How to Pay Attention and Get Things Done

Jay Darkmoore

In my career, I have written and published over one million words, in the form of novels, short stories, flash fiction, novellas and collections. My writing has spanned the genres of horror, dystopia, dark fantasy and crime thriller. Needless to say, I have learned that being able to focus and to get into the flow state is extremely important so I can truly get lost in my work.  

Whether that’s writing 100,000 words for a novel, or a blog post, or even a script for a video, it is paramount that you can get in the zone and focus on a single task for extended periods of time. (Don’t give me the BS that you have ADHD and can’t focus. I bet you can spend hours playing on the Xbox and not think twice about it).  

Whether you’re a writer, like me, or you’re working on a painting, a sculpture, a computer program or even schoolwork, being able to focus your attention is a game changer, and will send not only the quality of your work through the roof, but also your productivity and output. Basically, if you are not focusing, then you are playing the game on hard mode and you keep pausing your progress.

Below are a few of my own methods and equipment that I use to get into flow, focus, and get things done:

Smart Phone Time Out.

The first is often the most difficult, and that is the simple task of putting your phone away and out of sight. I know right? Does that thought fill you with dread? Anxiety? That you’re going to miss out? Well, put it this way – If you are constantly on social media for fear of missing out,, and not working on your projects, then you are guaranteeing that you are going to miss out.

Currently, as I am writing this, I have my phone turned on DO NOT DISTURB (with only emergency contact able to get through to contact me), and I have it inside the drawer in my desk, to remove all temptation completely.

Give yourself permission to unplug for half an hour and get to work.

Noise Cancelling Headphones.

These have been an absolute game changer for me. Before, I was either using no headphones, and I was at the mercy of all the noises and sounds that may filter into my world, or I was using normal headphones, which meant I could basically still hear everything around me, be it the doorbell, traffic, or the dog whining because the neighbour’s cat has walked past the window.

Distractions were everywhere, but these amazing headphones have allowed me to shut the world out and be able to get lost in my own world for just a little while. The best part is that you can pick up a pair from Amazon for the price of a take-out.

Using the ‘Right’ Kind of Noise.

As well as the noise cancelling headphones, I have another step to shutting the world out, which sounds very counterproductive. Noise. But in particular, White Noise. Static. Emptiness, playing in your ears. A form of loud silence.

Now this is just me. Some people like music. Some like a melody of some kind, but I prefer white noise. After a while, you don’t hear it. There are no breaks. No change in tempo designed to get your heart rate going or to pull your attention towards it. White noise is simply that. Nothing. And when you’re trying to focus and remove distractions, then nothing is exactly what you want.

A To-Do List.

I love a To-Do list. I love a list that I write out before my writing or creation sitting, and I love crossing my tasks off one by one. That way, not only does it feel great to see how much you have gotten done, but you also have tangible evidence that your time focusing and working on the project is moving forward.

Regular Breaks.

Now I am not superhuman. I love scrolling through Instagram mindlessly as much as the next person, so when I am on a focus session, I set twenty minute timers, and I work through that timer and then give myself a five minute break where I get up from the desk, make a coffee, check my phone, and then when the next twenty minutes kicks in, I put the phone back into jail, and get back to it.

Now, some of you may want less than twenty minutes, some may want more. Sometimes the time goes off and I am in such a deep flow state that I want to stay there for as long as possible. It is a magical place that I feel so happy in, and I don’t want to pull myself away from. So, the timer is optional. I find it helps with focus, but each to their own. Just be careful that that five-minute break doesn’t become a ten or fifteen minutes, and you find yourself doom scrolling instead of doing the work.

Time Away from the Desk

Running

This is vitally important. What do you do to relax when you’re not at the desk and working? How do you unwind?

Time away from the desk is just as important as time at the desk. I like to go for a run, to the gym and go walking. It clears my mind, and then when I sit back down to my latest project, it means that I have a clear head and I am able to get cracking back on with it.

Habit Creation

The best way to get into flow and focus, is to do it often. Do you like working in the mornings or in the evenings? Just thirty minutes a day that are spent focusing and building and creating something that you love, rather than staring at the TV or at social media.

