Today, I thought I’d give you an inside look into my writing routine. This does not include any chapters I’m critiquing or manuscripts I’m beta-reading at the time.
Monday – I wake up ready for a new week of writing, usually depressed over how little writing I managed to accomplish over the weekend. Partway through the day I remember my Wednesday blog post is due in two days. Rats! Now every time I have a chance to work on my story, my mind refuses to focus on anything other than dreaming up a topic for my blog post. If I’m lucky, I’ll come up with a idea quickly enough that I'll be able to spend the rest of the day concentrating on my story.
Tuesday – If I thought up a good blog topic on Monday, I alternate between writing the blog post and working on my story. This can lead to a very productive day of writing. If I haven’t come up with a topic, however, then all work on the story ceases until the blog post is finished. Assuming I finish…
Wednesday – If I finished the post on Tuesday, then I upload it to the blog early in the morning and feel free to spend the rest of the day on my story. Yay! If not, I frantically write it during lunch, which means everyone who has already stopped by my blog to read my scheduled Wednesday post has left in a huff. At least I have the rest of the day to work on my story.
Thursday – Assuming I don’t obsess too much over the gathering of writing links for Friday’s blog post, or how late my Wednesday post was, I work exclusively on my story. Thursday is often my most productive writing day of the week.
Friday – Oops! The writing links aren’t done yet, so I scramble to gather them together and post them. I’ll work some on my story, but I’m often so relieved that my next blog post won’t be due for another five days, it’s hard to keep my mind on the story. But I don’t let Friday’s lack of progress bother me, because I’m absolutely certain I’ll do a ton of writing over the weekend.
So what’s your writing week like?
ChemistKen
Website of Ken Rahmoeller -- fantasy author, chemist, and lover of all things Hogwarts (Photo Courtesy of Scarluuk)
Wow. Well, you're kicking my trash with that routine. Monday I'm struggling to get kids started for the school week. I write a blog post, work on flash fiction, and maybe eek out an hour if I have enough brain power. Tuesday is pretty much the same. Wednesday is blogging day. I might get in a couple hundred words AFTER frying my brain. I might not. Thursday is grocery day. Chances of writing are minimal. Friday is the day of plenty. Why is the week so short, eh?
ReplyDeleteWell, when you take into account my slow writing speed, I bet you still get more writing accomplished than I do in a week. Maybe someone will come up with a way to add another day to the week.
DeleteYou're doing better than I am. It's nearly a full month into back-to-school, and I *STILL* haven't done any writing.
DeleteMy anti-writing schedule sounds like yours, except it's social media, emails, mandatory inservices and re-certs at work, filling out stuff for kids for school, car repairs, doctor's appointments, laundry, etc.
#onedayI'llwrite
Yes, Melissa, but you do still have two books already published. You're allowed some off time.
DeleteThat made me chuckle!
ReplyDeleteSaturday and Sunday are when I'm scrambling to get my Monday post ready. Even if I've been saving links and stuff all week, it still takes about two hours to put together. Needless to say, I get a lot more writing done during the week.
It's hard for me to concentrate on my writing when I'm feeling guilty about neglecting my blog. I always feel so much better after I've posted.
DeleteHehehe, sounds like the blog is distracting you. :)
ReplyDeleteMy writing life routine is M/W - Write from 7-8AM, T/Th - Write from 7-8AM, 12-1PM, F- Write from 1:30-4:30PM. Wednesdays are usually blog days...if I have the time. :)
It's nice to have a writing routine, isn't it? I fonly the actual writing came that easily.
DeleteMy writing schedule has gone KAFLOOOEY!
ReplyDeleteI am battling insecurity, depression, an aversion to working out, and the siren calls of what my CPs think I should be working on and what I WANT to be working on (which requires outside endorsement). Yeah, I know that's vague, but I can't go into details. Let's just say I'm a mess?
I hear you. I'm still trying to balance several writing projects. Different CPs are reading different portions of my stories, so I have to keep jumping back and forth between sections to keep them all satisfied. I feel like I'm juggling balls sometimes.
DeleteThis sounds eerily familiar. Except replace 'blog posts' with 'freelance articles'. My blog posts--they're not usually time-sensitive so I get them done well ahead of schedule.
ReplyDeleteActually had a great weekend, and so far, week! Doesn't happen every week, so I'm going with it and be very happy! Not bragging, okay, so maybe I am, celebrating with a happy dance! :)
ReplyDeleteYou do sound like blogging is getting in the way of writing. If it really is, then why are you blogging when you have no writing to show for it?
ReplyDeleteI blog when I have the time or something to say and if I don't, I just don't bother. I don't have any published books or stories out there, so what am I promoting? I just keep up with my blog friends a bit with a post here and there and go comment on all their blog posts. I keep track of my writing every single writing day and I see if it's slipping easily, and it motivates me to get back to work. I suggest recording a running tally of how many words you're writing for the year so you can see it and be moved to do something about it. Numbers don't lie.
Seriously, it works! Just give it a try for a while. :)
I couldn't help but snicker. Been there too often scrambling for a blog topic. Now I try to plan weeks in advance. It helps, but its far from perfect. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing