How do you handle it when you are working on a piece of art or writing or music and someone interrupts you with non-essential chit chat? Does it break your concentration or do you just sail right through without really noticing it? Sometimes I feel like a freak because I'll be concentrating on writing or design or just getting into the headspace to make stuff and someone interrupts me or calls or drops by unannounced, and it breaks me completely out of the flow of what I was doing, to the point where it can take me an hour or more (in a few cases, days) to return to the same creative space I was in. Is this normal or am I some kind of hypersensitive spaz?
Sounds pretty normal to me. Sometimes, I can ignore it, and get right back on. Other times, however, its flowing, I'm in the zone or whatever, it's all going well...and someone breaks my carefully focused creative atmosphere and nothing I do will get it back.
This is why I now tend to cut myself off from all external stimuli while writing. Phones, silent. IM programs, off. No forums. No IRC. Doors locked, windows closed, blinds drawn.
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 10:50:49 PM
How do you handle it when you are working on a piece of art or writing or music and someone interrupts you with non-essential chit chat? Does it break your concentration or do you just sail right through without really noticing it? Sometimes I feel like a freak because I'll be concentrating on writing or design or just getting into the headspace to make stuff and someone interrupts me or calls or drops by unannounced, and it breaks me completely out of the flow of what I was doing, to the point where it can take me an hour or more (in a few cases, days) to return to the same creative space I was in. Is this normal or am I some kind of hypersensitive spaz?
I typically make my feelings of irritation known. When I'm writing is NOT the time to talk to me about anything else. It's fucking insensitive at best, and a fucking control game at worst, and the one way to PISS ME OFF is to say "can I interrupt for just a second?", because at that point, YOU'VE INTERRUPTED, and my train of thought is GONE. It really, really pisses me off. Unless the house is on fire, and that fire has reached the second floor, SHOVE THE FUCK OFF UNTIL I AM DONE.
Sorry, you hit a nerve there.
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 10:50:49 PM
How do you handle it when you are working on a piece of art or writing or music and someone interrupts you with non-essential chit chat? Does it break your concentration or do you just sail right through without really noticing it? Sometimes I feel like a freak because I'll be concentrating on writing or design or just getting into the headspace to make stuff and someone interrupts me or calls or drops by unannounced, and it breaks me completely out of the flow of what I was doing, to the point where it can take me an hour or more (in a few cases, days) to return to the same creative space I was in. Is this normal or am I some kind of hypersensitive spaz?
Unless you NEED it for your work, unplug the phone. If possible, disconnect the doorbell.
And keep heavy objects on hand to wing at the roommate's head, if necessary.
This is normal. The weaving, once it's going, interruptions are fine, I can sit and have a conversation if it's a simple piece. However, Suu and Richter have both seen me trying to set the damn loom up. My language (which, IRL, is much cleaner than I use, here) gets... colorful.
Woman, I've had to help you set up that massive floor loom. :crankey:
I have a curtain that separates my office from the dining room, but that doesn't seem to deter my housemate. Who is so fucking evicted the moment I get my mortgage modified, because this is fucking bullshit. And every time, I tell her "You need to pretend I'm not here during the workday." It would be expensive as fuck and not part of my original design plan for the house but I'm seriously thinking about putting in a door where the arch is.
The phone and doorbell suggestions would be great if I didn't have kids and a home-based business that gets regular deliveries. What frustrates me is the apparent inability of friends and family... people who should know me pretty well, at this point... to absorb the message "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE DURING THE WORKDAY".
For this reason I often do my art/design work between 1am - 4am, sleep deprivation be damned.
It's not practical and I have to find a better way, but that's what I've done for a loooong time now.
When I'm trying to think complicated thoughts, it ruins everything to be distracted. I know for a certainty I've had some potentially genius ideas that I may never recover because people notice that my "thinking" face looks a lot like my "I'm really upset/trying not to shit myself" face. Never understood that one.
Quote from: Suu on September 21, 2011, 11:02:21 PM
Woman, I've had to help you set up that massive floor loom. :crankey:
Yeah, wasn't that FUN?
And that yarn? Snaps ever time I try to touch that particular project. I'm about ready to take a knife to it.
