The Life of the Solitary Writer

For the last few days I've been working at home on some XNA stuff. The idea was that I'd get a lot done by shutting myself away with no distractions. Apparently J.K. Rowling managed to finish writing the last Harry Potter novel by locking herself in a hotel room with a word processor and not coming out until it was finished. I can't afford a hotel, so I'm all alone at home trying to do something similar.

It did not go too well to be honest. It is unbelievable the number of different things that you suddenly find to do when you have to do some writing. Particularly at home, where there is always something to tidy up, put into alphabetical order, move to a different position, or eat.

I actually enjoy the creative process once I get started. I don't think that it is writer's block that I suffer from, more like a torrent of different ideas, each of which has to be kicked in our out of the project and then shuffled into its proper place. And I can tell when I'm near finishing, as I have a strong urge to take the whole thing to bits and start again. I also start to question the very tenets on which the whole thing is based.

I think on that basis I'm just about done....

Comments

[Andy Hollyhead]

I suffer from exactly the same thing - I set myself a target for writing etc., but always fall short leaving to a feeling of dissatisfaction, regardless of how much I've actually done.

I work better in hotels for overnight stays - maybe it's the forced lack of distractions which help?

[JDog]

I am also the same, but when I start University in Spetember i'll have to get all of my projects finished. It'll be daunting since I have no ideas at all. Anything I come up with won't be original sadly. Atleast I can code, eh ? Sadly however, not in C# as its really tricky getting used to such an obscure syntax system.

Also Rob, one of these days when wandering around the University, don't be surprised when a ghoulish figure (myself) approaches you only to reveal that his internet namesake is infact the individual standing before you...

[Arthur Embleton]

You're not the only one. I've got loads of project ideas that I want to get to work on, but I often lack the focus to do it and find something else more important. But, once I've got started on a project I can code for hours on end late into the night. It's just a case of finding that initial motivation.

I guess that's life.