What’s one action you could take today that would make your work life easier?

Well…do we mean my 9-to-5 job? If so, the best way to make my work life easier there is to give me my own office space. I don’t need a lot – something with four walls and a lockable door. Let me turn on my music (or podcasts) and open mail in peace. That’s all. I’ve found that I am way more productive when I am pretty much left alone. Example: I opened about 700 pieces of mail and on that day, I responded if talked to (or at in some cases) and carried on conversations. The following day I was left alone, I opened about 1,100 pieces of mail. This wasn’t a one off. When I am left alone, I am more productive. It’s that simple.

Now, if were talking about my other job (The Unknown Writer) …surprisingly, there is little in the way of change as to what I need. I just need an office space with a lockable door that is at least a fifteen-minute drive from my house. Preferably a room on a high floor with a sturdy oak door.

While, yes – it is a dream of mine to work from home as an author, but there are so many distractions. Between the motorcycles, hot-rod wannabes and the drifting meth-aficionados there is little in the way of peace and quiet. I do listen to music while I write, but that’s just to keep me in the mood and to keep my mind focused on the words and not on what’s that strange sound (no, seriously – is that an opossum? Freaky little things!).

I also have people here that will traipse in and out – asking questions and favors while I’m working. Even when I’ve told them: Hey – I’m going to be getting writing done, so…I need privacy, it will be twenty minutes before someone comes in and asks for something to be looked up, or a question about what happened today. Things like that get under my skin because I must stop, answer the question and get back into the mindset. Sometimes it’s easy. Other times, it’s not and I lose another productive session. (not that I have a lot of those).

If I sound like I’m whining or bitching…well, I am. However, this is within my realm to change it. I either:

1. Hammer out a schedule where I can have solitude enough to write.
2. Become a mega-successful author and buy office space in downtown.

I would to like to get option b, but I might have to settle for a. I’ve had a lot of other distractions both here and elsewhere, and I have handled them with making small changes: buying a small laptop that is only for writing and certainly not video game playing. Getting the Hemingway cards so that if I can’t think of what to write, I fall back on those so I can get in the habit of blogging on a regular basis. I have to realize that there are some changes I can make (writing in the morning as it’s peaceful) and others that are impossible currently (stringing taut piano wire to behead the motorcycle riders who insist on zooming down the short block). This is going to be an exercise is stoic philosophy, but it will be fruitful in the end.

On a very different note, I watched Midsommer and thought it was a decent flick. Written and directed by the same guy who did Hereditary, the movie is a deep study in how a person deals with loss. I’ll put up my thoughts next time.

Well, thank you for letting me bend your digital ear. I’ll try to write something far more smart sounding for next time. Until then – to your right are some of my works, and the works of dear friends, so check them out. Also, consider buying me a cup of coffee with the Kofi app, or just throw money at me. I’m cool with that.

So long and have a good day.