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:06:42 PM
I have a curtain that separates my office from the dining room, but that doesn't seem to deter my housemate. Who is so fucking evicted the moment I get my mortgage modified, because this is fucking bullshit. And every time, I tell her "You need to pretend I'm not here during the workday." It would be expensive as fuck and not part of my original design plan for the house but I'm seriously thinking about putting in a door where the arch is.
The phone and doorbell suggestions would be great if I didn't have kids and a home-based business that gets regular deliveries. What frustrates me is the apparent inability of friends and family... people who should know me pretty well, at this point... to absorb the message "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE DURING THE WORKDAY".
Invoices, I tell ya. Rate sheet for interruptions.
"Is the house on fire? Is one of the kids bleeding? Nope? Twenty bucks, thank you."
I'm a fan of earbuds.
No one fucking bothers me when I have the buds in listening to the hardest, angriest aggrotech I have.
"Hey Suu...oh shit, she's got the untz untz stompy stompy going on, get the fuck away from her."
I am very comforted in knowing that it's not just that I'm a great big freak.
I was on a serious ROLL, an hour ago, and the retard housemate pops in with "I'm excited to be driving a bus south for three hours this weekend!" and now, an HOUR LATER, not only have I not finished my piece, which I was deep into, but I haven't made any beads and basically I just spent the last hour locating a folding screen in my basement and finding the most obtrusive location to put it that will block her view of me.
HATE AND RAGE.
Quote from: Luna on September 21, 2011, 11:17:56 PM
Quote from: Suu on September 21, 2011, 11:02:21 PM
Woman, I've had to help you set up that massive floor loom. :crankey:
Yeah, wasn't that FUN?
And that yarn? Snaps ever time I try to touch that particular project. I'm about ready to take a knife to it.
Could it be the tension on the loom, though?
Quote from: Suu on September 21, 2011, 11:23:11 PM
I'm a fan of earbuds.
No one fucking bothers me when I have the buds in listening to the hardest, angriest aggrotech I have.
"Hey Suu...oh shit, she's got the untz untz stompy stompy going on, get the fuck away from her."
That is my preferred method when I'm torching. It's so fucking loud in there between the exhaust fan and the concentrators that I can barely hear anything anyway. I have also used screaming and throwing molten rods of glass as a deterrent. Unfortunately, for me music may get me INTO the mood for writing, but it often interferes with the actual writing itself. I just want quiet, and to be left alone. I have orchestrated my entire life so that I can have these two things, for six to eight hours a day, and inevitably some jackass just has to come along to tell me they've really been craving a Twinkie and it's really warm out today.
You know how much I had written when she interrupted me to tell me she was going to ride the bus?
Half a page. In about 45 seconds. I was SMOKIN and deeply inspired. And poof, it just dissipated in a puddle of some dumb bitch on a bus.
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:06:42 PM
I have a curtain that separates my office from the dining room, but that doesn't seem to deter my housemate. Who is so fucking evicted the moment I get my mortgage modified, because this is fucking bullshit. And every time, I tell her "You need to pretend I'm not here during the workday." It would be expensive as fuck and not part of my original design plan for the house but I'm seriously thinking about putting in a door where the arch is.
The phone and doorbell suggestions would be great if I didn't have kids and a home-based business that gets regular deliveries. What frustrates me is the apparent inability of friends and family... people who should know me pretty well, at this point... to absorb the message "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE DURING THE WORKDAY".
I bet if you mace her the next time she does it she'll get the hint.
Quote from: Suu on September 21, 2011, 11:25:54 PM
Quote from: Luna on September 21, 2011, 11:17:56 PM
Quote from: Suu on September 21, 2011, 11:02:21 PM
Woman, I've had to help you set up that massive floor loom. :crankey:
Yeah, wasn't that FUN?
And that yarn? Snaps ever time I try to touch that particular project. I'm about ready to take a knife to it.
Could it be the tension on the loom, though?
Nope, it's just the yarn is spun too loose, it pulls apart. I'm not giving up on it... but it's gonna cost me hair.
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:24:14 PM
I am very comforted in knowing that it's not just that I'm a great big freak.
I was on a serious ROLL, an hour ago, and the retard housemate pops in with "I'm excited to be driving a bus south for three hours this weekend!" and now, an HOUR LATER, not only have I not finished my piece, which I was deep into, but I haven't made any beads and basically I just spent the last hour locating a folding screen in my basement and finding the most obtrusive location to put it that will block her view of me.
