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Ever stare at a blank page while your mind wanders everywhere except your story? You're not alone. The modern writer faces an unprecedented battle for attention – from buzzing phones to buzzing thoughts.

Between environmental distractions, digital interruptions, and our own wandering minds, staying focused on creative writing has become increasingly challenging. This struggle is even more pronounced for writers managing conditions like schizophrenia, where both external stimuli and internal noise create additional barriers to creative expression. But there's hope – and practical solutions.

You can significantly reduce external distractions by creating a minimalist writing environment and implementing digital boundaries. Techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of focused work followed by short breaks) help maintain momentum without burnout. Specialized tools like noise-canceling headphones, distraction-blocking apps, and writing-focused software create a protected space for your creativity to flourish.

Managing internal distractions requires different strategies. Brief meditation sessions before writing can help quiet racing thoughts. Journaling stray ideas creates mental space for focused creativity. Setting clear intentions for each writing session provides direction that keeps you on track. Perhaps most importantly, embracing imperfection frees you from the paralysis of perfectionism, allowing progress rather than demanding perfection.

The path to distraction-free writing isn't about eliminating every possible interruption – it's about creating systems that help you maintain focus despite inevitable distractions. Whether you're writing a novel, short story, or creative non-fiction, these practical techniques can transform your relationship with writing, allowing your authentic voice to emerge clearly amid the noise of modern life. Ready to create your distraction-free writing sanctuary? Subscribe now and join our community of focused, productive writers!

#SchizophreniaAwareness #MentalHealthWriting #CreativeWriting #DistractionFree #WritingWithSchizophrenia #FocusAndCreate #WritingTips #MentalHealthMatters #CreativeMinds #WritingCommunity #SameHere

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com
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Focus@Will website: https://www.focusatwill.com/
Ommwriter website: (https://ommwriter.com/
Buy my Books: The Overlife, A Tale of Schizophrenia, by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/454WgW6).
Buy my Books: “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/42Z81KY).
The links to my books are Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)
website: https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)
Blog: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/blogs/
Podcast: Schizophrenia As I Live It (audio) https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769.
Podcast: Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos (video) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUxDLjcuok9SMcaBbm3M7KNpNztvZ73H0
Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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Finding stability in creative chaos has been my lifelong journey as a fiction writer living with schizophrenia. Drawing wisdom from master storyteller Walter Mosley's advice on daily writing routines, I've discovered powerful connections between maintaining creative discipline and managing mental health challenges.

My mornings belong to fiction writing—after coffee, breakfast, and digital newspapers, of course. This dedicated creative time, respected by my spouse and protected in my schedule, provides essential structure that benefits both my novels and my mind. When symptoms of schizophrenia threaten to overwhelm with confusion and disorientation, these established routines become anchors in the storm. Simple activities—feeding wild birds, watching films, housekeeping, gardening, playing piano—transform into meaningful touchstones that guide me through difficult days.

Organization tools like planners help me visualize and maintain this framework without becoming trapped by rigidity. Even during relapses or psychotic episodes, I continue writing through journaling, which serves dual purposes: maintaining my creative practice while tracking mental health patterns and warning signs. Similarly, medication management requires its own carefully crafted schedule—I take antipsychotics and epilepsy medications in late afternoon rather than evening, accommodating my 4am wake-up time. The beautiful synchronicity I've found is that the discipline required for successful writing directly enhances my mental health management, and vice versa. Whether you're a writer, someone managing mental health challenges, or both, I hope my experiences offer insight into the profound power of thoughtful routines. Subscribe to my channel and podcast for more on living creatively with schizophrenia, and share your own routine strategies in the comments!

#WritingRoutine, #WritingTips, #WritingProductivity, #SchizophreniaAwareness, #MentalHealth #MentalHealthWriting, #WritingforWellness

References and online Links   
Walter Mosley: Course “Teaches Fiction and Storytelling, Masterclass app.

Clever Fox Planner Pro (visit https://amzn.to/437AUVA). 

Clever Fox Mental Health & Anxiety Journal (visit https://amzn.to/3FXGwtQ)

The Clever Fox links are Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Overlife, A Tale of Schizophrenia, by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/454WgW6).

“Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/42Z81KY).

The links to my books are Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)

website: https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)

Blog: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/blogs/

Podcast: Schizophrenia As I Live It (audio) 
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769.

Podcast: Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos (video) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUxDLjcuok9SMcaBbm3M7KNpNztvZ73H0

Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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Today marks a meaningful transition as I conclude "Schizophrenia As I Live It" and introduce my new creative journey, "Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos." While living with paranoid schizophrenia remains an essential part of my identity, my fiction writing is expanding to embrace the full spectrum of my experiences.

