Welcome back to another blog hop, with #OpenBook. Here’s this week’s prompt.
Don’t forget to click the link to see what everyone else has to say on this week’s subject. It’s at the end of my post.
What is your favorite way to waste time? (be non-productive) Bird watching? Long walks? Does it help your writing?
An easy one this week. It’s not long walks, I use them to rehearse dialogue or work on plot points. People must wonder who this strange man is, wandering along the coast path muttering to himself, but I don’t really care. Being out in nature energises me. It clears my head.
As for other hobbies, I don’t play golf or go fishing. Nor do I own a boat. When I’m not writing, I prefer to spend time with my wife.
My biggest distraction, the thing that keeps me from writing a novel a month (🤣), is YouTube. At the moment, I’m hooked on music reaction videos.
For those who don’t know what they are, someone plays a song and comments on it. Usually an old song, one that I remember from my youth. It might sound like a weird kind of entertainment, but it’s fascinating to get people’s opinions on music that you might not expect them to have any interest in.
It’s good to find that the music of the past has stood the test of time and found a new audience. I find it strangely addictive and can spend hours following people’s journey of musical discovery, while re-evaluating my recollections.
In a way, it helps my writing because it quietens down the constant background noise for a while. While I’m watching, there are no voices in my head, whispering plots or ideas. I’ve found that giving my brain a break is a vital part of the process of creation.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to discover a new opinion of one of my favourite pieces of music.
What do you think about this week’s subject?
Let me know by leaving me a comment.
While you’re here, please click the InLinkz link to check out what my fellow writers have to say about this week’s topic.
I’ll be back with another post on Thursday, see you then. Meanwhile, have a great week.
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Stevie Turner
I don’t go on YouTube much, as for me it’s too distracting. I prefer long walks along country footpaths, where I can be alone and think my own thoughts.
Richard Dee
It’s far too addictive, I have to discipline myself. Although it is nice to use it to shut the thoughts up for a while. Walks are sacrosanct times for chatting to my characters.
P.J. MacLayne
I love music reactions, too. So often it reminds me of songs I used to love. But yes, youtube can be a terrible distraction.
Richard Dee
The longevity of the music that my father said would never last is quite amazing. As is the fact that new listeners still find it as fresh as we did, way back then.
Samantha Bryant
That’s a fun distraction. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Richard Dee
It certainly is, I have to be careful or I’m watching for hours.
Kelly Williams
I love YouTube & the Music reactions! I just saw a great one with a brother & sister duo reacting to Fleetwood Mac The Chain. They’ve done a react to the whole album Rumors, but I just caught this clip. Queen Stevie!!
Richard Dee
It’s just another fantastic rabbit hole to disappear down.