I’m sorry I missed posting last Friday. On Thursday and
Friday, ISP wizards were at our house fixing our buffering and range issues—so internet
access was only sporadically available. Apparently, our 1940s plaster walls
were not built with the internet in mind. On one side of said wall the speed
was 28 mb/sec. On the other side it was 3 mb/sec. And if you got much further
away, it died altogether.
I’m very happy to say that the wizards now have everything fixed.
And they only needed to drill a couple of holes in the floor and add new cool
electronics.
However, since I didn’t have internet access, I was
distraction free and was able to finish my third edit of the sequel to Screwing Up Time. Yay!! It is now going
out to beta readers.
My experience got me to thinking. Internet service providers
should offer a service to writers. I’m calling this service Deadline Internet
Blackouts. Writers (or their agents/editors) could sign up for a DIB whenever a
deadline was approaching and the writer was behind. The catch would be that the
internet would be shut down until the word count/edit was complete.
Yeah, I realize that computers actually have a button you
can push to shut off the internet access. Or, um, you could just not visit
Facebook/blogs/etc. until your work was done. But I can’t make any money off
that. Anyway, so what do you think? How many people would be interested in DIB?
I’m sure that it would be great for students too. Think about it.
Actually I saw someone post on Twitter about a service you can download that won't let you get on the Internet for whatever time you plug in. I don't know. scares me. I think, what if won't let me back on when the time is up? LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha! I need one. :)
ReplyDeleteMac Freedom! Actually, I think it's available to PCs, too, but since I have a Mac, I don't pay much attention to *those other guys*. A lot of writers I know swear by Freedom - you put in the amount of time you want Internet blackout, and it cuts you off. Scary, if you ask me ...
ReplyDeleteI could totally use that. I wrote about that today on how I need to be somewhere internet free in order to get serious writing done.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how much time gets eaten by the internet! I think there are apps/programs you can sign up for that block you from the internet or certain sites. I don't know if I'm willing to go that far, but I might unplug myself from the internet for a while to get stuff done.
ReplyDeleteThis could open the door to a whole new money-maker...counselling for those dealing with IWS (Internet Withdrawal Syndrome). Possibly you could open a treatment center for those with severe panic attacks from withdrawal. (When you're rich from this money-making idea, remember your poor aunt who suggested it :>) )
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing your edits!
ReplyDeleteI'd check out a service like that.