Focus is like a habit. The more you do it, the better you get at doing it. The better you get at doing it, the more productive and happy you will be that your project is moving along.

It’s that simple.

So, go. Focus, and craft your own heaven.

Jay Darkmoore is an independently published author of gritty crime fiction and horror. His ‘Detective Laura Warburton,’ crime series has hit the Amazon best seller list, and he has a background in crime and investigation to give his book a real and authentic feel.

He lives in the North-West of England with his partner Laura, his son Joe and his springer spaniel Miles, who is his biggest distraction.

You can follow Jay Darkmoore on social media @Jay_Darkmoore_Author, and can join his newsletter for free by clicking here.

Interview With Keith C Blackmore

Jay Darkmoore

Keith C Blackmore is a Canadian author with a wide range of titles, from horror and dark fantasy to heroic fiction and post-apocalyptic stories. His following has grown enormously over his career and has recently signed a deal with Podium Publishing to bring his incredible stories to live through audio, which is exactly how I found him.

His acclaimed zombie apocalyptical series ‘Mountain Man,’ has captured not only my heart, but readers around the world, and has been opted for film *fangirl scream*.

Keith is not only an incredibly talented writer, whose stories are not only both terrifying, thrilling and laced with hilarious dark humour and dialogue, but a brilliant and approachable guy, who stands above other authors with his personality, and his willingness to interact with those that follow him.

Although a prolific and very successful author, Kieth likes to keep to the shadows, and doesn’t like to be in the limelight.

As a testament to Keith’s willingness to engage with his readers, he has very kindly taken the time to complete a list of questions that I have been burning to ask him for longer than I would like to admit.

Mountain Man - Book One - By Keith C Blackmore

Keith C Blackmore is a Canadian author with a wide range of titles, from horror and dark fantasy to heroic fiction and post-apocalyptic stories. His following has grown enormously over his career and has recently signed a deal with Podium Publishing to bring his incredible stories to live through audio, which is exactly how I found him.

His acclaimed zombie apocalyptical series ‘Mountain Man,’ has captured not only my heart, but readers around the world, and has been opted for film *fangirl scream*.

Keith is not only a greatly talented writer, whose stories are not only both terrifying, thrilling and laced with hilarious dark humour and dialogue, but a brilliant and approachable guy, who stands above other authors with his personality, and his willingness to interact with those that follow him.

Although a prolific and very successful author, Kieth likes to keep to the shadows, and doesn’t like to be in the limelight.

As a testament to Keith’s willingness to engage with his readers, he has very kindly taken the time to complete a list of questions that I have been burning to ask him for longer than I would like to admit.

JD - Hi Keith, Thank you so much for agreeing to do this 😊 I have only a few questions and I would love to know your answers!

KCB - No sweat, but I hate it already :) (I hate interviews)

Questions -

JD - What did you want to be when you were growing up?

KCB - A movie director.

JD - How did you get into writing, and how did you decided that you wanted to do it as a career?

KCB - When my guidance counsellor tried to hide his smile when said I wanted to be a movie director, I thought “Maybe I should adjust my career goals accordingly…” so…. I thought about writing….

JD - Do you prefer reading a series, or stand-alone novels?

KCB - Both are fine, but I prefer series that are finished. I can binge that way.

JD – When it comes to writing, do you prefer a series or a stand alone?  

KCB - Both are fine, but I think lean towards short series and not long ones.

JD - Kindle, paperback, hardback or audio?

KCB - Kindle, then paperback, if it’s cheap. Hardback is optional. I’m not into audio at all, but I understand the appeal.

JD - How do you see the publishing world changing in the next few years?

KCB - I think audio is booming, but other than that, I don’t see any new formats coming forth. There might be a model in there for writers to write on their sites, and have readers pay what they think is worth either before, during, or at the end. With a minimum dollar amount needed… but it would take a lot of effort on the writer’s part, as well as implementing a system—a third party pay site, I would suspect—to pay the writer for his/her efforts. Probably out there already…?

JD - Who is your inspiration for your work?

KCB - No one at the time of answering this question. I do it because I like it… and thankfully, people like to read/listen to my stories. For now. I figure I’m two bad books away from washing dishes at the local hotel.

