Becoming a Writing Nomad
I’ve been under deadline recently for an article I’m writing. This is a new situation for me, since it isn’t only a professor’s deadline I have to meet. This time, I have actual editors who expect my manuscript on time. Scary, right?
In anticipation of my
procrastination, I took a few days off work to devote myself fully to reading,
writing, and revising. I hoped that this intensive approach would help me
complete the article on time.
I’ll give away the end of the story: I finished and submitted my article on time. Cue sighs of relief.
Those three days reminded me that writing and reading in such an intensive way is tough! More specifically, I realized that I get restless easily. I become bored with the music I’m listening to, the people around me, the table I’m sitting at, the thing I’m trying to do. You name it, I probably became restless with (and subsequently annoyed with) it during those three days.
Those three days reminded me that writing and reading in such an intensive way is tough! More specifically, I realized that I get restless easily. I become bored with the music I’m listening to, the people around me, the table I’m sitting at, the thing I’m trying to do. You name it, I probably became restless with (and subsequently annoyed with) it during those three days.
But, with all that boredom I knew I had to finish the draft. There wasn’t any extension waiting for me, and no possibility that I could leave the article half-finished. If I didn’t complete the article (and complete it well), at the very least I’d be disappointed with myself. At the most, I’d get kicked off the project.
What I also realized, though, is that my restlessness is normal. It’s just part of who I am and the way I write. But, here’s the secret: That’s okay!
It’s okay that I get restless because I worked around it by becoming what I like to jokingly call myself: A writing nomad. I found that it worked better for me to give into the restlessness periodically rather than pushing through and becoming even more distracted. When I noticed my focus waning, rather than look out the window every few minutes, I moved to a different location. I moved from the library to the coffee shop. Then, I moved back home. Once home, I went from my desk to my bedroom. Each time I moved locations, I gave my mind a mini break. Once I settled into the new location, I renewed my focus and energy. I was able to devote another burst of energy to my writing until I became restless again.
Whether you’re working on shorter assignments like discussion posts and course papers or longer drafts like final papers or a doctoral study, think about the last time you struggled to complete the assignment. Did you get distracted and restless like me? Maybe you, too, need to give yourself a change of scenery or a short break to re-energize and refocus. Try it—see if it works, and let us know in the comments!
Beth Oyler , the Writing Center's webinars guru, recently celebrated her three-year anniversary with Walden.
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