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One of the most frequent questions I get is how I allocate time for writing. So, here goes: an attempted explanation...
I work full time as the director of a large law-firm library - my hours are 9:30 to 6:00, and I have about an hour commute on each end. Therefore, I need to manage my writing time as efficiently as possible.
I wake up each morning by 6:00, and I work out for half an hour, first thing. I eat breakfast, shower, get dressed for the office, and then I plant myself at my writing desk. On a good day, I'm there by 8:00; I always make it by 8:15. And then, I write until 8:45. I used to con myself into believing that I could due various things (check email, read webpages, play Solitaire, play online pinball) to warm up, but I found that I lost all my writing time to those things. So, now, it's writing, straight off the bat. In that half hour (or, occasionally, 45 minutes) I can get about a thousand words written. Or a thousand words revised.
I draft a chapter in a few days, and then I revise it for a few days, usually reading over the material three times until I'm satisfied with it.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Because life interrupts (I have managers' meetings at the office, or the car needs to be repaired, or I succumb to the siren call of the web), this formula doesn't let me complete a book in my six-month contractual time. Therefore, I spend vacation time from the day-job to do Writing Marathon. (Insert long boring story about how I successfully negotiated to have six weeks of annual leave from my day job, in addition to federal holidays, but including sick leave.)
During Writing Marathon, I still get up at 6, I still eat, shower, and get dressed. And then I sit. And write. Draft and revise - a chapter a day. By the end of a week (with both weekends) that's nine chapters - about 35,000 words or one third of a novel. (Yes, I'm a twitchy wreck by the end of the week, but I'm thrilled with what I got accomplished.) I used to gorge on junk food during Marathon, but now I find that I need to be even more cautious about what I eat - too much junk, and I'm ready to do Sleeping Marathon, or Television Marathon, or Contemplate the Universe Marathon instead of the Writing one.
Mindy, contemplating whether she'll need *two* Writing Marathons to complete the sequel to GIRL'S GUIDE on time.
I work full time as the director of a large law-firm library - my hours are 9:30 to 6:00, and I have about an hour commute on each end. Therefore, I need to manage my writing time as efficiently as possible.
I wake up each morning by 6:00, and I work out for half an hour, first thing. I eat breakfast, shower, get dressed for the office, and then I plant myself at my writing desk. On a good day, I'm there by 8:00; I always make it by 8:15. And then, I write until 8:45. I used to con myself into believing that I could due various things (check email, read webpages, play Solitaire, play online pinball) to warm up, but I found that I lost all my writing time to those things. So, now, it's writing, straight off the bat. In that half hour (or, occasionally, 45 minutes) I can get about a thousand words written. Or a thousand words revised.
I draft a chapter in a few days, and then I revise it for a few days, usually reading over the material three times until I'm satisfied with it.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Because life interrupts (I have managers' meetings at the office, or the car needs to be repaired, or I succumb to the siren call of the web), this formula doesn't let me complete a book in my six-month contractual time. Therefore, I spend vacation time from the day-job to do Writing Marathon. (Insert long boring story about how I successfully negotiated to have six weeks of annual leave from my day job, in addition to federal holidays, but including sick leave.)
During Writing Marathon, I still get up at 6, I still eat, shower, and get dressed. And then I sit. And write. Draft and revise - a chapter a day. By the end of a week (with both weekends) that's nine chapters - about 35,000 words or one third of a novel. (Yes, I'm a twitchy wreck by the end of the week, but I'm thrilled with what I got accomplished.) I used to gorge on junk food during Marathon, but now I find that I need to be even more cautious about what I eat - too much junk, and I'm ready to do Sleeping Marathon, or Television Marathon, or Contemplate the Universe Marathon instead of the Writing one.
Mindy, contemplating whether she'll need *two* Writing Marathons to complete the sequel to GIRL'S GUIDE on time.
Anyway, thanks! Good to see this is working for someone so successful.
I don't know - I've spoken with successful people who have adapted their writing schedules to their natural inclinations (e.g., fitting time in at the end of the day because they're night owls, rather than pushing for morning time because that "makes sense" schedule wise), but I've also spoken with successful folks who retrain themselves to a regimented, orderly, organized approach (even if that goes against their original nature.) It's worth experimenting to see what type of person you are!
If I recall, you've said in the past that you work well with the energy of a coffee shop around you - it sounds like you've likely found your solution.
Good luck!
Mindy, who would *love* to up the output to 2K a morning session!
By the way, I'm Kim from Julie's Newsgroup, though I've been in semi-lurker mode lately.
In my creeping old age, I find that I don't handle processed sugar very well. Other carbs don't seem to get to me - breads, pastas, rice, etc are all OK, as is fruit, but a couple of candy bars, or an overdose of jelly beans, or a surfeit of SweetTarts, and I am a basket case. (Truly - tears, lack of perspective on all emotional situations, the works.) Combine the emotional baggage with the fact that sugar makes me *very* tired, and I try to cut all of it out during Marathon.
Strange, the ways our bodies send us messages...
Oh, and it's great to be here! :) I don't get online as much as I used to....they keep me very busy in my new job.
:) Hope you don't mind, but I added you to my friends list! :D