Tunnel Vision or Damn, Is That a Train I See?

I would put tunnel vision way up on the list of Necessary Qualities for Writers.

Tunnel vision is the ability to concentrate on your own goals to the exclusion of all else.  It’s the ability to put your nose to the grindstone and ignore everything around you, including your own inner editor and is very helpful in the following situations:

• When people think your writing sucks (including you).
• When your sales have tanked and everyone else is hitting all kinds of lists.(Stop checking Amazon & Bookscan.)
• When someone else gets a deal you weren’t offered (and you think his/her writing sucks).
• When the deadline looms and you haven’t a clue how to pull this book together. (Just keep plodding along, one word at a time.)

While tunnel vision is very helpful in other occupations, it’s absolutely vital as a writer.