JD - In the story ‘The missing Boatman,’ we see personifications of Death, Pain and other emotions and entities. It also raises the question of the importance of Death in the world. What make you come up with that idea? Are you religious?

KCB - Yep, I’m religious. Not overly so, but enough. As for the idea, it’s nothing new. I thought it was original  (ie what if people stopped dying, all at once. How long would it take for people to realize it? What would be the implications? ). However, since putting it out there (and even while it was being published ) I’ve seen four or five tv/movies with the same concept. There’s a back story there as well. I remember, back in the day when I was still submitting, I sent a copy of the manuscript to a literary agent in LA. Never hear a word back from the agent, but a year or so later, I see a tv show and a movie with the same premise. No doubt a coincidence… but still, disappointing.  Like thinking you’re the only kid on the street with a shiny new bike, and the day you roll it out to show the world, another kid rides by on the exact same bike….

JD - What do you think happens when we die?

KCB - I’m not exactly sure, but I know I’ll find out ….one day.

JD - Let’s talk about your career. You have a varied taste in books that you have created, from horror, to heroic fantasy. Why the expansive taste, and what is next for you?

KCB - Grew up reading Science fiction, fantasy, and heroic fantasy,  gradually went into horror, and later on crime fiction… Started reading westerns as my grandfather read them lots. A regular fiction story if something catches my eye. Had a military fiction kick when Tom Clancy was doing them. Later on got into Haruki Murakami (he’s very surreal). It’s good to take a look at different genres, just to see how folks do things. That’s pretty much it. I try and write stories I’d like to read. Sometimes it works, sometimes not….

And next story will be a return to heroic fantasy, or, as I’ve learned, my stuff is more grimdark…

JD - What do you enjoy about writing in specific genres?

KCB - Depends on the genre. Horror fiction I can play with the language a lot more than, say, fantasy.  Never really thought about why I like writing those genres. I’m sure there’s a reason in there somewhere….

JD - Your dialogue and descriptions are both chilling, hilarious and very tongue in cheek at times. How do you come up with them, and how do you choose the dialogue for your characters?

KCB - Everywhere and nowhere. Listening to people talk in the shops, at the bars, anywhere. Even just talking with a friend, some expressions might come up in the spur of the moment that are pure creative lightning…. And when that happens, be sure to have a pen and paper nearby, to write them down and save them for later. Always have a notepad with you….

And, regarding dialogue, this is weird, but I think if you allow your characters to live and breathe and interact,  if you give them something of a personality, and you do it right, they will provide the dialogue themselves. You’ll discover their voices. If that happens, let them talk….  the problem then becomes… knowing when to shut the conversation down.

JD - What do you do when you’re not writing?

KCB - Housework. Running errands. Cooking. Playing PC games. Watching TV or movies. Reading (which I need to be doing more of). Exercising. I like putting together 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Sleeping….

JD - What is your favourite line / quote from your books?

KCB - From one of mine? Oh, I don’t know. Can’t think of any….

JD - Do you have any odd writing habits / rituals? 

KCB - Don’t think so….but I’m not that self-aware of my own habits… when writing that is. I do use a timer, to keep track of 20 minute sprints… I write for 20 minutes and then, when the alarm goes off, I’ll get up and move around for about 5 minutes or so. Got that from Chris Fox’s “5000 Words Per Hour”. Great book if you’re looking on ways to increase your productivity.

JD - Do you plot? Pants? Or somewhere in the middle?

KCB - I do have a mental checklist of story points I want to get to, and work towards them, so that is, in essence, plotting, I guess. To a degree.  I do not do any extensive plotting. I usually know what direction I want the story to go, certain points/beats I want to reach, but if a character does something I don’t expect, I’ll let it flow. See where it ends up.

So, somewhere in the middle, I guess.

JD - What goes through your mind when you sit down to a blank page with a word count showing zero?