HATE AND RAGE.
That makes my blood pressure rise just reading about it.
:crankey:
Quote from: Fuck You One-Eye on September 21, 2011, 11:30:02 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:06:42 PM
I have a curtain that separates my office from the dining room, but that doesn't seem to deter my housemate. Who is so fucking evicted the moment I get my mortgage modified, because this is fucking bullshit. And every time, I tell her "You need to pretend I'm not here during the workday." It would be expensive as fuck and not part of my original design plan for the house but I'm seriously thinking about putting in a door where the arch is.
The phone and doorbell suggestions would be great if I didn't have kids and a home-based business that gets regular deliveries. What frustrates me is the apparent inability of friends and family... people who should know me pretty well, at this point... to absorb the message "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE DURING THE WORKDAY".
I bet if you mace her the next time she does it she'll get the hint.
:lulz: I like this.
Quote from: Net on September 21, 2011, 11:41:02 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:24:14 PM
I am very comforted in knowing that it's not just that I'm a great big freak.
I was on a serious ROLL, an hour ago, and the retard housemate pops in with "I'm excited to be driving a bus south for three hours this weekend!" and now, an HOUR LATER, not only have I not finished my piece, which I was deep into, but I haven't made any beads and basically I just spent the last hour locating a folding screen in my basement and finding the most obtrusive location to put it that will block her view of me.
HATE AND RAGE.
That makes my blood pressure rise just reading about it.
:crankey:
Mine is finally going back down. Now that any writing is fucked for the rest of the day, I'll go see if I can get any beads made in the next hour-ish. I don't even remember where I was and my studio's been burning electricity for no reason for almost two hours now. :x
Quote from: Doktor Howl on September 21, 2011, 10:53:33 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 10:50:49 PM
How do you handle it when you are working on a piece of art or writing or music and someone interrupts you with non-essential chit chat? Does it break your concentration or do you just sail right through without really noticing it? Sometimes I feel like a freak because I'll be concentrating on writing or design or just getting into the headspace to make stuff and someone interrupts me or calls or drops by unannounced, and it breaks me completely out of the flow of what I was doing, to the point where it can take me an hour or more (in a few cases, days) to return to the same creative space I was in. Is this normal or am I some kind of hypersensitive spaz?
I typically make my feelings of irritation known. When I'm writing is NOT the time to talk to me about anything else. It's fucking insensitive at best, and a fucking control game at worst, and the one way to PISS ME OFF is to say "can I interrupt for just a second?", because at that point, YOU'VE INTERRUPTED, and my train of thought is GONE. It really, really pisses me off. Unless the house is on fire, and that fire has reached the second floor, SHOVE THE FUCK OFF UNTIL I AM DONE.
Sorry, you hit a nerve there.
I think I need a sign that says "IS THE HOUSE ON FIRE? NO? THEN FUCK OFF".
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:27:57 PM
That is my preferred method when I'm torching. It's so fucking loud in there between the exhaust fan and the concentrators that I can barely hear anything anyway. I have also used screaming and throwing molten rods of glass as a deterrent. Unfortunately, for me music may get me INTO the mood for writing, but it often interferes with the actual writing itself. I just want quiet, and to be left alone. I have orchestrated my entire life so that I can have these two things, for six to eight hours a day, and inevitably some jackass just has to come along to tell me they've really been craving a Twinkie and it's really warm out today.
Have you tried just getting a track of white noise and putting it on repeat?
Better yet, get a throat singer to chant fuuuuckk yooouuu leeeave meeee beeeee or something in a really deep voice and put that shit on repeat. It should almost be like Koyaanisqatsi. Guttural and twisted, with an introspective feel to it. Good mood sounds for making art, probably. Your brain will eventually tune the words out, but anyone passing by will hear a vicious Do Not Disturb notice.
Quote from: Rumckle on September 22, 2011, 12:14:47 AM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:27:57 PM
That is my preferred method when I'm torching. It's so fucking loud in there between the exhaust fan and the concentrators that I can barely hear anything anyway. I have also used screaming and throwing molten rods of glass as a deterrent. Unfortunately, for me music may get me INTO the mood for writing, but it often interferes with the actual writing itself. I just want quiet, and to be left alone. I have orchestrated my entire life so that I can have these two things, for six to eight hours a day, and inevitably some jackass just has to come along to tell me they've really been craving a Twinkie and it's really warm out today.
