It's the historical fiction hazard. Two things are helping me: If I've got enough info to move forward and should postpone a research diversion, I have little post-it flags of different colors that I attach to the manuscript pointing to things that need to be addressed (pink is for research - oh, so many pink tabs.) I forge onward and review all those tabs in separate passes. I'm at the point in my WIP that most of those little pink tabs are just icing for the icing and can/should be glossed over or ignored alltogether.
The other new thing I am doing - I have a flippable pomodoro-type alarm clock. I give myself x-amount of time for a task. Depending on my purpose - if for focus, I earn a break when the bell rings. If for something that could turn into a diversion, bell rings and time is up. It keeps me honest - somewhat.
I like the pink tabs idea. I have a tendency to want to resolve questions as I go. I need to allow myself to keep going, knowing I can flag it and return. 🚩 I also need to make more use of thrme countdown timer ⏱️ on my fitbit ⌚️Thanks for sharing your process!
Oh, I feel this so, so much. I often fall back on the placeholder method; do I really need to understand how zeppelins were docked and refueled RIGHT NOW? (truefax rabbit hole!) Or can I just say [disembarking happens here!] and continue with the story? The latter is less fun but keeps me focused. *sigh*
However, a new workaround I'm finding helpful is to just ask ChatGPT for answers. While I don't trust it enough to give me historical names and dates accurately, for very straightforward things like "what is the history of the plain old egg timer?" it has proven remarkably helpful. Since I get a canned answer with no alluring links to other sites or topics, I can just plug and play. If I have my doubts about accuracy, I can flag it to double check later. It takes me a minute or two at most to type a question and get an answer, and then I'm back to writing!
Perhaps if the rabbit hole is a delay of completion but not a cessation of it then it doesn't matter so much? Perhaps the rabbit holes are a part of the whole creative process ... Just a thought. But otherwise perhaps a time limit on the rabbit hole, a set time for working on/ finishing the WIP, and then the reward of continuing back down the rabbit hole?
For me, the rabbit holes are, in part, a part of the process and also a distraction. It helps when I can discern in the moment which is taking lead. I love the idea of using the rabbit holes as a reward too. Is that the approach you use to stay on track? Or are you one of the lucky (and disciplined) writers who can stay focused?
I think my answer to that is complicated 🤣 once I finally put my booty in the seat and begin a piece, I usually do stay on track. But not always and it takes time getting there.
As I’ve really honed my niche over nearly two decades of full time writing, I have leaned my own ebbs and flows. Sometimes what I need most honestly is going into the rabbit hole to get excited rather than grinding at something that’s not exciting me. Sometimes yes the rabbit hole is my reward for doing the grind ... in particular the experience of going to the library and getting a stack and digging into a book with a glass of wine or coffee is a reward for me.
Right now for me I’m trying to see all of my work and life as part of the creative process and accept the downtime and slow times and rabbit holes and bursts of inspiration and long writing flows and writing in fits and starts as all just part of one whole thing. Being gentle with myself a little wherever I am at.
But how much I can do that changes by the hour 🤣
I think you hit it on the head in saying that being able to discern whether it’s a distraction or part of the process in the moment is key and that becomes easier for me as I age and learn how to listen to my own intuition more and more amidst the noise of everything else.
It's the historical fiction hazard. Two things are helping me: If I've got enough info to move forward and should postpone a research diversion, I have little post-it flags of different colors that I attach to the manuscript pointing to things that need to be addressed (pink is for research - oh, so many pink tabs.) I forge onward and review all those tabs in separate passes. I'm at the point in my WIP that most of those little pink tabs are just icing for the icing and can/should be glossed over or ignored alltogether.
The other new thing I am doing - I have a flippable pomodoro-type alarm clock. I give myself x-amount of time for a task. Depending on my purpose - if for focus, I earn a break when the bell rings. If for something that could turn into a diversion, bell rings and time is up. It keeps me honest - somewhat.
I like the pink tabs idea. I have a tendency to want to resolve questions as I go. I need to allow myself to keep going, knowing I can flag it and return. 🚩 I also need to make more use of thrme countdown timer ⏱️ on my fitbit ⌚️Thanks for sharing your process!
I just flipped the timer because I'm supposed to be doing quarterly taxes rather than hang out on Substack. The games we must play on ourselves.
Oh, I feel this so, so much. I often fall back on the placeholder method; do I really need to understand how zeppelins were docked and refueled RIGHT NOW? (truefax rabbit hole!) Or can I just say [disembarking happens here!] and continue with the story? The latter is less fun but keeps me focused. *sigh*
However, a new workaround I'm finding helpful is to just ask ChatGPT for answers. While I don't trust it enough to give me historical names and dates accurately, for very straightforward things like "what is the history of the plain old egg timer?" it has proven remarkably helpful. Since I get a canned answer with no alluring links to other sites or topics, I can just plug and play. If I have my doubts about accuracy, I can flag it to double check later. It takes me a minute or two at most to type a question and get an answer, and then I'm back to writing!
Oh! What a great use for ChatGPT. Brilliant.
Perhaps if the rabbit hole is a delay of completion but not a cessation of it then it doesn't matter so much? Perhaps the rabbit holes are a part of the whole creative process ... Just a thought. But otherwise perhaps a time limit on the rabbit hole, a set time for working on/ finishing the WIP, and then the reward of continuing back down the rabbit hole?
For me, the rabbit holes are, in part, a part of the process and also a distraction. It helps when I can discern in the moment which is taking lead. I love the idea of using the rabbit holes as a reward too. Is that the approach you use to stay on track? Or are you one of the lucky (and disciplined) writers who can stay focused?
I think my answer to that is complicated 🤣 once I finally put my booty in the seat and begin a piece, I usually do stay on track. But not always and it takes time getting there.
As I’ve really honed my niche over nearly two decades of full time writing, I have leaned my own ebbs and flows. Sometimes what I need most honestly is going into the rabbit hole to get excited rather than grinding at something that’s not exciting me. Sometimes yes the rabbit hole is my reward for doing the grind ... in particular the experience of going to the library and getting a stack and digging into a book with a glass of wine or coffee is a reward for me.
Right now for me I’m trying to see all of my work and life as part of the creative process and accept the downtime and slow times and rabbit holes and bursts of inspiration and long writing flows and writing in fits and starts as all just part of one whole thing. Being gentle with myself a little wherever I am at.
But how much I can do that changes by the hour 🤣
I think you hit it on the head in saying that being able to discern whether it’s a distraction or part of the process in the moment is key and that becomes easier for me as I age and learn how to listen to my own intuition more and more amidst the noise of everything else.