KCB - The opening scene, and how to best present it, along with any dialogue that might happen. There is no magic. Not really. You sit down and you work at it, and hopefully, it will be fun and flow.  And maybe even crackle a little. In the final stages, the polishing, I’ll go back and read, and if a line comes off blah, I’ll try and infuse some colour in there. Try and get creative. Try… sometimes, that is. Sometimes I’ll leave a plain line as it. There is a danger of becoming too colourful, so striking a balance is important, too.

JD - Do you struggle with writer’s block?

KCB - Yes, at times I do.  I’ll write myself into knots every now and again and it will take some time to get out of them. If that happens, it’s usually because I’ve lost the thread of the story, and a quick read through of everything that has happened before usually unblocks everything.

JD - You can only save one – Pizza or Alcohol. Which do you choose?

KCB - Rough one. They do go so well together. Pizza.

JD - What is your favourite scene that you have written?

KCB - Ah, can’t think of any right now. They are all my babies, but I think the writing is improving with each new book. Better wording, being less wordy, less repetition, etc.

JD - What is your writing process like? What challenges do you face when creating?

KCB - Pretty straightforward. Sit butt in chair and try for at least 2000 words a day. Between 2K and 3K is good. Anything about 4K is great. Some days it happens, and some days… it does not.  The biggest challenge is being just sitting down and consistent, which I have to improve upon. I want to produce more, however, in a day. Upwards of 5k. Even 6 or 7….

JD - What advice do you have writers that are either considering starting writing, or are at the start of their careers?

KCB - Do it, but don’t give up the day job. I will save you that bit of stress. Do not do as I did. Keep your day job and write in the evenings, on weekends, or whenever you can, but be consistent. Sit yourself down and write. Be consistent with your word counts, whatever they may be for the time you give yourself. Make no mistake, it’s work…. It’s a lot of fun, but, yeah, it’s still work. Especially when you get into the editing and polishing….and don’t skimp on that either. Hire a fresh set of eyes, preferably one with a proven track record, to look at your work when it’s time to edit.

And remember, it’s still a good time to be a writer.

There’s a lot more, so much more, but that might be the biggest, most important piece of advice. Nothing else matters if you don’t sit down and write.

JD - To you, what is more important – Plot or characters?

KCB - Characters.

JD - Anything else you would like to add for the reader to enjoy? A favourite quote? Something about yourself? Some words of wisdom?  

KCB - We’re all different, so don’t take everything I’ve said too seriously. If you write, the biggest challenge will be to sit down and actually write. If you can make that part of your day, consistently, you will do well.

If you want to check out some of Keith’s work, here is the link to his website.

Thanks for checking in!

Be sure to join out newsletter so you never miss out on author interviews, as well as getting a free sample of my own work!

Learning To Focus Will Change Your Life.

Learning To Focus Will Change Your Life

If you are going to struggle to finish reading this article, then you really need to finish reading this article. This is exactly the problem right now with modern culture. We find it so hard to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes without checking our mobile phone or our social media feed.  

How many times have you sat down with your partner to watch a movie or Netflix, and spent most of the time just scrolling through social media? Wondering where the hell the last 30 minutes of your life has gone?

How many times have you been out with friends and family, and there is that one person who is glued to their phones all night, and you’re sat wondering why they even bothered to come out for the evening?

We have a problem with attention in society, and its only getting worse.

ADHD is through the roof. Anxiety is on the rise, particularly int eh younger generation. Kids can’t concentrate in school. Teenagers are finding it difficult to revise for their exams. The issue goes on and on.

I did a poll on my social media the other day asking the question if you could go a whole 24 hours without the internet and your mobile phone. The overwhelming majority of people said that they couldn’t. When asked the reasons why, the common answers were – What if I miss something? What if someone needs to get a hold of me? What if there is an emergency?

Translated to – it will cause me anxiety.

So, here’s where the rubber meets the road: Our phone doesn’t cure our anxiety. It gives us anxiety. Or rather, social media gives us anxiety. Social media is designed to keep you on the platform, and keep returning to the platform as long, and as often as possible. It’s how they make money. Someone once said that “If the product is free, the YOU are the product.” This is why there is no barrier to entry with social media. It is free, because we pay with our attention so they can farm our data, and serve adverts to us.