Have you tried just getting a track of white noise and putting it on repeat?
How, exactly, would that help? It's not like background noises are bothering me. It's people deliberately trying to get my attention.
Because you said that music "often interferes with the actual writing itself", from which I inferred that you would like music when you write (possibly for drowning out noise, I dunno), but you have trouble writing while listening to music.
My mistake, I guess
Quote from: Rumckle on September 22, 2011, 01:30:09 AM
Because you said that music "often interferes with the actual writing itself", from which I inferred that you would like music when you write (possibly for drowning out noise, I dunno), but you have trouble writing while listening to music.
My mistake, I guess
Suu was talking about how blasting music too loud for her to hear interruptions, which is basically what I do in my studio, but white noise at drowning-out-sounds level would be incredibly unpleasant.
When I had Angband- The Cupboard Next to the Stairs (which was the first official Angband!), I had just enough room in there for my garment rack of costumes, a shelf of knickknacks, my drafting table and computer. I'd go in there and be in the FUCKING ZONE.
Basically, if I'm hunched over my table, that's enough of a hint. When I'm hovering over a sewing machine, I'm typically a bit more social unless it's a difficult pattern, but drawing...GTFO.
Quote from: Rumckle on September 22, 2011, 12:14:47 AM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:27:57 PM
That is my preferred method when I'm torching. It's so fucking loud in there between the exhaust fan and the concentrators that I can barely hear anything anyway. I have also used screaming and throwing molten rods of glass as a deterrent. Unfortunately, for me music may get me INTO the mood for writing, but it often interferes with the actual writing itself. I just want quiet, and to be left alone. I have orchestrated my entire life so that I can have these two things, for six to eight hours a day, and inevitably some jackass just has to come along to tell me they've really been craving a Twinkie and it's really warm out today.
Have you tried just getting a track of white noise and putting it on repeat?
I have some tracks of pink noise, each with a different binaural beat. You have to use headphones/earbuds to get the full effect from the binaural tones.
http://www.mp3ye.eu/535074_hemi-sync-hypnosis-pink-noise-binaural-beats-theta-superlearning-mp3-download.html
Nigel, I'm totally with you. Which, similar to Remington, is why I do most of my music editing/mixing at 5:00am when no one else is awake.
And when I was writing 30 Days of Eris (at work :oops: ), I would have some creepy ambient stuff playing loud in my headphones... I think it was NIN's Ghosts. Just shut the world right out.
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
Quote from: Fred Roont on September 22, 2011, 10:17:53 AM
Quote from: Rumckle on September 22, 2011, 12:14:47 AM
Quote from: Nigel on September 21, 2011, 11:27:57 PM
That is my preferred method when I'm torching. It's so fucking loud in there between the exhaust fan and the concentrators that I can barely hear anything anyway. I have also used screaming and throwing molten rods of glass as a deterrent. Unfortunately, for me music may get me INTO the mood for writing, but it often interferes with the actual writing itself. I just want quiet, and to be left alone. I have orchestrated my entire life so that I can have these two things, for six to eight hours a day, and inevitably some jackass just has to come along to tell me they've really been craving a Twinkie and it's really warm out today.
Have you tried just getting a track of white noise and putting it on repeat?
I have some tracks of pink noise, each with a different binaural beat. You have to use headphones/earbuds to get the full effect from the binaural tones.
http://www.mp3ye.eu/535074_hemi-sync-hypnosis-pink-noise-binaural-beats-theta-superlearning-mp3-download.html
Thanks! This sounds pleasing.
I think sometimes I'm even worse than this. If I get interrupted doing pretty much anything creative it's pretty much game over for the day. In fact I get pissy even when I'm not arting. If someone (poor bastards) has the poor judgement to walk into my room (or any personal space) when I'm even moderately occupied all they can expect is the tersest, most passive aggressive and uncomfortable conversation about whatever entirely inane topic they've decided to bring up.
There is a reason my door is shut... and locked. And I have my headphones on.
Not getting it?
It's 'cause I want you to fuck off.
Looks like flow is a pretty important thing for creating.. who knew!?
also:
QuoteAnd when I was writing 30 Days of Eris (at work :oops:), I would have some creepy ambient stuff playing loud in my headphones... I think it was NIN's Ghosts. Just shut the world right out.
