an excuse to put off writing for a little while longer (haven't played that game for a while). Sure having the internet accessible can be an issue, but it is too valuable a research tool for me, so I just try to be diligent.<br /><br />BTW I enjoy your blog a lot, keep it up. G’day Mur,

What I have done to remove distractions is setup another profile on my computer. When I am ready to “write” I log off my normal profile and on to the special one called, funnily enough, Writer.

There are no icons on the desktop except for a shortcut to Word that opens my novel, Internet Explorer that homepages to Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, and iTunes so I have something to listen to and not be distracted by the TV in the other room. The rest of the screen is empty except for the pretty Windows rolling hills background. Ahh the serenity…

Nothing else is setup in this profile, no email programs (to just check if someone has mailed me), no IMs (just in case someone wants to talk to me), nothing that might be an excuse to put off writing for a little while longer (haven’t played that game for a while). Sure having the internet accessible can be an issue, but it is too valuable a research tool for me, so I just try to be diligent.

BTW I enjoy your blog a lot, keep it up.

]]> By: Nancy Fulda http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/#comment-780 Nancy Fulda Mon, 13 Nov 2006 13:35:55 +0000 http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=163#comment-780 >next thing you do, whether it's answer the phone or write an email or work on your next chapter, try to give it 100% of your attention. <br /><br />Mur, thank you. That is exactly what I needed to hear today. >next thing you do, whether it’s answer the phone or write an email or work on your next chapter, try to give it 100% of your attention.

Mur, thank you. That is exactly what I needed to hear today.

]]> By: Anonymous http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/#comment-764 Anonymous Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:16:36 +0000 http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=163#comment-764 You are so right - I'm horrible about that. I find that if I don't have a browser to flip to I get really twitchy and nervous. Oh no!! But if I'm honestly off line I get a ton more done.<br/><br/>Of course, there isn't much to be done about the little ones... You are so right - I’m horrible about that. I find that if I don’t have a browser to flip to I get really twitchy and nervous. Oh no!! But if I’m honestly off line I get a ton more done.

Of course, there isn’t much to be done about the little ones…

]]> By: Anonymous http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/#comment-762 Anonymous Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:37:06 +0000 http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=163#comment-762 Which is the reason I usually prefer to write outside, turning off my cell phone and bringing only my little computer. This minimizes all distractions, especially because our neighborhood is relatively quiet. If the temperature is below 50 and I must write inside, I sign out of my IM services, disconnect the phone, and turn on some jazz. This seems to work well too. Which is the reason I usually prefer to write outside, turning off my cell phone and bringing only my little computer. This minimizes all distractions, especially because our neighborhood is relatively quiet. If the temperature is below 50 and I must write inside, I sign out of my IM services, disconnect the phone, and turn on some jazz. This seems to work well too.

]]> By: Phil Rossi http://isbw.murlafferty.com/2006/11/06/multitasking/#comment-761 Phil Rossi Mon, 06 Nov 2006 18:28:50 +0000 http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=163#comment-761 Right on. Full agreement. Focusing is one of those skills that improves with time and practice. I hate to say that I'm better at focusing now, because one of the cornerstones of Filling the Page is coping with a short attention span. But I am. ;-) <br/><br/>With that said, it is amazing what can be accomplished with solid focus. Right on. Full agreement. Focusing is one of those skills that improves with time and practice. I hate to say that I’m better at focusing now, because one of the cornerstones of Filling the Page is coping with a short attention span. But I am. ;-)

With that said, it is amazing what can be accomplished with solid focus.

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