Writing focus—why is it so hard to maintain?
You sit down to write, determined to finally make progress on your project. The words will flow this time, you tell yourself. But before you know it, you’ve checked your email, responded to a message, scrolled social media, and now you’re standing in the kitchen wondering why you even got up in the first place.
The writing? Still waiting.
In today’s world, distractions are everywhere. It’s not just technology demanding our attention, either. There are all the never-ending tasks we must complete to manage our writing careers, plus life’s responsibilities piling up. It can make maintaining focus feel nearly impossible.
Still, if you’re serious about your writing, you have to take control of your focus. Below are five common mistakes destroying your concentration—and what you can do to fix them.
Writing Focus Mistake 1. Multitasking While Writing
We often think we can do more than write. Write and watch the baby. Write and cook dinner. Write and help a child with their homework.
It’s easy to succumb to this temptation. We have a lot to do, and sometimes, it can feel like if we don’t combine writing with something else, we’ll never get the writing done.
But while multitasking may seem productive, it actually fragments your focus and makes writing much harder. Say nothing about how it lengthens the time required to get the words down.
The Fix:
Commit to single-tasking during your writing sessions. Remember that even 15 minutes of focused writing is better than 30 minutes of multitasked writing. Experiment yourself if you like and compare your word counts. Most likely, you’ll get more done if you can focus on your story.
Set clear boundaries. Silence notifications, close unnecessary tabs, and resist the urge to jump between tasks. Consider using a distraction-blocking app to prevent temptation. By focusing on one thing at a time, you’ll enter a deeper state of concentration and boost your writing output.
Writing Focus Mistake 2. Failing to Manage Stress Overload
The writing life is often stressful, but then, life itself is often stressful! Worrying about finances, deadlines, family, or personal struggles can easily pull your attention away from your story. Even when you carve out time to write, your brain may be too preoccupied to concentrate effectively.
The Fix:
Develop stress-management strategies to keep your mind clear for writing. Try journaling before writing sessions to unload distracting thoughts. Get down all your worries, then set them aside while you write. You can tend to them when you’re done.
Mindfulness meditation also helps. Before you write, try a 10-minute calming meditation on YouTube. It can help you relax and become more concentrated.
If stress feels overwhelming, break your writing into small, manageable chunks so you can make progress without added pressure. Tell yourself you’ll write for only 5 minutes, and it’s okay if the writing is bad. Any progress builds momentum!
Writing Focus Mistake 3. Failing to Manage Your Energy
You might think your biggest challenge is lack of time, but often, it’s lack of energy. We writers sometimes attempt to push through exhaustion, writing late at night or during mentally drained moments. But when you’re tired, focusing becomes exponentially harder, meaning you’ll be more vulnerable to distractions.
The Fix:
Pay attention to your energy rhythms and schedule your writing sessions accordingly. If you’re a morning person, write early in the day before decision fatigue sets in.
If you have more energy in the evening, structure your routine around that. Prioritize rest, nutrition, and movement to keep your mind sharp. Writing when you’re energized rather than drained makes a world of difference in maintaining your focus and getting your word count in.
4. Letting Environmental Distractions Take Over
Your surroundings play a huge role in your ability to focus. Noisy environments, cluttered workspaces, or constant interruptions from family or coworkers can make concentrating nearly impossible. Even minor distractions, like an uncomfortable chair or poor lighting, can make writing sessions feel frustrating.
The Fix:
Create a distraction-free writing environment. Find a quiet space, use noise-canceling headphones, or play background music that helps you focus. Keep your workspace clean and organized to minimize visual clutter. CommunicateCommunicate with those around you to set boundaries during your writing time. A closed door with a “do not disturb” sign often works wonders.
Writing Focus Mistake 5. Getting Stuck and Succumbing to Distraction
You may find it easy to focus on your writing most of the time, but when you get stuck, you struggle. You may not know what to write next or are unsure how to transition between scenes. You could be struggling with character motivation or simply feeling uninspired.
At times like these, it’s easy to seek quick relief—checking your phone, scrolling social media, or getting up to do something else. Before you know it, your writing time has disappeared.
The Fix:
When you feel stuck, resist the urge to escape. Try freewriting for a few minutes to loosen up your thoughts. Write about how you feel stuck and where you think that feeling came from. If that doesn’t work, try writing a placeholder sentence and shift to another part of the project, like another scene or an entirely different chapter. Set a timer for a short burst of writing to push through the block. Remember, the key is to stay engaged with your work, even if the words aren’t perfect.
Final Thoughts
Getting distracted is common for writers, so don’t feel bad if it’s happening to you. The important thing is to figure out why it’s happening and then apply some solutions and see how they work.
Which of these focus-killing mistakes do you struggle with the most? Identify one to tackle today, and see if you can enjoy a more focused writing session.