"Fractured Ink: Writing In Life's Chaos," or "Fractured Ink," for short, delves deeper into topics that have shaped my life beyond mental illness—from exploring sibling abuse in my second novel "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://amazon.com/dp/B0DPXW76DV/) to sharing how I built a successful career as a research mathematician and university professor despite my diagnosis. You'll discover how adaptation, fortunate circumstances, and supportive colleagues helped me navigate professional challenges while managing schizophrenia.

The podcast balances serious subjects with life's joys. Humor has been crucial to my survival, and I'm eager to share what makes me laugh. I'll talk about finding love in marriage, my passion for bird watching and nature walks, and why love is never wasted—even when directed toward complicated relationships. Every Sunday at 5 pm PST, I'll bring you new episodes in both audio and video formats, available on Apple Podcasts and my YouTube channel "@DianaDirkbyWrites." (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

As we embark on this new chapter, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support throughout "Schizophrenia As I Live It." That podcast will remain available as a resource, while "Fractured Ink" expands our conversation. Episode 0 is already available as a preview, with Episode 1 premiering tomorrow. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, join the discussion in the comments, and let's continue exploring life's challenges and celebrations together.

My website and social media:

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#fiction #novel #families #relationships #challenges #schizophrenia #CPTSD #epilepsy #siblingabuse #mentalhealth #nature #birds #birdwatching

Do you love to watch wild birds from inside your home? Then, your answer is a feeder that won a British Birdwatching Innovation Award and was updated just this year, 2025. It is designed with clear, strong plastic, so nothing obstructs the view of the birds who visit it to feed. It has extra-strong suction cups that ensure it stays in place. It has a high roof, which is also suitable for larger birds. Where can you find it? To see it on Amazon, click on the following link: https://amzn.to/42jxzDF. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #ad #commissionsearned #birds #wildbirds #birdfeeder #nature #birdwatching

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A significant transition is underway as I prepare to close "Schizophrenia as I Live it" and launch my new podcast "Fractured Ink." While schizophrenia has been central to my story, it's just one piece of a complex puzzle that includes complex PTSD, absence epilepsy, and my creative identity as a novelist and poet. These conditions, as I explain, "feed off each other" in ways that create a uniquely challenging yet creatively fertile internal landscape.

My journey from research mathematician and university professor to published fiction writer has given me new ways to explore and express my experiences. Through my novels "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies," I've chosen fiction over memoir as my medium for addressing difficult topics including mental illness and sibling abuse. As I share in the episode, "Tell Me A Story," this approach allows me "artistic freedom to wrap these topics in a story worth reading for its own sake."

The name "Fractured Ink" perfectly captures this next chapter – representing both the fracture of my mind as I navigate multiple disorders and my dedication to writing as a means of healing and connection. I hope you'll join me as this new podcast expands beyond schizophrenia to encompass all aspects of my life and creative work. The current podcast will remain available on all platforms, with the final episode announcing when "Fractured Ink" launches. Have you found that creative expression helps you process your own life challenges? I'd love to hear your thoughts as we continue this journey together.

#writer #fiction #schizophrenia #ComplexPTSD #epilepsy #families #friends #familyrelationships

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Correction: In the podcast, I talk of Dina Martinelli as the author of "Everyone Was Silent." Diane Tarantini wrote this book. My apologies!

Mental illness rarely exists in isolation. Living with paranoid schizophrenia presents daily challenges, but when childhood trauma enters the equation, the struggle intensifies in ways many don't understand. My personal journey with schizophrenia is deeply intertwined with my experiences as a survivor of sibling and parental abuse – when one flares, the other follows, creating a complex web of symptoms that can be overwhelming.

April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prevention, designated as both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Throughout this episode, I share how these initiatives connect directly to my mental health experience and why I'm passionate about raising awareness. From wearing teal on April 1st to support survivors of sexual violence to donning blue on April 4th for child abuse prevention, these simple acts create visibility for causes that remain stigmatized despite their prevalence.

I'm excited to highlight incredible resources that have helped me and can help others, including Feather Berkower's Parenting Safe Children workshops happening April 5th and 12th. These sessions provide practical tools for parents and caregivers to protect children from abuse. I also recommend several books and websites including stopitnow.org and safesiblings.org that offer valuable information. My own book "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" explores sibling abuse through fiction, providing another avenue for understanding these difficult experiences. Whether you're a survivor seeking validation, a parent wanting to protect your children, or simply someone who cares about ending abuse cycles, I hope you'll find valuable insights and resources in this deeply personal episode. Join me in breaking the silence around childhood trauma and its lasting effects on mental health.

