Have you ever wished that you could hide away in a cabin in the woods? No visitors. No distractions. Canadian novelist, Claire Cameron, said, "I would get a lot of writing done if I lived in isolation in a cave under a swamp." But is that true?
I, personally, think about isolating myself to get my writing done every time my husband asks, "Are you done yet?" However, since isolation and loneliness are two of the most common complaints of writers, I guess I am lucky that I do not feel that way. I am neither isolated or lonely. I have too much going on. Do I wish that I had more time to spend at the computer? "YES!" That, though, is simply because I allow interruptions and distractions. The isolation most writers feel is real. So if you are feeling isolated, here are two things that have helped me.
I, personally, think about isolating myself to get my writing done every time my husband asks, "Are you done yet?" However, since isolation and loneliness are two of the most common complaints of writers, I guess I am lucky that I do not feel that way. I am neither isolated or lonely. I have too much going on. Do I wish that I had more time to spend at the computer? "YES!" That, though, is simply because I allow interruptions and distractions. The isolation most writers feel is real. So if you are feeling isolated, here are two things that have helped me.
- Meet and greet people. I know that sounds silly, but we writers tend to get so tied up in the story that is flowing from our brains that we forget that people exist outside our imagination. Then one day we wonder what happened to our friends, our families, the newspaper boy. Setting time aside to meet and greet family, friends, and even the person knocking at our door, provides a face-to-face connection that we all need in our lives. It can boost your creativity by allowing you to share your ideas with another person. And, let's face it, 140 characters in a tweet cannot help you or I understand body language, tone of voice, speech intricacies, or even how a relationship works. Plus, if you are a children's writer, nothing beats a hug from a small child to inspire.
- Eat your meals away from your work. It's so easy to grab a sandwich and head back into your loneliness to type or write away until you are so exhausted you fall asleep over whatever story you are working on. Believe me, I've been there. But, 20 or 30 minutes away from that spellbinding plot you are developing will not put a damper on your creativity. You will actually find that the break to eat may increase your creativity, productivity, and even your inspiration. Not only that, but it will also get your butt out of the chair, allow your lungs to get rid of all that built up carbon dioxide, increase your sense of smell, taste, and touch, and let you pet the cat, the dog, or feed the bird. Wow! All of that benefit in 20 or 30 minutes! Then, it is time to get your butt back in the chair!! GO!!
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