It is a problem for anyone. Focusing is one of the most important things in life. If you cannot focus on what you are doing, you will never get anywhere, and you will never do anything or accomplish anything. I have seen this trouble over and over again with writers, and I am including myself in this statement. Focusing is difficult, especially focusing on the same thing for weeks and months on end. It is frustrating, tiring, and, to be honest, boring. But it is necessary. So how do you keep yourself focused? How do you fight against the boredom and frustration?

Why?

So, before we go into how to keep yourself focused, we have to ask the question, why focus in the first place? If you are at all like I am, you likely have several story ideas floating through your head and adorning the pages of your numerous notebooks. With so many good ideas, why spend your time and energy on just one? If you have no desire to publish anything in the next decade or so, the simple answer for you is because focusing is an important aspect in life, in other things as well as in writing, and there is satisfaction in finishing something. But if you have any kind of deadline, this is extremely important. You will never finish your book in time if you do not focus.

Focus

What does focusing on your story mean? There are several definitions for it: Stay on track. One step at a time. Persevere.

Stay On Track

The first thing that destroys focus is not staying on the same book for longer than a few weeks. You will never be able to get anywhere if you bounce from one story to another. There are a few troubles with bouncing in this way. One, the most obvious, you cannot progress very quickly with your story. Two, perhaps less thought of, your story ideas muddle together, and your brain in the end is working on every story idea you have, wearing it out and making it very difficult to even think, much less focus on one thing. Staying on one story at a time is healthier and altogether easier for your brain and imagination.

One Step At A Time

This is similar to staying on track, but in a miniature scale. Just as you can bounce between one story idea and another, you can also bounce between one scene and another. In the earliest stages of writing, such as when you are outlining and an idea for a scene pops into your head, writing it is no problem. It actually puts you into a more creative mood. However, once the outline is finished and you are to the point of actually writing steadily, bouncing between scenes is bad. It is more problematic if you have a complex story line, but either way, it creates a problem. Your brain becomes confused. You cannot remember precisely when things happened, what information the characters have in what scenes. Let’s say a character has no information about a particular problem in one chapter, learns the information in the next chapter, goes on with that information for the next few chapters, then does not need the information after the problem is resolved. If you write the scene where the character learns the information, then you skip back to when he did not know the information, then you skip to the chapters after the necessary problem is resolved, the character is in three completely different stages of mind. This will affect the way he responds. Bouncing is like mixing up the sentences in a paragraph. You can spend time un-mixing it, but wouldn’t it be better not to mix them at all? Not only that, but as a writer, you have a feel for your characters, depending on what stage they are in. Your writing follows a flow, gets into a natural pattern, from start, to middle, to finish. Bouncing around disrupts this natural flow and makes things difficult. I am not saying this way of writing is impossible, but it is certainly more confusing for your mind.

Persevere

This is a word almost everyone knows, and no one likes. Perseverance means pain and frustration without relief until it is all over. But it is the most important definition of focus. It does not matter how you feel, how much you wish you could go to another story, or how much you wish you could throw your current story in the garbage or the fire pit, after you vomit over it. It has to be finished. Perseverance is hard. It has no relief. It has nothing encouraging. At first glance. But the gift of perseverance is a strengthened mind and heart and spirit, another great experience that has pushed you to grow, after you have gone through the strife. Perseverance’s gift is growth. It is a little-sought-after gift, but well-worth it. Without perseverance, you would give up less than halfway on your story and never get to the end. Perseverance is important.

Tips For Focusing

Now that we have solidified the definition of focus, and why it is important as a writer, here are a few tips to keeping yourself focused.

Write As It Comes

It is easier to stay focused when you do not push yourself overmuch. Write as it comes to you. Now, this is not the same as only writing when your brain is overflowing with imagination and you feel good about it. Only writing when you feel good is an assurance for failure. There will be times when you have to write even though your imagination is failing you, but for everyday writing, write only as much as you can before your brain begins to feel heavy and fuzzy and your eyes are strained from staring at the computer or your notebook.

Have A Goal

Even just a year ago I would have groaned at this. I have never liked goals, and I have hardly ever been able to actually achieve a goal. But recently I discovered something about goals that is very important to be aware of. Goals are not made to achieve. They are made to get you further along than you would have been without them. Making a goal keeps you focused, gives you more determination. If you set a goal for 50,000 words in a month’s time, and you only write 30,000, you have gotten somewhere. Do you think you would have written that same amount of words in that same time if you had not had that goal?

Seek For Encouragement/Advice

It might seem a little strange, perhaps wrong, even, to seek for encouragement when you have difficulty focusing. Would it not be better to wait for it to come to you? If you are struggling to focus, waiting for someone to see that you are discouraged is not a good idea. Searching for encouragement from family, friends, a writing group (if you are involved in one), etc., is an acceptable option, especially if other things are not working. Simply saying “I am having trouble writing, and I need some encouragement.” is perfectly fine, and people you trust will be glad to give it to you. It is the same with advice. Giving the person information of your difficulties and asking what they think would help can be a great asset to you.

Take A Break

This might seem counterintuitive. You can focus better by taking a break? Well, not taking a break all the time, that simply slows you down, but if your mind is worn out, taking a break will be better and more effective than forcing your mind to spit out words and sentences and scenes when it is simply unable to.

Conclusion

Focusing is difficult. But it is not impossible, and the rewards in the end are worth the effort. Setting goals, seeking for advice, and even taking occasional breaks can all help you focus on one story and finish it, and finally have it published!