The difficulty we face, is that even if we are not on our phones and social media, we are constantly getting little notifications trying to hook us back in. Just a quick check, and then before we know it twenty minutes has passed, and he have been staring at a screen instead of viewing and living in the real world.

I have had several creatives come to me recently and ask how I am so productive. Now, I am not one for hating on social media. It’s a tool. It’s here to stay, and it’s a tool that I use a lot for community, networking and promoting my books and my works. I enjoy it, and I find it engaging. But I manage my time on it, especially when it is time to work.  

When we have a lot to do, it is not lack of time that is the issue, but instead, a lack of focus. Do you understand how much you can get done in one half an hour of serious, focused effort?

So, here’s what I do when I want to make sure that I get a list of things done that I need to get done that day.

The first step is I turn my phone on DO NOT DISTURB mode.

Second, is I put my phone at the other side of the room, or in a drawer where I can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind.

The next thing I do is I remove distractions. I have noise cancelling headphones and I play music, or white noise.

Then, I load up my current project, or whatever I am working on, and I set myself a timer for thirty minutes. While that timer is on, I don’t leave the desk, and I work. I get into flow, and I find myself crossing so much off my list. Then, when the thirty minutes is up, I allow myself a five-minute break to get up. Walk around. Make a coffee. Whatever. Then, when the fiver minutes is up, I work for another thirty minutes. Rinse. Repeat.

You will be amazed the work you can do if you just focus. It takes time. It takes discipline, but it will change your life. I promise you.

-          J

Trigger Warnings Ruin Books, And This Is Why.

Jay Darkmoore

I’m browsing through the bookshelf. See a book I like the look of, flick through the first couple of pages and I am confronted with a page that says ‘Warning, this may contain content that is upsetting for some readers,’ followed by a long shopping list of things that may traumatise me.  

I immediately put that book down, and I don’t touch it again. I don’t being pandered to. I wouldn’t say I like that the writer thinks that I am so unable to handle my own emotions that they must warn me before I take a step into their world.

Dear writer – Do not pander to me. I am not a fucking child. I can handle my own emotions.

But there are more reasons why trigger warnings ruin books than simply the writer feeling that they need to hold my hand and carefully guide me through the pages, just in case I get a little bit sad at the squiggly lines –

1 – The Word ‘Triggered’ Is NOT The Same As Being Upset.

The word triggered comes from psychology. It means to be triggered into a PTSD emotional flashback, to the point where something – an event, like combat and war – happened, and you are transported back to that situation and how you felt at the time. It means that your body reacts and your hormones spike. It means that you begin to shake, to run, to fight. You lose control of yourself because the stimulus has ‘triggered’ significant trauma. It hasn’t just upset or offended you. Being offended is a choice. Remember that. You CHOOSE to be offended and you CHOOSE to be angry.

You do not choose to be triggered. Stop saying being angry is the same as being triggered. They are worlds apart, and it’s very, very disrespectful to actual sufferers of PTSD and trauma to say you got triggered because you read about a bad thing happening that made you feel sad.  

2 – Your Feelings Aren’t My Responsibility

When I write a book, I write the best thing for the story and the characters. Honestly? The reader comes second. The artwork comes first. I write stories that I want to read, and through that I attract likeminded readers. Readers who will then follow me and my work and become true lasting, loyal fans.

If someone reads my work and they do not like it, then fine. I’m not the writer for them. But I couldn’t possibly pander to every possible reader’s wants and needs. It would be impossible. Not to mention that I wouldn’t be being my authentic self. The self that has made my books be downloaded and purchased thousands and thousands of times.

I tell the story that best fits the narrative and the situation for the best book possible. If I started censoring myself, thinking how would this be viewed or perceived, then that wouldn’t be the best result for the book, would it? I would be cheating the art to appeal to a small minority of people, instead of writing the book I wanted to write and giving an authentic experience. If a reader needs a trigger warning, then they probably won’t enjoy my books anyway!

