Are you too distracted to write?

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This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help other writers. Does your cellphone stop you from writing? Today I discuss a blog post exploring that question…

Does your cellphone stop you from writing? A company in New York City believes that the answer to that question is, ‘hell yes!’

Known as ‘Caveday,’ the company hosts several weekly $25 sessions for anyone who wants to gather and get work done, distraction free. I love their babysitting arrangement for cellphones (see photo, above.)  The plastic and fabric “phone holder” reminds me a shoe rack my daughter has hanging on the back of her closest door!

Caveday co-founder Jeremy Redleaf says that technology is conspiring to get all of our attention. “We teach people that they have to fight back.” Co-founder Jake Kahana agrees. “The more important work is, the more we get distracted,” he says.

In the video attached to a BBC story on the group, you can see how participants enjoy the chance to focus, get benefits from the stretch breaks and high-five each other when the work session is complete.

“It was an interesting process because I kept trying to reach for my phone,” said one participant. “It reminded me of how addicted I am.”

But if a phone addiction is de-railing your writing, you don’t need to find a cave. Give your phone to someone else! Lock it in a drawer. Or put it in another room entirely.

An earlier version of this post first appeared on my blog on Aug. 19/19.

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