Write Distraction Free With Q10
Finding ways to type without distractions has become a huge challenge for many writers. While trying to keep organized, getting our work done and do it right, we often feel too overwhelmed by our constant need to perform well. Writers not only battle time, space and mind to put pen to paper or finger to computer. They also battle their own environment in order to write undisturbed.
It is a battle that is often lost regardless of how hard we try. The biggest distractions for online writers would have to be the Internet itself.
ironically, the very vehicle that brings us work is also the one standing in our way while we try to work. It is a bit of a catch 22.
While we can do only so much to directly influence our outside environment, e.g. the space around us, we can totally control the working space by eliminating clutter from our vision.
I have discovered one such way after trying countless applications. It is called Q10 and works a treat. Initially I was very quizzical about this simple text editor since I am a bit of a geeky girl at heart. I love my flashy writing tools, even though they are only tools such as Windows Live Writer, Open Office or White Smoke.
All of them perform really well for certain jobs and while I love them all and wouldn’t want to miss them in my writing life, I still found that distractions while writing were far too big to be ignored.
Don’t get me wrong. I always (or nearly anyway) get done what I set out to do, since I work to a strict schedule. But more often than not I also found while I fulfilled my diary’s needs, I didn’t fulfill my needs to add more residual income to my business by building niche sites. Something I had wanted to do for a long while.
Since my workload is pretty much full all the time I don’t have much room for lost time. Of course this is between me working and trying to keep a balance with a social live, time spent with my husband and my beloved pets.
So while I type this, I already experience a new sense of calmness while I write. Q10 effectively shuts out all distractions from my computer. While the software can’t control my environment, it can very much control how I concentrate on the actual writing, without getting sidetracked.
My first impression is very good and I vouched to use this software for the next week to see whether I can actually further improve my performance.
There is also another reason why Q10 took my fancy. I have recently become very frugal. I tend to seek more and more ways to cut out junk from my life. Whether this is in my home, as a writer or even when I shop, I already feel my mind set has made a huge difference in the way I live. I guess these days I’m a lot happier with less.
It’s a bit of trying to lose weight, where the weight resembles the lifestyle, gadgets, must haves. I’m not sure how you feel, but in recent years I experienced an increasing sense of drowning with all the things we have to absorb every single day. It is not a nice feeling and can lead to feeling totally overwhelmed with the constant need to buy this and buy that.
I’m no longer subscribed to those notions. Both my husband and I made a conscious decision about a year ago to focus more on the living and not chasing things. To be honest though, it doesn’t always work.
Sometimes I still have to satisfy an urgent need to buy something, even though I don’t really need it. But I quickly convince myself that I do. LOL. Isn’t our psyche a funny thing?
Anyway, I have made huge steps in the right direction with the frugal mind set that’s for sure. And now Q10 might even help me a little more.
Anyway, it is thanks to Lissie I discovered Q10 again. I know I’ve heard about this software some time ago but never actually went to try it. Now I am and I love it already. If you are interested in Q10 you can download it for free by following the link.
Take care and have fun
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
lissie | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
LOL Monika- it really is compelling isn’t -have you still got the typewriter sound on?
Brett Legree | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Q10 is a great program, isn’t it! I’ve been using it for about a year or so and it is one program I miss on my Mac (though there are ways to use it there too, and there are alternatives that are comparable).
Full-screen text editors (for me) are an essential part of getting me to do, what needs to be done.
Thanks for a great post today – Brett
Sharon Hurley Hall | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
This is the second time recently I’ve seen this program mentioned and after your review, I’ve downloaded it to try it out.
Alex the Freelance Twin | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
Hey there, I’m glad you liked the photo I found on flickr a few days ago enough to use it too!
I had never heard of Q10, it sounds pretty interesting.
One last thing, I found a spelling mistake in your post. “It’s a bit of trying to loose weight,” should be lose.
Cheers.
Alex
Cath Lawson | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
It sounds like a great gadget Monika. I’m terrible for distractions too. The minute I get a bit stuck for words, I’m sloping off to read a couple of blog posts or browse Amazon.
Cutting down on buying stuff is a great idea. I just wish I could persuade my kids to feel the same.
When we emigrate I’m thinking of selling everything and starting over again, rather than paying to transport a heap of stuff.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Lissie: No way, I never even bothered to turn it on in the first place. It would only be another distraction for me and defeat the purpose.
But after you pointed me to it I wrote 3 blog posts all in the space of one hour which would normally take me two hours. So from there I’m standing it is already working great guns.
Thanks again.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: That’s it, didn’t you blog about Q10 before? I knew I’d heard it before somewhere and I think it might have been on your blog.
Yes, Q10 is awesome. It’s frugal writing in its essence for sure. I’m sure when I have a Mac one day you’ll point me in the right direction as to what to use instead anyway. Until then, I’ll do my best to keep using Q10.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Sharon: Let me know what you think please. I bet you’ll be impressed. It doesn’t have many bells and whistles, but that is the actual strength of Q10 I think anyway.
Writing without distractions. Just wonder what made them name it Q10? Sounds like ear cleaning tips.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Alex: It is a great pic isn’t it? I’m always on the hunt for great writing pics.
Thanks for the spello alert, will update right now. Good to know you are on the ball.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Cath: I reckon you got the right idea by trying to sell before you move. We weren’t as smart back then and brought a ton of stuff over from Europe. Cost us a ton too mind you.
