Ok, I'm another blog virgin so bear with me as I get the hang of things. I thought today I'd talk about what a normal writing day is like at my house. Some of you probably picture me somewhere quiet, with a cup of nice flavored coffee, sitting in a writing room of my own with my trusty computer and typing out stories. (I wish)
Actually the day for me goes something like this.
It begins at bedtime. (My kids bedtime that is) Somewhere around ten PM the house gets settled and I get my computer time. This lasts until the first young child starts crying. Usually about an hour. Then I settle everyone down again and try to get myself some sleep. Of course the plot bunnies are now beating at my brain because my imagination won't turn off and after a few hours I can't help but get back up and sneak a bit of writing time. If typing is too noisy I'll turn to my trusty pen and notebook(Twice the work but very relaxing for me to write things out longhand)
When I'm finally too tired to work anymore I get a bit of rest and then once morning comes and my three kiddies are settled with food and cartoons I steal a bit more time. Throughout the day, between screaming and fighting and general chaos, I might get another hour or two in all if I'm lucky. LOL It's a wonder I get anything written at all, but in a strange way it works for me. I write better under presure it seems, when every moment at the computer needs to count. I always have more than one project goign and that works for me too. I probably couldn't write now in a peaceful environment and thats okay too. Every writer has to find the process that works for them and total disarray is apparently my thing.
I'd love to hear about the system everyone else uses to write.
Beth Wylde
MSA and Blog newbie
http://beth-wylde.tripod.com/
9 comments:
Great post, Beth. I can relate.
My son is an adult now and out of the house, but I used to write during the day when he was at school. I've never been much of a night owl, so writing late at night has never worked for me. I use to begin writing at the crack of dawn and quit around noon, but now I sleep in a bit later. I quit at around 2 pm.
I remember hearing Marion Zimmer Bradley talk about writing with young children at home at a convention once. I think her kids were older. She had a sign that she used to put on her office door that basically said "Mommy Is Working. Unless It's An Emergency, Please Don't Disturb Her." The kids were quite good about it. I used to tell my son that I was going to write for awhile and I needed my alone time. He was also good about entertaining himself, so it worked out well for both of us.
Another blog cherry! Whoo hooo...
I like your writing day. Reminds me of mine, minus the kids. But chaos reigns all around me. And funny you mention "longhand" I tend to do a bit of that myself. At least in so far as jotting down ideas and sentences that come to mind. I just know if I don't have noise, it doesn't work for me.
great blog, Beth...can't wait for more from you...
Got your cherry popped, dint ya??? WooHOo. Great post. We call all relate. I've been at this for 15 yrs. When the kids were little, I wrote while they were at school and, once they were home, that was IT. Now they are pretty much grown and it's WRITING HEAVEN. I love being able to hang in my jammies all day and get with it.
Great Post!!!!
I don't have any kids, so I can write whenever I want. Unfortunately, having the opportunity and actually being able to do it are two different things!
Generally I do my time at the evil day job, come home to work out and shower, and then after dinner I write. Some evenings I get nothing done, others I get a lot done. On weekends, I may spend all day writing or no time at all. I can't seem to plan or be organized. D'oh!
Great post!
I can relate. My daughter is 13 now, so it's not so bad but when she was smaller my writing time was precious.
Wow, Beth! I don't know how you do it. I have time to write while my son's in school, but my creativity peaks at night. Sometimes I'm productive during the time I should be, other days I piddle around pretending to write while I'm playing online with you guys. :) I try to write after my son goes to bed, but most of the time I make myself stop early enough to pay a little attention to my husband.
Great topic! It's interesting to see how we all find the time to do this thing we do.
Wendi Darlin
I actually have a very strict schedule of writing. I do it every morning from 5-8am and then again at night after I study from 9-11pm. I do this at least every day if not 4-5 times a day.
And when I stop inhaling helium, and realize there really isn't fairy god mother I go to the real schedule of writing; at night for a couple of hours. lol.
The best advice I heard was to write when you have free time. Sometimes its when a professor is boring the life out of me, other times its when I'm driving. (I talk to myself) lol.
But behind the scenes....I'm the ruler of Sheeba in disguise.
Great blog, Beth! I have to confess I do often wonder how in the world so many of you with young kids write anything at all! We're pretty lucky at our house - all children are grown and gone, so we've had a lot more flexibility to devote time to our writing - at least, until I went back to a full time day job a few months ago! We're still trying to figure out how to juggle everything now, but we'll never stop writing!
Adriana
Beth I think we can ALL relate as authors :) Glad to have you with us!
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