If you read something in a book that is upsetting, and then get angry at the writer for not warning you that such things were going to be in the book, then that sounds like your problem. If two people read the same text, and one gets upset by it, and the other doesn’t, isn’t it the reader that is to blame? Isn’t that the problem of the reader not being able to handle their emotions, rather than the writer for writing it? It’s like getting upset over a joke a comedian makes. We focus in on what upsets us, and then we blame the person that delivered it to us. As the saying goes ‘don’t shoot the messenger.’ Your feelings are no one else’s responsibility to manage other than your own. Get your shit together.

3 – You’re Confusing Writing About The Bad Thing As The Bad Thing.

If I write a scene about a bad thing happening, someone might think I am condoning it or that that writing about it is exactly the same thing as the bad thing happening. This, frankly, is just fucking ridiculous.

4 – Your Trauma. Your Problem.

If you have trauma, then join the club. Everyone has trauma. Everyone suffers from mental health issues from tome to time. Everyone has something bad that has happened to them in the past. You aren’t special. Your trauma doesn’t make you unique. It makes you just like everyone else.

Therefore, your trauma and your mental health is your responsibility to manage. Not anyone else’s. If you can’t handle reading something that upsets you, then you need to sort that shit out.

The Real Story Behind ‘Left For Dead.’

5 – Life Doesn’t Come With Trigger Warnings

No body is going to warn you before they insult you, attack you or hurt you. No one is going to warn you before a car pulls out in front of you on the motorway. The weather isn’t going to warn you a week before there is an earthquake that destroys your home. So why should a damn book? Its ink on a piece of paper. It isn’t that scary...

6 – You’re Waiting For The Bad Thing to Happen, And It Ruins The Flow and Authenticity Of The Book.

If I am writing a book and I want something a little shocking or uncomfortable to read to help a scene be more impactful, it kind of loses that when I have already warned you about it.

Imagine your partner is going to propose and they set all the flowers, the lights, the music and the most amazing ring, but they showed you the ring first before doing it, just so you weren’t caught off guard (which would be exactly the point in the scenario), then it wouldn’t feel as immersive, would it? If someone warns you about something that happens in the book, it takes away the strong emotion which the writer wants you to have when reading it. It’s basically a spoiler.

Not to mention, you then spend the whole time reading just waiting for the bad thing to happen, meaning that you can’t lose yourself in the book you’re reading.

7 – You Don’t Know How Severe The Trigger Is Going to Be.

If I write a book and I tell you that it involved animal cruelty, then you might think of me gutting an animal and being cruel to it. I may just mean a character pushes a dog down a hill. Both mean things to do. One much more severe.

With a trigger warning, your mind goes to the worst-case scenario, meaning that your guard is then up.

8 – If The Genre Is Known For Upsetting Topics, And You Get Upset, Then You Were Already Warned.

I write thrillers and horror novels. My covers are dark and macabre. From the titles, the covers, and the genre alone, you should know that there is going to be some topics a little close to the bone. If you get blindsided and upset by something you read, then my friend, that’s on you.

8 – THEY DON’T WORK

Research suggests that trigger warning make anxiety to worse due to waiting for the bad thing to happen. You’re waiting to be upset, so you can’t get lost in the story.

So, in conclusion, I think we need to step away from this whole thing of books needing to be censored or the need to have sensitivity readers going over old books so they don’t offend someone. Do you want a safe space, or do you want to be transported to a new world and discover things you never knew possible? Do you want to live in a safe box filled with teddy bears and cotton wool, or do you to actually feel something when you read a book?

And remember. If you read something upsetting, you can always just skip that part, or hell, put the book down and get on with your life.

It’s been a pleasure. If you enjoyed this blog, then why not drop me an email.

jaydarkmoore@gmail.com

-          J

About the author -

Jay Darkmoore is a UK-based author with a background in crime and investigation. He is a huge fan of all things dark - exploring the macabre, demonic and darker aspects of the human psyche.

Jay likes putting his characters in terrible situations and then turning out all the lights. To date, he has self-published novels of horror, crime and dark fantasy dystopia. His inspirations are Stephen King, Keith C Blackmore and Nick Cutter.

When not at his desk, Jay spends his free time making YouTube videos to help writers in their craft, promoting other books he has enjoyed, as well as hitting the gym and taking wild cold plunges with ducks.

He is a single parent to his son Joe who is his biggest fan.