About 4 cubic meters of stuff actually (not even including any furniture) but a lot of personal stuff like photos, souvenirs from our many travels, bikes, clothes and a lot of rubbish too.
If I’d do it again I would only bring the minimum and sell the rest.
Brett Legree | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@Monika,
I did, but I don’t like to link back to my blog saying “I did that too!” – you wrote a great post and it is your turn to shine
(Though, I owe everyone a couple of follow-up posts for some other writing software – coming soon. One of them will cover Mac programs that work like this.)
Actually, there are a couple of ways you can use Q10 on a Mac – so you needn’t worry about leaving it behind if you make the switch and still want the “clicky clicky” sound. I love that!
-Brett
Lindsay | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
Grin, this post was kind of funny to me because I actually have break reminder software installed that reminds me to distract myself.
Of course the point of mine is to get up every 20 minutes and stretch and shake my hands out a bit (I’ve had trouble with repetitive stress injuries), not start surfing the Internet. 
And, yes, the web is surely the biggest distraction out there. Or email. Oh, I’ll just check a couple things… ooops, where did that hour go?
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: Oh, you are just so humble, as far as I’m concerned you have all the right to trumpet your own horn too.
It sounds great what you have in mind with Mac.
I so can’t wait but I have to run this thing into the ground first. It makes more sense financially anyway.
Monika | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@ Lindsay: Hehehe…that is hilarious indeed.
You must have either a very high concentration level of no kids, birds, pets, husbands and other distractions to battle with.
In the rate it is close to every 20 minutes throughout the day, but I don’t shake out hands. maybe a should.
It’s great to see you stopping by and say hello, I look forward to having you back.
Brett Legree | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
@Monika,
Hey, you wrote a good post and I didn’t want to take away from it. In fact, I’ll link back to it when I (finally!) continue the series… dang, been so busy.
You should run that PC into the ground for sure. You’re making good use of it – why switch now? When the time is right, you can make a move if it is the right thing for you.
-Brett
Rebecca Leigh | Jul 13, 2008 | Reply
I downloaded Q10 a while ago but was disappointed that I couldn’t get the ‘clickity-clack’ working. I wondered if that came with a paid version?
I’m not usually tech-inept but maybe I am missing something obvious?
@Brett – please post about similar Mac programs! I have used darkroom but I would love to have the clickity-clack sound
Brett Legree | Jul 13, 2008 | Reply
@Rebecca,
I’ve not actually found anything that is native to Mac with the clickity-clack sound
however you can (and I do) run Q10 using Vmware and Windows.
You can use a Java version of Darkroom on OS X (jdarkroom) and there is also WriteRoom as a native full-screen editor (payware, though).
If you want a native full-screen (and non-Java) OS X program, there is Bean – a nice little word processor that is free.
If you want the “full Monty” for OS X, I’d look at Scrivener – the full screen on this is very nice – and it is so much more than a text editor. It is not free, but it is worth the money.
I think some of the other Mac editors (e.g. Ulysses) have a full screen mode.
(I think I must blog about this soon!)
Hope this helps!
-Brett
Rebecca Leigh | Jul 13, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Brett!
I have the java version of Darkroom on a flash drive so I can use it on PC and Mac.
I haven’t used the others you mentioned – will check them out thanks
Brett Legree | Jul 13, 2008 | Reply
Hi Rebecca,
I was guessing that maybe you’d used the java version, but I wasn’t sure.
Most definitely have a look – I like Scrivener a lot myself, and they have a really good trial period (I think it is 21 days, but it isn’t 21 days from when you first launch it – if you use it for one day, then go away for two weeks, you still have 20 days left!)
I also use Liquid Story Binder XE on Windows (and on Mac with Vmware) – it is quite nice, has a full screen mode, and a really responsive developer (you can email him directly and he emails you back).
-Brett
Kevin Hassett | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Thanks, I’m going to give this program a try. I definitely get sidetracked and re-sidetracked constantly on the computer and am very aware of how this has an effect on my productivity. This sounds like just the tool I need!
Monika | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
@ Rebecca: Funny you want the noise. I couldn’t stand this but also I haven’t looked for it to be honest. I’m not sure whether you need to download this as a separate file. If you click F1 it might give you a link.
@ Brett: Thanks for helping Rebecca out while I’m enjoying the weekend.
Monika | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
@ Kevin: It works, after only a few days of trialing for posting on various posts (actually just writing as I can’t publish with Q10) I’m still very impressed.
I saved some time for sure. Let me know if you try it and what you find personally.
Brett Legree | Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
@Monika,
I’m like one of the Koala Brothers – I’m here to help!
And it’s so hard for me to not talk about this stuff – I *love* it!
Hope you’re having a great day – I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, as I had to take care of a critical item tonight.
-Brett
Kevin Hassett | Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
@ Monika: I just tried it today and I am also impressed. It definitely kept me focused and on track. I like the alarm and word count goal features too.
I think the dark background is also helpful and easier on the eyes – good for when you are staring at a computer screen all day long!
Monika | Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: Who are the Koala brothers? Never heard of them. Ack, I hope this isn’t make me look like an idiot.
I am with you though, it’s so easy to keep babbling about stuff we love isn’t it? Therefore i know where you are coming from.
Monika | Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
@ Kevin: Great to hear. I also love the dark background, like you say it’s easy on the eye and I used the alarm too.