When I turned off my wifi today, a shiver ran through my body. It was as if I’d cut a cable connecting my laptop to my brain stem. It felt good. My breath was a bit lighter. I could focus on the story I was writing. It’s not the first time I’ve felt this. It happens more often than not. I struggle like hell to unplug. When I manage to do it, it’s usually out of desperation.
Deep thought is essential for writing well, and I don’t need a scientific paper to know the internet is the enemy of deep thought. To write works of fiction, we must hold many threads at once - narrative drive, character arcs, theme, tone and a bunch more. As much as possible, writers must push aside our ‘real’ lives to focus on the intangible worlds we’re creating. Part of the joy of writing is a disappearing act; we get to disappear into the imagination and subconscious. At its best, writing is a meditative state, and I’ve yet to hear of a mediation practice that includes reading about cosmic latte on Wikipedia or scrolling reels of dogs with cats in their mouths.
When I consult with clients or teach screenwriting or serial writing at NYU’s Tisch Department of Dramatic Writing or Pratt Institute’s Film/Video Department, I urge (beg, insist…) people to turn off their internet and hide their phones when they settle down to write. I want clients and students to cut ties with this reality to immerse themselves in the reality of the story they’re writing. To be honest, if you’re not willing to do this occasionally I don’t have much confidence in your writing life. Sorry if that hurts.
Our deep intimate relationship with technology shouldn’t surprise anyone. We bring our phones, ipads and computers into the most private and cherished spaces. From churches to bathroom stalls to bedrooms. We play games and listen to music with them, FaceTime loved ones on them, watch films with them and exchange racy photos with them. Needless to say, we’re intimately connected to our technology. But we need time away from even our most beloved friends and lovers.
If you’re engaged in a creative endeavor - writing or otherwise - do yourself a favor and turn off your wifi and shut down your phone today. Then let me know if you felt it in your bones like I did. Let me know if you had a better writing session. Let me know if it felt good. And if it did, do it more.
And finally if you or someone you know needs help writing a story, you can get in touch about that too. If you’re not familiar with me or my work, please check out my what my collaborators, clients and colleagues have to say about me on my site. In this case, their words are more important than mine. I’ve been writing and teaching for a long time and have only recently hung a shingle as a story consultant working with writers, directors, producers, and storytellers of all kinds. This time and next time…