#WearTealDay #SAAM2025 #VALOR #NotMyShame #ActToEndIt #StressAwarenessMonth #UnitedWeChange #TogetherWeAct #ChildAbusePreventionMonth #WearBlueDay #EveryChildNeedsAHero #bodysafetyconversation #childsexabuseprevention #parentingsafechildren #bodysafetytalks #parentworkshop #EndChildSexualAbuse #adultresponsibility #offlimits #grooming #CourageousConversation #OffLimits

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In this episode, I explain why it has been so long since the previous episode. I then discuss the advantages I have found using the fiction genre in writing about mental illness and child abuse in my two novels, "The Overlife. A Tale of Schizophrenia" (www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X) and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG).

#SameHere #Schizophrenia #SiblingAbuse #ChildAbuse #Family #Friends #MentalIllness 

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In this episode, I share my delight in winning an International Impact Book Award for my book "The Overlife, A Tale of Schizophrenia," under my pen name, Diana Dirkby. I talk about the organization that gives these awards and their crucial philanthropic work. The Founder of this organization is Nim Stant. #writing #goodstory #internationalimpactbookawards #schizophrenia #mentalnealth #families

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Have you ever wondered how mythological Furies could captivate the imagination in a modern-day thriller? Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I unravel the exhilarating journey behind my newly published book, "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies." This gripping tale explores the mysterious disappearance of three teens from different families in the quaint town of Vraboro, where myth and reality intertwine in the most chilling ways. Not only will you get a glimpse of this heart-pounding narrative, but you'll also discover how it reflects my personal belief that mental health diagnoses do not solely define individuals. This episode offers a sneak peek into the creative process and highlights how my experiences with schizophrenia have informed my work without confining it.

As you tune in, you'll learn about the various formats of my book, from the accessible Kindle edition to the anticipated audiobook and screenplay adaptations. Each format promises a unique experience, whether you're a multitasker at heart or someone who cherishes the tactile feel of a paperback. And don't miss out on my previous work, "The Overlife, a Tale of Schizophrenia," now available as an engaging audiobook. Embark on this inspiring journey with me as I aim to blend creativity with mental wellness, proving that diverse talents can flourish beyond mental illness labels.

#mentalhealth #schizophrenia #kidnapping #thriller #horror #goodstory #families #familyrelationships #greekmyths #siblings #abuse

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The struggle between solitude and connection can be a profound one, especially when navigating life with paranoid schizophrenia. Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I share the allure of solitude before finding the love and support of my caregiver spouse, and how it continues to shape my journey through the challenges of absence epilepsy and a recent compression fracture. This episode, 'Schizophrenia and the Temptation of Solitude,' offers a window into the delicate balance of managing mental health with the support of those who truly understand.

In our conversation, discover how solitude can serve as both a refuge and a hurdle, and why it’s crucial to strike harmony between alone time and social engagement. I open up about my transition from a research mathematician to a successful writing career, highlighting the flexibility that helped manage my symptoms. We also tackle the often-overlooked stigma surrounding weight, mental health, and medication, advocating for compassion and understanding in these areas. Whether you're on a similar path or supporting a loved one, find encouragement and insights waiting in this episode.

#DianaDirkby #TheOverlife #ATaleofSchizophrenia #Schizophrenia #MentalIllness #FamilyDynamics #CaregiverBurden #Resilience #Hope #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthStigma #Strength #Love #Compassion #SecondChance #Transformation #Fiction #MentalHealthPortrayal #FamilyStruggles #EmotionalTurmoil #PoignantStory #GrippingNarrative #UnforgettableCharacters #MustReadBook #Amazon #Solitude

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What if you could find hope and resilience in the midst of living with paranoid schizophrenia? Join Diana Dirkby as she explores her personal journey in navigating life with this challenging brain disorder. As the host of "Schizophrenia as I Live it," Diana shares how she has built a fulfilling life by setting realistic daily goals and finding support through mental health advocacy groups like NAMI and SANE Australia. Her story is one of overcoming stigma and setbacks, and she emphasizes that life can be rewarding despite mental health challenges. Diana's mission is clear: to inspire others to see beyond diagnoses and find hope in unexpected places.

Diana also dives into her literary world, inviting listeners to explore her book "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and eagerly anticipating her upcoming novel "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies." Through compelling characters like Isabel Morse, Diana challenges stereotypes and uncovers the often-taboo issues faced by families. With elements of horror and thriller, these stories not only entertain but also shed light on the complexities of mental health. Connect with Diana on Instagram (@dianadirkby_writings) and her new website for updates on her writing, as she continues her fight to support mental health awareness and challenge societal norms.

#DianaDirkby #TheOverlife #ATaleofSchizophrenia #Schizophrenia #MentalIllness #FamilyDynamics #CaregiverBurden #Resilience #Hope #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthStigma #Strength #Love #Compassion #SecondChance #Transformation #Fiction #MentalHealthPortrayal #FamilyStruggles #EmotionalTurmoil #PoignantStory #GrippingNarrative #UnforgettableCharacters #MustReadBook #Amazon

Pastime With Good Company by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company 

Pastime With Good Company, composed by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company