Reading Paul’s thoughts on dealing with distraction reminded me that using a non-Internet connected PC and WordPerfect for DOS years ago, I wrote my first novel manuscript of 150K words in four months. That’s more productive than I am now, where it’s taking me nine months to write 100K words (granted, they may be better words, but still…). There is a huge power in getting those idea-driven first drafts done more quickly and with a minimum of interruptions. And writing on a computer that is a combined TV set/news feed/encyclopedia/bookstore is an exercise in vicious (and often easily justifiable) temptations NOT to write or to focus on activities peripheral to writing (research, email) as opposed to the writing itself.

I think my own addiction to narrow distractions while writing is a hard wire left from my days in advertising; if you aren’t coming up with an idea, you check email to see what other crisis looms. I have found this a terrible and difficult habit to break.

Paul’s embrace of the Amish computing approach is one I’m taking: my Internet connection is getting moved out of my office to another room in the house that won’t encourage distractionary, endless surfing or email checking when stuck on a plot point or doing prelim research—but will be there when I need it, not as an impediment. Email will be checked once a day. I’m strongly considering an Alphasmart Neo (other author friends rave about them) and first drafts will be edited/printed on a Mac with NO internet connection. (And if I had a computer that would run WordPerfect for DOS, I’d be sorely tempted to use it for first drafts.) If I sound primitive: Elmore Leonard writes his novels in longhand and John Irving uses a Selectric typewriter. I’m not a Luddite but sometimes simpler is better for particular contexts, especially creative ones.