Focus by Debra H. Goldstein

Focus
by Debra H. Goldstein

Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash

Focus. From a writer’s perspective, the word embraces a simple but necessary concept – concentrating on the task at hand. It sounds easy: pay attention and the idea will be conceived, executed, eventually published, and promoted. But, that’s not how the real world works. Life offers each of us major distractions. How we handle them and retain our focus determines if an individual will be a wannabe or an author. Have you had things or issues disrupt your focus?  How were you able to get back on track with your writing?

 

Judge, author, litigator, wife, step-mom, mother of twins, and civic volunteer, are all words used to describe me. My life and writings are equally diverse. I’m the author of Kensington Press’ Sarah Blair mystery series. Sarah, like me, is a cook of convenience who might be scorched if she gets too close to a kitchen. One Taste Too Many, published in January 2019, was picked as a Woman’s World Book of the Week. The next three books, Two Bites Too ManyThree Treats Too Many, and Four Cuts Too Many were each named as Silver Falchion finalists. The fifth book in the series, Five Belles Too Many, released on June 28, 2022.

I am an active civic volunteer in Birmingham, Alabama and have served on the national boards of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, as well as being past president of the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and Sister’s in Crime’s largest chapter, The Guppies.

5 replies
  1. Kathryn Lane
    Kathryn Lane says:

    Debra, I’ve always known what a busy life you lead, and you are an example for all of us! What about the short stories you write? I’ve always enjoyed them.

  2. Saralyn
    Saralyn says:

    Real life always hovers, threatening to disrupt an author’s focus, but I’ve learned how to slip into the zone of the book to the exclusion of everything else–even Covid!

  3. Gay Yellen
    Gay Yellen says:

    Debra, you’ve hit on the number one issue for so many of us. When real life gets in the way, focus on writing gets side-tracked. Finding it again feels like such a blessing!

  4. Lynn McPherson
    Lynn McPherson says:

    Focus is often a challenge. What helped me get back on track was to take my laptop to the library. My best focus time is there. No distractions for a few hours at a time makes a world of difference.

  5. Lois Winston
    Lois Winston says:

    Focus is different for each of us. I have multi-published friends who can only write with the TV blaring in the background. JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter in a busy coffee shop. Me? I need quiet. I don’t even want background music. All that aside, though, with everything you do, Debra, I’m convinced you’ve secretly discovered the formula for cloning yourself. Any chance you wouldn’t mind sharing?

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