Distracted Writer's Remedy: WriteRoom

Inventory your screen's real estate right now.  Do you see some or all of the following displayed?

    * applications icons
    * date/time display
    * connectivity options
    * laptop battery life indicator
    * command menu for your internet browser

We all know how easy it is to take part in "digital fidgeting."  Given the varied colors and manifold-portals-to-elsewhere that edge our writing space, it's not difficult to understand why it can be very challenging to focus when we're writing at the computer?

The Distracted Writer's Remedy #2

Enter WriteRoom for Mac.

After I installed WriteRoom the other day, I was greeted by an inky black screen and a blocky, blinking green cursor.  The silver edges lining the screen of my G4 laptop never gleamed so beautifully.  It's weird, but when I looked at my screen, I felt suffused by peace, tranquility.  It was a magical, quiet moment.

I could think.

Wow.  I could write!

WriteRoom bills itself as a "distraction free writing environment."  I was curious but skeptical when I tried it.  But after typing just a few paragraphs, I realize that for me, visuals matter.  And by "blacking out" peripheral status bars, icons and updates, I can concentrate more easily on what I'm writing.  This "distraction free writing environment" is for me.

Try It.

Take a minute to download a trial version of WriteRoom and try it for yourself.  (PC users: you will want to check out WriteRoom's imitator, DarkRoom, instead.)

If you decide to buy it, WriteRoom's software's developer, Jesse Grosjean, has extended a generous offer to The Relaxed Writer readers.

To save 20%:

• enter discount code "therelaxedwriter" at checkout
• pay only $19.95
• offer expires April 19, 2009

More Resources

I'm always on the prowl for interesting resources for my clients and blog readers.  If you haven't bookmarked my website's "Resources" page, you might want to do so now.   I update it regularly with interesting links and tools for writers, and welcome your suggestions for items to include!

Comments

[jax]

what a very cool tip, Marla. Thanks!