One of my resolutions for 2012 is to disconnect from the Net for one hour a day while I’m writing. I’ve two programs that I hope will help make this possible: SelfControl and Freedom.
I suspect I’ll like SelfControl best: it sits on my (Mac) dock. Also, from what I understand, it only cuts out email and Social Net. I will still be able to Google, which I use for on-the-fly writing research.
Is that cheating? I’ll see.
I’m bravely considering cutting out email until 11:00 a.m.: that way, when I begin writing in the morning, I won’t get distracted. (I can feel myself going for nine or ten already. Junkie!)
Debbi Ohi posted a similar resolution on her Inkygirl blog. Her cartoon expresses the problem perfectly:
Do you have writing resolutions?
{Image at top: from ‘Liber Floridus’ (Book of Flowers), a Medieval encyclopædia, from one of my favourite visual blogs, BibliOdyssey.}
My router isn’t powerful enough to reach up to my bedroom and so once I retire, I either write or read instead of being online. It has made a big difference, as did writing on my iPad outside in the pasture all summer. I would have wasted all that time if I could have been on facebook!
Write on, Joanne!
I know exactly what you mean–completely relate. I tried Freedom, but I ended up uninstalling it. I can’t remember now why I didn’t like it. I’m experimenting now with other methods, and I’ll be blogging about it in a guest blog in February.
I’ll report back, Lilian. I like the simplicity of SelfControl (the programme), but I’m not yet convinced it’s keeping me off email etc. I’ll be interested to know what methods work for you.
Ha ha this is SO true! I never got more writing done than when my internet was down.
I managed the 1 hour today, Margaret. So far, so good!