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I do a lot of writing, but I find that the idea of a distraction free environment doesn't work for me because I need to refer to external material too often. It

I do a lot of writing, but I find that the idea of a distraction free environment doesn't work for me because I need to refer to external material too often. It doesn't matter whether it is for reviewing engineering projects, writing sermons or eulogies for funerals, or doing academic work (I have a bit of an odd lifestyle), I always need to use more than the editor or word-processor. I could see how it might work for a poet, but I'm not that. If you are one of the people for whom a low-distraction environment works, could you say what sort of stuff you are writing?

nathias 4y ago
Philosophy, but I divide the work of research and writing into separate activities. This isn't great from a productivity/quantitative aspect, but it's much better for quality.
- nine_k 4y ago
  So, you can honestly say: "Now I've found enough, and whatever questions I may have during the writing I can answer with what I've found"? That's a... superpower.
  - jokethrowaway 4y ago
    I rarely (twice a month? I don't remember the last time) search something online when I'm working on something at work (personal projects are the total opposite). We try to limit dependencies because they are security risks and work is basically implementing slightly different services doing more or less the same things with a slightly different architecture. I'd love to have less eye strain for the worthless time I'm spending in front of a computer in order to make money. I'm worried the refresh rate speed won't be pleasant enough though: typing on my kindle is a pain. On top of that, a huge portion of my paid time is spent in equally worthless video meetings so I would need some other device, regardless.
  - nathias 4y ago
    Yes, it helps if you are an expert in the field and have a broad overview and are working on things that aren't popular.
  - travisporter 4y ago
    I had a related shower thought - is a math phd thesis is just a slow bandwidth transfer out of the brain
paulcole 4y ago
> If you are one of the people for whom a low-distraction environment works, could you say what sort of stuff you are writing When I was studying American Lit in college, my laptop died and I replaced it with an AlphaSmart Dana (this would’ve been around 2004). It was like a palm pilot with a long narrow screen and nearly full-size QWERTY keyboard. I used it for about 2 years and just synced files w/ my roommate’s computer to print. Most of my reference was to external material as well, but in the form of printed books. It was also a great note-taking device in class.

nathias 4y ago

Philosophy, but I divide the work of research and writing into separate activities. This isn't great from a productivity/quantitative aspect, but it's much better for quality.

nine_k 4y ago
So, you can honestly say: "Now I've found enough, and whatever questions I may have during the writing I can answer with what I've found"? That's a... superpower.
- jokethrowaway 4y ago
  I rarely (twice a month? I don't remember the last time) search something online when I'm working on something at work (personal projects are the total opposite). We try to limit dependencies because they are security risks and work is basically implementing slightly different services doing more or less the same things with a slightly different architecture. I'd love to have less eye strain for the worthless time I'm spending in front of a computer in order to make money. I'm worried the refresh rate speed won't be pleasant enough though: typing on my kindle is a pain. On top of that, a huge portion of my paid time is spent in equally worthless video meetings so I would need some other device, regardless.
- nathias 4y ago
  Yes, it helps if you are an expert in the field and have a broad overview and are working on things that aren't popular.
- travisporter 4y ago
  I had a related shower thought - is a math phd thesis is just a slow bandwidth transfer out of the brain

paulcole 4y ago

> If you are one of the people for whom a low-distraction environment works, could you say what sort of stuff you are writing When I was studying American Lit in college, my laptop died and I replaced it with an AlphaSmart Dana (this would’ve been around 2004). It was like a palm pilot with a long narrow screen and nearly full-size QWERTY keyboard. I used it for about 2 years and just synced files w/ my roommate’s computer to print. Most of my reference was to external material as well, but in the form of printed books. It was also a great note-taking device in class.