Reader Friday: Writer, Unplugged?

When was the last time you unplugged completely from the Internet? How long were you offline, and do you think it was good for your writing to do so?

Shutterstock photo purchased by Kathryn Lilley

Shutterstock photo purchased by Kathryn Lilley

13 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Writer, Unplugged?

  1. I was offline a few hours a day earlier this summer while on vacation. However, thanks to my smart phone (or maybe that’s not such a good thing) I was able to check in. Refused to take my laptop, however, and only posted a couple of times on Facebook.

  2. I cannot unplug, or I get too far behind in emails. I can go without Twitter or Facebook, although I usually access that on my iPhone. I’m too addicted to cut off completely unless I’m out of the country.

  3. I went one week at a retreat in Door County WI without internet as there was no WiFi on campus. I run a company and depended on my staff to field the business emails. Stayed in touch with text messages with my family but otherwise, it was 6 days of writing with hikes and great food to tide me over. Checked emails on the weekend and then went back for one more week studying photography at the same place. Trust me, folk, nothing happens in the world of the internet that can’t wait a bit.

  4. Sunday’s are my days to unplug and read. I’m not always successful though, but I’m getting better! It’s actually liberating and it does help my writing.

  5. I try to do it every day. Which is one reason I go to Starbucks or my little pub to write. Yeah, I can use their servers, but last time I did it, my AOL got hacked. So I don’t do it. I get 2-3 really great hours work done every time. And I don’t even bother to go on line when I am on vacation out of the country.

    There is no email that can’t wait. If my condo gets flooded or Jonathan Demme wants to buy my book, they can call me.

  6. When I go on vacation with Don for three or four days, I completely unplug — no computers or cell phone. Only my agent and editors know how to reach me, and they only have the hotel’s main number. Only once was I called — just after I arrived at the hotel, my editor had a question about a manuscript. These vacations are so restful.

  7. There’s always a few hours here and there. The longest stint in the past year was when I went river rafting through the Grand Canyon for a week. No problem.

  8. Nice thing about Alaska is that you can be off the grid completely within minutes from the biggest cities. I am off grid several days a month whenever we go camping, or drive between Anchorage and the other big cities which range from 150 and 400 miles away. Most of the State and National Parks have no cell reception so it is nice and quiet. That’s where I get a lot of noodling done.

    • Most summers we take a week or two trip with the Boy Scouts into the deep wilderness either in the mountains or at sea on an island in Prince William Sound

      • Where in Alaska are you? I used to live in Ketchikan, many moons ago. I still miss it in many ways, I just couldn’t take the snow. That is a major disadvantage when you live in Alaska! The summers were beautiful though, and the water was the best–right out of the tap. The people are friendly too. ๐Ÿ™‚

        • Hi Rebecca,

          I am originally from Salcha in the Interior, the blank space on the map between Fairbanks and Delta Junction. Currently we live in Anchorage for the past 15 years. Never been to Ketchikan, but really want to. Went to Juneau with my family for the first time a couple years ago, it was gorgeous (actually didn’t rain for most of a week!) Considering taking the ferry ride the whole way across just to see all these towns we’ve never seen.

  9. I don’t go on the internet at all until about 2:00 pm, and I don’t have a internet compatible phone, so I am totally unplugged each morning. I am still old school in many ways. I like to think about my story and write ideas from brainstorming down with pen and filler paper. Or take notes from some of the wonderful craft books. It helps me remember better if I write it down. I learned early on, don’t ever think you’ll remember something and neglect to write it down. I guarantee you will forget all about it.

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