When my kids were little, and my household was chaotic, on weekends when my husband was home, I used to grab a notebook and a pen, my purse, and car keys, drive to a parking lot, and write. There was something about being in that closed-in space separated from my private universe that was gold. I couldn’t see my dirty laundry, hear my dog barking, or witness my son and daughter fighting. I’d often grab a coffee on the way to the parking lot, which made my writing sessions even better. I tended to only write for an hour or so, but ninety percent of the time, the words poured out of me.

I’m an empty nester now, and my parking lot writing days are over …not just because my kids are grown but also because my neighborhood has changed.  I recently drove to the same parking lot. It was the one with the Trader Joe’s, the yoga studio, and the Wahoo’s. Security patrolled the lot. They hadn’t been there before.  Shoppers, who used to ignore me, now looked at me sideways as if they thought I was either living in my car or casing the lot. The bottom line is that I no longer feel comfortable writing in my Honda in Los Angeles, post-covid.

So, what do you do if you crave that hyper-focus that comes from shutting out your life? Noise-canceling headphones and caffine help. But I’ve learned a few tricks that keep me from getting distracted.

1.  Take advantage of your driveway. If you’re lucky enough to live in a house with a driveway, consider staying put and writing in your car there. If your front door is shut, you won’t be able to see the dirty laundry or hear your dog’s bark. Sometimes, just a slight physical separation is all you need to feel like you’re a universe away from your to-do list.  Hemmingway worked in a separate office, just a frisbee toss away from his home. It’s not how far you distance yourself that helps with focus. It’s that you distance yourself that’s key.
2. Plan out your writing the evening before. If you know exactly what you’re writing, you can dive right into the project at hand. You can print ‘Write Chapter Three’ or ‘Finish Blog Post’ on your daily calendar. It’s that simple.
3. If you’re struggling or have questions about a scene, character, or your novel’s structure, connect with a writing friend and problem-solve before your writing session. When I can’t focus, it’s often because I’m confused or stuck.  Once I’ve answered the questions swirling in my head or worked through whatever glitch that’s giving me doubts, I can focus on getting my words onto the page.
4. Give yourself grace. Sure, it’s great to have daily word count goals, but not if those goals give you anxiety, and that anxiety leads to a lack of focus. The old running adage, “Forward is a Pace,” applies to novel writing, too. As long as you keep moving forward, even if it’s one page per day, you’ll reach your end game of completing your novel. Be kind to yourself. Don’t stress.
5. Plan ahead, not just in terms of what you’re writing about, but in terms of how you handle any expected distractions. At present, I have an adorable doodle at home. He’s just over a year and still full of energy. I’ve learned that if I walk him and give him a bone before I write, he’s less apt to want to play and distract me. Also, because I’ve already given him attention, I’m ready to focus on my writing, and I don’t feel guilty if he’s bored for an hour or so.
6. Get inspired. I say this in every post, but it bears repeating. Read novels that inspire you. Inspiration will serve you well by keeping your pen moving across the page and your brain active. Read, read, and read some more!
7. Take advantage of your prime time. I’m a morning person. By eight or nine at night, being creative is tough for me. It’s not always possible to write when our body wants us to write due to work and childcare schedules. But anytime you get the chance to write when your creative juices are flowing, and you’re at your most awake and focused, do it.

When it comes to focus, my overall take is this. An author’s writing process is personal. What keeps one writer focused might not work for another. That being said, note what habits keep you focused, and which frustrate or distract you and lead to a lack of productivity. Then, apply what you learn to your writing life and level up your writing career.

Think focus doesn’t matter? Businessman, author, and inspirational speaker Gary Vaynerchuk says being uber-focused on something is the key to success.

If you have hacks for staying focused, I’d love to hear them!