Hallo, fine peoples! And Welcome to Insecure Writer's Support Groups first Wednesday meeting...
This month the question is How do you make time in your busy schedule for writing?
And you know what? I'm not sure. So let me tell you a story about what WORKED initially—the FIRST time I made time. I was so clever...
See, as my kids reached middle school, first one, then the other, fired me from their nighttime routine. More specifically, they were more interested in reading on their own than together. The first time it hit was right about the time I started writing fan fiction (the end of 2005). I took a bath each night, and began taking a notebook... but suddenly I had an extra 45 minutes for my bath in the fall of 2006... And three years later it happened again... I'll tell you what. Ninety minutes you never had before is a GENEROUS amount of time to write in when it has no other earmarks as to what it is for...
So sorry I have lost the answer... Maybe you should go read what some OTHER people are doing to find a better solution!!!
Also... The Memory of Things is out... This beautiful book was written by my good friend Gae Polisner. It is set in the immediate aftermath of the twin towers falling and has totally rave reviews from very impressive people. Gae's books are literary YA--the sort that make it into classrooms for thoughtful discussion. I received mine yesterday, so if you need me, I'll be reading.
20 comments:
Ah, time! Wish I had the answer too.
I fill some writing time like that, playing word solitaire or Scrabble on my tablet. Need to take that time to write instead.
Ah, I love a good soak in the tub! I don't bring anything in there with me other than my thoughts - which I try to dump out of my brain for a bit - and a notebook for when I can't. :)
Oh, I have that book on my TBR list....
As crazy as it sounds, a game of spider solitaire helps to get my thinking back on track.
Thoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
Reading helps fill the creative well. I don't read as much as I did pre-writing career. Now it's a few minutes (or hours) before sleep. Computer games (Solitaire, Mah Jong) give me a break and helps clear the mind. Unfortunately, I sometimes play too long. Good luck with whatever works for you.
Literary YA makes me cry, and I hate crying while reading. It's so easy to fall out of a good habit, eh? Here's to getting back to it and kicking life in the rear!
I go through phases where I'll pick up a video game or something and get distracted for a few weeks - the time I used to spend writing is suddenly spent diddling around in a game. But within a few weeks, as soon as I start getting bored, I will erased the game and go back to writing. I think we need variety some times, to recharge, to let our minds wander, to do different things so as not to get stuck in a rut.
IWSG September
Make a rule - no crosswords in the tub!
I pretty much get what you're saying as I'm pretty much in the same tub--metaphorically speaking of course. Sometimes I think we need to take a break in order to regroup. My break has been going a bit too long perhaps, but it's possibly what is best for me at the moment.
You've obviously been doing something right considering your accomplishments so far in regard to writing.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
What is helping me is the book 'The Eight-Minute Writing Habit' by Monica Leonelle. She recommends doing 8-minute timed writing sessions to help build up a daily writing habit. Because it's easier to find 8 spare minutes than an hour. Anyway, I'm doing that lately and it helps. Except today when I'm blog hopping.....
Nissa from
http://myantimatterlife.wordpress.com
I suffer from interruptionitis. Interruptions kill my writing.
I haven't heard of The Memory of Things. Glad you mentioned it today.
Look, get out of that bathtub and write. Close the puzzle book and write. You are one of my favorite wordsmithers. (Not a word?) Weaver of sentences. I know you've felt disappointment, maybe discouraged, but write. Okay?
T
Three words: take a shower! Um, no, I don't mean right NOW. Sorry. It's not like I'm insinuating you NEED a shower, or anything. But you have to admit, it'd be a lot more difficult to do puzzles in the shower. :)
Really. You'll figure it out. If you truly want to write, you'll make the time to do it. Might not be when you THINK you're gonna do it, but you'll find a way.
Well, having had a good routine before, hopefully you'll work your way back to one. I think it's a question of motivation, and sometimes writing is more important to us than at other times. There's nothing wrong with that - we're not machines! When the writing is ready to burst out, you'll make time for it. Congrats to Gae - sounds like a good one.
It's so easy to get off track. At least crosswords keep your mind sharp.
Loved the authentic feel to your post. You are just having a bit of fallow time just now. Sometimes I think it's needed. Then you will start back refreshed and with so much to say... Good luck
gramswisewords.blogspot.com
My answer would be: I don't, unfortunately
Cold As Heaven
I know how that is - to have an established routine and have something interrupt it. Mine was interrupted a long time ago and I never got a new one going. Even reading time is getting difficult to find.
The Memory of Things sounds very interesting! Thanks for the recommendation.
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