by Linda Joyce

Created on: December 17, 2008   Last Updated: April 02, 2009

As any writer knows, it's easy to let life derail you, even when you're at a critical point in your work. As much as you want to finish that chapter, or paragraph, or sentence, there are times when you just have to stop your work and do other things.

Writing for Helium is an unusual challenge for a writer because you not only have to produce your articles or stories, but you also have to find time to rate other writers' work and leapfrog your own work to obtain the highest rating possible. This can be time-consuming, and because of this, writers have to think up ways to deal with interruptions and not become frustrated by them.

One thing you can do is make an effort to train yourself to focus on your work immediately when you sit down at the computer. It's tempting to read email or check the news, or whatever; but to make the most of your work time and to accomplish something, you need to focus on your project and only your project.

If you have to stop, make sure you save your work and remember just where and how you saved it. Also, if you've already done your research, be sure you know where that is, too, so when you resume, you can hit the ground running and not waste any time searching for your materials.

Another tip that might help you is to always carry a notebook to jot down any ideas you might have. You could be anywhere and all of a sudden think of an intriguing subject for an article. By committing it to paper, it won't slip your mind when you finally get a chance to sit down again to write.

I'm the type of writer who can get an idea during the night, jump up and write it down (or not) and then wake up in the morning and type up the article in one sitting. I am lucky because I'm a fast writer. Of course, not everything is "good" writing, but it is practice; and even if it doesn't sell, I feel that it helps move me along in the direction I want to go.

However, I'm not always this lucky. I have times like everyone when I'm stressed or under pressure from one of a million things going on in my life, and I have to just stand back and take a break from a project. I've learned to give myself permission to do this without fretting about it or feeling guilty.

There are all kinds of theories on how to write. I think you need to start with an idea, even if it is only a thin sliver, and perhaps toss it around in your mind for awhile until it grows bit by bit. When it gets to the point where you are starting to enjoy how it's developing, that is probably the time you should sit down and commit it to paper or computer. If you find you must stop because of other commitments, just get back to it as soon as possible. There's really not much more you can do.

One last thing - I think a real factor in writing is your personal commitment to it. Do you love writing? Do you feel a need to write? If so, nothing will stop you from writing, no matter how "derailed" you may become. You will find a way.

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