Stephen King changed how I handle interruptions

Yesterday, I wrote about balancing creating work with a business.

Building on that theme, today I’ll cover managing real-world intrusions.

Respondents to last week’s survey said they struggle with finding time to write or create content because of, you know, life.

I’ve been working from home since 2015. I’ve three kids, aged 7–19 (okay, arguably that’s two kids and one adult!).

For a few years, I found real-world intrusions stressful, such as our youngest coming into the office looking for help with his Lego set.

Say hello to a life interruption!

Then, Stephen King saved my sanity and my hairline, with one sentence from his book On Writing:

So, I started writing down a line or two about these intrusions in a journal app on my phone (Day One). Often, my entry was just a single sentence or a snippet or dialogue.

That was far more valuable than doomscrolling X or the news on my phone. When I’d more time at night, I turned these fragments into 300 or 400-word vignettes. Later, I started getting up early to expand these vignettes into chapters.

They ultimately became my book, I Can’t Believe I’m a Dad!.

Beyond the book, this approach eliminated writer’s block for me— how can I run out of material when daily life provides endless ideas for things to write about?

Readers and followers crave authenticity, and that comes easily if you write or create content about daily life and or what’s happening in your business.

No matter your family circumstances, expect to be interrupted! 99% of us don’t have the time or resources to disappear into a cabin in the woods.

My extended family, for example, lives nearby and regularly call in during the day.

When the house is busy, I work with noise-cancelling headphones and listen to an ambient music playlist on Spotify.

If it’s critical, I’ll let my wife know and lock the office door. Or I’ll take my laptop to the local coffee shop. The reality is, I only need 30–90 minutes of deep work to accomplish something.

And if that doesn’t happen? Well, life is presenting me with a seed for a future creative project or an angle for an interesting piece of content. It’s my job to pay attention now.. and create later.

I’m considering creating a 30-day challenge specifically for creators who want help becoming more consistent and prolific… no matter their circumstances.

If you’re interested in joining, reply with the word “SYSTEM”