Distracted writer

Oh lucky day! Imagine this: you're a writer in the midst of creating a masterpiece. The Great LS29 Novel. A book of such tremendous import the whole of humanity is holding its breath in rapt anticipation. The critics have put away their sharp 4Hs away in favour of the 5Bs. They know it's going to be great. Why be mean to such a titan? Why waste vitriol on the architect of this new sensation?

You're writing hard. The words are flowing. The ideas are sticking onto paper like events adhere to the tracks of destiny. Nothing can stop you. You are ON A ROLL ---

You just need to get a cup of tea, then it's straight back to it. A bit thirsty, aren't we? And if there's a biscuit left in the tin, then that would go down well wouldn't it? A change of glasses from those needed for close work and down to the kitchen. Oh, one of the kids has had a bowl of cornflakes and the mess needs sorting.

Flakes are swept up. Actually, looking around, there are other bits on the floor. If sweeping up's going to be done, then the whole of the kitchen floor might as well be given a quick sweep. That wouldn't do any harm, surely? And while that's being done, then that pile of washing up could be done. Hey, while the kettle's boiling for the hot water, I could check my phone and see if there's a good podcast to listen to for when the water's done and the washing up's underway.

Half an hour later, The Great Novel isn't looking quite so great. It looks more like work, along the lines of the washing up. The good news is how the podcast was really interesting. There was a section on something it would be great to know more about. It'd be good to collect this nugget while the interest is there.

And so on and so forth.

Such is the nature of distraction. It's so slight; its origins so trivial and so prosaic. It's not a great big slice of brightly coloured cheesecake dancing before your eyeballs, impressing on you its tasty qualities. But before you know it, you've slid from your task and wasted countless minutes of your productive life on stuff you wish you hadn't. Cue recrimination and resetting of the necessary resolve to do better, or maybe not.

I'll be with you in minute, there's this wedge of lemon drizzle shimmying past ---