The Interruption

Happy Friday! The end of the week, finally. The end...something we all strive to reach. The end of a race, the work week, a story. Recently, I’ve been trying to finish the end of my current work-in-progress around a lot of distractions.

A high school graduation, small children, new releases from other authors I’ve been dying to read... and the worst of the lot, a helpful husband. Yep, of all my distractions, the husband seems to be most brutal. Why? Because he peeks in to “see if I can help” always at a critical moment in my manuscript. It’s almost eerie how his timing is so spot on. The other night I was right in the middle of a steamy scene, typing away madly in the privacy and solitude of the study.

The door suddenly shot open. “Hi honey. Need anything?”

BAM. Concentration shot all to hell, not to mention he scared the crap out of me. Now a nicer person would have thanked him for his thoughtfulness and waited for him to leave. I’m not that nice.

“Jake, would you please not interrupt while I’m working? I was just in the middle of a scene--” I hastily minimized my screen. I hate when anyone sees a WIP, not to mention a hot m/m sex scene. Since this was the third time that night he’d interrupted, I freaked on him a little more.

I’ve had the talk with the family before about my writing time, and needless to say, I had it again with Mr. Helpful Husband. (I think, subconsciously, he wants attention. But I’m no shrink, so who knows?) With small children still in the house and school out—I hate summer-- I now write during nap times or late at night. Since I have to wait for everyone else , I take my precious quiet time seriously.

I’ve heard of other writers who suffer similar problems. Friends and family who think writing isn’t a job and expect favors and chores when the writer’s trying to write. For the most part, my family IS supportive. And once I chastised my poor husband, he slunk away and left me alone. No doubt mumbling under his breath the whole time.

I’ve always wondered about that writer that can create while kids are screaming around her/him or in the middle of a Starbucks. I need quiet and solitude. I don’t like music or television as background noise. Just me and my muse hitting the keyboard. So when I’m on a roll, an interruption can really throw me off. Thankfully, I pressed on and am nearly done the story.

Now, before I start my writing time, I let everyone know not to bother me unless they’re bleeding or nearly dead: i.e. EMERGENCY ONLY. Once all are in accord, I set to work.

In retrospect it’s funny, but at the time of that last interruption, I was pretty ticked. Once I took the time to calm down and explain my writing processes to my husband, he grudgingly conceded to give the study a wide berth when I'm typing.

Whether writing, reading or doing something that requires concentration, at one point or another we all crave that special time by ourselves. I’m curious, what’s your big interrupter, and how do you deal with it?

Have a great--uninterrupted--weekend.

Marie
www.marieharte.com