Wasting time on the Internet

[Orissiah]

Hello all,

I'm new to this section (I think!). I am a published novelist and write fulltime. I say that I "write fulltime" but in reality I waste an awful lot of time on the Internet. Does any other writer here (published or not) have the same problem (doh!!!) - what are your strategies for writing over Internet time.

I need to use the Internet for research but once that phase is out of the way (aside from dipping in and out during writing) I try and make writing the first thing I do when I power up the computer and then use the Internet as a reward after eg 3 hours writing.

Easier said than done!!

I am annoyed with myself because I know I could write much faster/better or work on another writing project if I didn't succumb so often to the web.

Do you have strategies for avoiding wasting valuable writing time online?

[MummyElk]

i thiiiink you can change the settings on your computer to only go online at certain times and for certain lengths of time... which sounds a bit draconian (and the sort of thing you might do for the kids) but i've been seriously tempted recently to do this on this computer so that I get something done during the day!! (like, the washing....or the housework....or paying attention to the kids)

[Orissiah]

I used a programme called Leech Block but most settings on browser and apps are so easy to override. No, it's "simple" self-discipline I need. Moreover I actually write better in my home office so going out to a cafe or library with a non-Internet enabled laptop won't work for me :-(

[MissClavel]

I am also a professional writer, and I wouldn't have seen this if I wasn't doing the very thing you're writing about...

I've got round it, for the most part, by by making a little home office in the attic, as far away from the wifi connection as possible, and unplugging it when the 'working day' begins. I also use it as a reward, as you say, hence spending 5 mins looking at random stuff online now, just before setting off on school run.

It is a tricky one.

[Orissiah]

MissClavel, you've given me an idea: Maybe I just need to unplug the wifi from it's source - it's in the living room and my office is at the top of the house so it would be such a faff to trundle up and down the stairs everytime I wanted to go online.

Okay, I'm going to switch off the wifi downstairs and not switch it on until I have to pick up my DD from daycare at 5.30. Then I'll make it part of my daily routine - ie switch it off at 8.30am tomorrow morning when DD and DH have left the house and only switch it on at lunch time.

Will post back tomorrow (or this evening) to let you know how I went.

[atswimtwolengths]

That's what I do - when I go upstairs to work, I switch off the wifi downstairs.

What amazes me is how much time is wasted (by me!) online - I think I'll have a look at Am I Being Unreasonable and an hour later I'm still there!

[Orissiah]

Switching off the wifi definitely worked. Such a simple tip. Thanks!

[MissClavel]

Glad it worked! sometimes the simple solutions are the best.



Happy writing :)

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

I go to the library, where I haven't yet worked out how to connect to the free wifi