The Doors

To illustrate my point of how to rid yourself of distraction, either when writing or even regarding something like personal relationships, imagine that you own an age-old castle isolated somewhere in Ireland tucked away in the rolling hills far from anyone having the slightest chance of finding you. Awesome, but one problem.  A couple finds you.  They are tourists who want to come in and see your castle.  I should mention here that this castle represents your brain and so what they want to see is the inside of your mind and learn things about you that you had no intention of sharing. But you're curious and you want to find out more about the tourists so you lower Door #1, the drawbridge, and invite them in for a chat.  You were in the middle of writing a masterpiece but now you are occupied with your guests and have to put the single most important thing in your life on hold.  Your imagination.  That's only the beginning. Lowering Door #1 and inviting them into your life seems harmless. After all, it's good to meet people, but for this couple, it's not enough.  They want to see more of your castle and even take pictures.  You don't want to be rude so you invite them up the baroque staircase behind Door #2 and give them further access to the castle allowing them to view things that only a good friend, parent, or favorite aunt should see. Now they're getting to know you intimately and it's only day one.  Not so good. Would you seriously tell a stranger your secrets on the first date?  Right.  So, now seems like the right time to say, "Thanks for dropping by" and escort them back to Door #1. But you're nice.  You're nice to strangers, you're nice to friends, and even to your characters.  Instead of having your own private space that you can call on anytime you need, you allow everyone to get by Door #3.  I must inform you that getting by this Door is sacred territory. For example, I've been with my wife a good many years and there's only a few times I can count where I've been able to knock on Door #3. This Door is to be protected at all costs, which in my case I won't have access to until one of us is near death.  I've learned by her example that with the stories I write I shouldn't allow others to know everything about every character I develop or even personal nuggets about me.  So, like The Home Shopping Network, here's the part where I tell you this is good stuff and it works, especially on those days when you feel like life is getting the best of you. It's then when I'd encourage you to open your mind, take a breath or two, and realize you may have let too many people by The Doors.