As a creative writing major, I find myself spending a large chunk of my free time writing for one reason or another. This probably doesn't come out as a surprise. That being said, there are lots of things that get in the way of a lot of my writing (outside of required assignments) from being completed. I feel like lots of these distractions are universal enough to make a relatable list.
1. Writer's Block
First, I'll start with the obvious one. No matter how much you want to write, or how much you try to write, you can't seem to get anything with substance on the page. Any ideas you have, if you're able to create one, falls flat. Writer's Block is a vicious cycle that can be never ending.
2. Procrastination
Yeah, this one is a very real writer struggle. There are times I have a great idea for writing, but then I put it off. Whether it's for my own personal work, or for a class, I usually find myself cramming large projects into smaller time spans than I should. It's possible this tendency stems from not wanting to write something until the time feels right, but it's still procrastination.
3. A Busy Schedule
Often times I find myself putting off personal projects due to work and school. A lot of this involves me writing papers and stories for school instead. There's also the time I spend doing other things that don't involve writing, such as going to work or spending time with friends and family. I know, excuses, excuses.
4. The Internet
This distraction is one of the key distractions in my life. I use my laptop for most of my writing, but with that comes the responsibility of focusing. It's way too easy to open up the internet and watch videos on YouTube or goof around on Twitter/Facebook. It's hard to push time-wasters such as these aside.
5. Editing
When it comes to my personal writing, one of the things that keep me from doing more writing is editing. It can be hard to revisit something after it's already down on the page, especially if you're already experiencing the other writing struggles listed above. Then due to this, there's only so much you can do to continue working on a bigger project without editing the parts you've already written. I find that once I finally sit down and force myself to do some work it's a lot easier to keep going.