I think I might have to go back and read that whole instalment while listening to that. I'd never thought about what music would fit that series, but now it's
completely obvious and perfectxx
edd
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 22, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
This
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop fucking interrupting me.
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop f--
HELLO NIGEL!!! HOW ARE YOU? I AM GOING TO SHOP FOR COOKING DINNER NOW.
Quote from: Triple Zero on September 23, 2011, 06:25:26 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop f--
HELLO NIGEL!!! HOW ARE YOU? I AM GOING TO SHOP FOR COOKING DINNER NOW.
Don't kill him, Nigel, he's pretty.
Just torture.
And take pictures.
:lulz:
It should be legal to strangle someone to death with their own lips for whistling.
Quote from: Fred Roont on September 23, 2011, 10:27:36 PM
It should be legal to strangle someone to death with their own lips for whistling.
Dude, totally.
I would stipulate only if they're whistling nonchalantly to exhibit general innocence.
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 22, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
This
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop fucking interrupting me.
Demon howl with torch in hand. You work with fire. Or just wang a large knife at the door frame.
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 25, 2011, 02:30:48 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 22, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
This
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop fucking interrupting me.
Demon howl with torch in hand. You work with fire. Or just wang a large knife at the door frame.
Nobody interrupts me in my studio. It's a dangerous and circuitous route down to the studio door, and the light is broken so it's also almost pitch black through a basement similar to the one in Silence of the Lambs. Plus, if you are brave and foolish enough to go down there, between the machinery and the music, I can't hear a fucking thing anyway, and if you were so foolish as to continue on and yell over the din, you would be met with screams of rage and the hurling of molten glass. Unless you're my children, who will occasionally venture down to ask if they can go to Starbucks, or perhaps have a cookie.
But once all this pretty shiny stuff is created, I have to spend hours in my office, photographing, listing, shipping, promoting, studying, and/or writing. That's where I run into problems.
Quote from: Nigel on September 25, 2011, 04:25:38 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 25, 2011, 02:30:48 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 22, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
This
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop fucking interrupting me.
Demon howl with torch in hand. You work with fire. Or just wang a large knife at the door frame.
Nobody interrupts me in my studio. It's a dangerous and circuitous route down to the studio door, and the light is broken so it's also almost pitch black through a basement similar to the one in Silence of the Lambs. Plus, if you are brave and foolish enough to go down there, between the machinery and the music, I can't hear a fucking thing anyway, and if you were so foolish as to continue on and yell over the din, you would be met with screams of rage and the hurling of molten glass. Unless you're my children, who will occasionally venture down to ask if they can go to Starbucks, or perhaps have a cookie.
But once all this pretty shiny stuff is created, I have to spend hours in my office, photographing, listing, shipping, promoting, studying, and/or writing. That's where I run into problems.
Have you tried demonic howling and carrying on with a large cutting tool in your hand at every interruption?
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 25, 2011, 04:57:49 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 25, 2011, 04:25:38 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 25, 2011, 02:30:48 PM
Quote from: Nigel on September 23, 2011, 06:15:55 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on September 22, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
your problem stems from the fact that your tenent doesn't veiw you as someone with whom not to fuck with. i have two words for you.
shovel
tarp
i also like ech's idea of the mace, only use a mace instead spray.
coyote, when is arting noone fucks with him
This
Because as nice as all the suggestions for things that might work may be, what would REALLY ACTUALLY FUCKING WORK is if people stop fucking interrupting me.
Demon howl with torch in hand. You work with fire. Or just wang a large knife at the door frame.
Nobody interrupts me in my studio. It's a dangerous and circuitous route down to the studio door, and the light is broken so it's also almost pitch black through a basement similar to the one in Silence of the Lambs. Plus, if you are brave and foolish enough to go down there, between the machinery and the music, I can't hear a fucking thing anyway, and if you were so foolish as to continue on and yell over the din, you would be met with screams of rage and the hurling of molten glass. Unless you're my children, who will occasionally venture down to ask if they can go to Starbucks, or perhaps have a cookie.
But once all this pretty shiny stuff is created, I have to spend hours in my office, photographing, listing, shipping, promoting, studying, and/or writing. That's where I run into problems.
Have you tried demonic howling and carrying on with a large cutting tool in your hand at every interruption?
This may be my next step.
It should be.