What’s the best motivation to clean your house?
Answer: Give yourself a book deadline.
If you’re a writer, you likely laughed and groaned at the same time—because it’s true. As soon as you sit down to write, everything around you suddenly looks more exciting than wrestling with the words that represent a dream of your heart or the goal you’ve been chasing.
In the movie Up!, the exclamation “Squirrel!” became a one-word euphemism for what we used to call “shiny object syndrome.” For writers, squirrels pop up everywhere—no matter how determined we are not to get distracted.
What are your writing “squirrels”? For me, it’s new Netflix series. (Which is exactly why I have a rule: no starting a new show when I’m under contract.)
If your goal is to finish your writing project, it’s wise to have a plan for how to coach yourself through distractions. Today’s post will help you do just that—and I’ll even share one dramatic accountability strategy for those who need an extra push.
Why Writing Feels So Hard
Distraction is powerful! Unfortunately, our brains tend to resist hard work. When we hit a problem in our manuscript, our minds start scanning the environment for something easier or more rewarding, like browsing the internet, reorganizing a closet, or rewriting the same paragraph for the tenth time.
Distraction is costly. It delays us. What we really want is to move through distraction and toward completion. Here are five ways to steer yourself toward finishing your proposal or manuscript, including a drastic option at the end:
1. Get Curious About What You Were Doing Before You Lost Focus
I’ve found that distraction usually has two triggers: uncertainty or fear.
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You’re unclear about what to do or how to do it.
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You can’t see the path to success or the finish line.
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You’re afraid of making mistakes or failing.
REFLECTION: When you lose focus, ask yourself: Which of these might be true for me right now?
2. Set Up Short-Term Wins
Many writers have limited time, often squeezing writing in on weekends or late evenings. But setting overly ambitious goals can backfire—especially if it’s your first book or a topic that feels emotionally heavy.
Help your brain build confidence with a series of small wins. Start by setting micro-goals you can celebrate:
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Instead of aiming for three chapters per week, try 500 words per day.
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If that feels too big, start with 100 words per day.
Those small wins stack up over time, building confidence and momentum.
3. Give Yourself the Gift of the Present
Fear sets in when we start imagining the future. Pay attention to when you’re thinking, “I’ll never finish this,” or “Why did I think I could do this?” Those anxious thoughts create unnecessary pressure and chances are, you’ll pick up your phone and scroll social media to relieve the pressure.
Remember: anxiety isn’t always bad. It’s simply a signal that your body and mind are working. When you feel anxious while writing, pause and ask yourself: Am I thinking too far into the future?
If so, anchor yourself in the present moment. Tell yourself: “I will not try to predict the future. I can do the right thing right now—write my words. I am safe, and God is with me while I write.”
4. Co-Write with a Friend
Let me slip on my author hat for a moment. During the early days of the pandemic, I was under contract but struggling to focus amid all the chaos. My friend Susan offered to sit on a Zoom call with me while I wrote. Her quiet presence gave me both comfort and accountability. We did this a few times—and it helped me finish my manuscript on time.
You can do this too!
TRY THIS! Find an in-person or virtual writing buddy who can sit quietly nearby. They don’t even have to be a writer; their presence simply keeps you grounded and on task.
5. The “Nuclear” Option
If distraction often derails you and you have a crucial deadline, my friend Susan (now one of my fabulous Books & Such clients—her first book releases in July 2026!) has an unconventional but highly effective coaching method.
She instructs her clients to write an uncomfortably large check to a person or organization they don’t want to support. The check is dated for the day after the goal deadline and mailed to her.
If the client misses the deadline, Susan sends the check.
It’s a dramatic strategy—but she reports that nearly everyone who tries it meets their deadline. Turns out, sometimes a little “fear-based motivation” works wonders!
Every writer battles distraction—it’s part of the creative process. But with curiosity, structure, presence, and maybe well-timed accountability, you can train your brain to stay on track and finish strong.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What are your distraction triggers? What’s your go-to when you’re distracted? Tell us about how you coach yourself through it.
Books & Such ©2025
On February 10-12, 2026, our agency is hosting our next Books & Such Writer’s Intensive.
This isn’t a pre-recorded course or a massive conference where you get lost in the crowd. It’s three days of direct, hands-on feedback from our literary agents—personalized insight you can’t get anywhere else.
This will be a safe, encouraging space where you’ll be seen as an author—up close and personal:
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Your book ideas and dreams will be heard.
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Your questions about whether your book idea works will be answered.
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You’ll leave with a unique, agent-guided plan to propel you forward.