Writing Interrupted: Getting Back On Track
You’re in the groove. Words fly out of your fingertips as you work your magic on the keyboard. Heck, even the best grammar software can’t turn out prose this tight. Suddenly, you’re interrupted by a call. It lasts a good hour. You sit back down and stare blankly – your flow was disrupted and now it’s gone.
What do you do to get back your lost momentum? Here are a few suggestions.
Put down a quick reminder of what you’re about to write before answering the call. That way, you can check the note later when you sit back down. Hopefully, it drives you back to the idea that you had earlier.
Stop writing mid-sentence. Instead of finishing the sentence you’re on before picking up the phone, intentionally leave it hanging. That gives you something to return to immediately, one that is likely to propel you back into the right mood.
Review what you’ve written so far. Sometimes, the best way to get back in that productive space is to allow what’s been put on paper already to ease you in. Read it aloud and resist the temptation to edit anything (don’t even think about running that grammar checker). Revising will only sour your momentum even further.
Write a different section. If you’re midway through the writing, try working on the conclusion now. You might need to build up your momentum from scratch and the best way to do that is to start fresh.