Writing as Discipline

[Ozymanithrax]

I am curious about the process that other writers use? I used to write as the bug bit me. Now, I have set up a regular schedule, like work actually that makes me more productive as a writer.

I write every weekday morning after dropping my kids off at school, writing a 1666 words a day on a new project. It usually takes me a max of an hour and a half. Saturday’s and Sundays I set aside time every day to edit existing work. I know, editing is writing, but it uses different talents. I read through 2500 to 5000 words in an editing session, every day. (Note, at this time I am unemployed and finishing my degree in English literature. While working as a technical write, I only managed 1000 words a day and about 2000 edited words.

This works for me. What works for you?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Well I write every day, but as a micro publisher I have little choice

but to do that.

That said, I try to get about 3K words of new material (on average) a day, and 5K edited... at times less, a few times more. Ah those long nights with coffee and a red pen.

Of course the new electronic baubles and toys at times take time away from the actual writing time... but hey, I also see them as research

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Well I cannot just seat down and ahem pen a story from

the air. I used to... but these days I need some ahem, planning before I seat down and actually write the damn thing. Slow indeed, but hey whatever...

[sybylla]

3. I've always struggled with scheduling writing

When my children were younger, they always had a knack for screwing up a schedule. Instead, I learned to set weekly goals and dedicate myself to getting certain things done on certain days. On a day where I have to spend a lot of time on the road, I'll take a voice recorder and play with characters and scenes as I drive, or begin to plan another project. If I know I can dedicate 5 hours to writing on a particular day, I set writing goals that match that. Sometimes I'll extend that 5 hours into 12 if I get in the groove and stay up until 4am.

The point is, I've learned to be flexible but still get the work done. I make the most of all the time I have.

Off topic - I'm an underemployed Technical Writer. I've managed to pick up a few freelance jobs but spend most of my time working on fiction topics. Good luck with the degree and future employment!

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Thanks,

I've also worked as a Technical Writer. Underemployment in the field today is the norm.

[kestrel91316]

5. I don't have a writing schedule. Here at work there are far too many

distractions and interruptions to write anything not directly work-related. And I have trouble concentrating on work-related writing projects, too. Then when I go home I have to fix dinner and then I just feel like reading or watching tv. I am probably too lazy to be much of a serious writer.

Every once in anwhile, though (like this weekend), the muse coes to visit and I get a burst of energy and at least start planning another essay or memoir or whatever. I don't do fiction - I simply lack the imagination to even try, lol.

I think half my problem is that the first two articles I wrote got picked up (and paid for!!!) immediately by the first places I sent them, and from that I apparently concluded that since I was a successful, published writer I had nothing more to prove to anyone. So I have been, ahem, really lazy. My next piece, a personal essay, gets revised and sent out again periodically and until this weekend I could not get past its repeated rejection and make myself start a new project.

I know. I'm pathetic.