1 year ago
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
The Juggling Author
How do you juggle your writing day or time? Do you say, okay, I'm going to write for 30 minutes, then allot the next thirty minutes to research? At the end of the day, do you edit what you wrote that day? Do you go back and read the full manuscript or story from the beginning, whether you wrote it that day or a month ago?
Do you even set a schedule? Do you have a plan?
I don't think a plan or schedule is a requirement. Some writers do that. Some writers don't.
I think you have to do what works for you. Maybe you feel the most creative in the early morning hours. Maybe writing at night while others are watching TV works for you.
Perhaps you work a full-time job during the week and weekends are your I'm-sitting-my-rear-in-a-chair-and-writing time.
Or maybe you're just super-busy weekdays, weekends, evening and morning. Maybe you write or edit or promote whenever you get the chance.
Any of those are workable. And if it fits your needs, then it's a good plan.
Nowadays, authors have to do a lot more juggling than they used to do.
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You called that right. I write now at 6:55 am to 7:30 and then go to work. Then when I get home, if I can fit it in, I write for a half hour more. When I'm writing, I'm writing. When it's editing time, I do that. I have a hard time doing both.
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of the opposite, Liza. I write, then read to edit, then write, etc. I think I'd be better off if I wrote more and re-read less until I've finished a big chunk of writing.
DeleteWhen I'm working on something new, I try to work everyday on it until it's done. But I'm usually interrupted by editing another book or doing promotion for the release of another.
ReplyDeleteThere's always something that has to be done, isn't there? It's easy to think that writers just sit and write all day! Ha.
DeleteI did have a more regular writing schedule, but my part-time job has become busier, thus digging into my writing time. The part-time job pays well. The writing, so far, not so much. I used to worry about it more, but now I just go with the flow and if I create something great, if a week goes by and nothing happens - that's okay too. I also seem to spend more time on marketing stuff, than actual writing.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, Joanne! Marketing never seems to end.
DeleteI try and fit it in wherever I can and if I can't get to a computer I jot down notes.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Excellent idea, Ann. I rarely have pen and paper on me when I'm not at my computer. The result is that I forget "brilliant" ideas that pop into my head. Note the parentheses since how brilliant can the idea be if I can't remember it!
DeleteBeing an anal Capricorn, I have a schedule with a list for each day of what must get done. I'm lucky because writing is my full time job.
ReplyDeleteYou are really organized, Lauri!
DeleteI have a schedule of sorts. It's more of one that tells me when not to even attempt to write. For instance, morning are a no-no. Hubby is still home and seems to require my attention whenever I start to write. There's just no point in even trying.
ReplyDeleteI have to have quiet. No TV on, no talking. I've gotten better at being able to work when there's talking, though. If it gets too loud, I shut the door.
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