Today's topic is writing schedules.
I've read in different places before that if you want to really be a professional writer, then you should sit down for an alloted time(such as two hours) and write. It doesn't matter if you just sit there and stare at the blank document, roll around on the ground, stare out the window, twitch uncontrollably in your chair, but you cannot do anything other than writing. No internet, no TV, no blogging, no reading, nothing else fun. You must make that time, every day, to be your writing time.
I never did this before (save for NaNo). I always just kind of... wrote. It didn't matter when and it usually wasn't every day. And I was usually distracted by the TV and the internet and books, etc. So I have decided to start a writing regime.
Every week, from Monday to Friday (except Tuesday because of writing group) I go to the library for a few hours and just write. I've only started this week and, admittedly, have only gone one day so far. I had things to do today that kept me from going. But anyways. I'm actually finding this helpful. On Monday, in an hour, I wrote 1,000 words. Then I got tired of sitting around (because I had already been at the library for two hours writing blog posts and just roaming the net) and left. But it felt awesome! I was rather proud of myself. So I will continue to this and maybe I'll actually get some writing on a new story done soon.
So, what do you guys think? Do you have a writing schedule you stick to? If you do, how does it work for you? And if not, how do you get your writing done?
Laters!
PS, Sorry this was posted late!
Posts
3 years ago
I don't so much have a set schedule as a word count, though these days I usually write up in the middle of the day. I did try doing it late at night, but I found that I had trouble going to sleep afterwards, even if there were a couple hours between the writing session and bedtime. My count is 2000 per day minimum, and the more I've done it, the easier it's become. Like exercising a muscle, basically. I can knock those 2000+ words out in a couple hours now, with the only interruptions being to stretch a little or take care of neccessities. It's not solid writing, because I have to take pauses to think of how to phrase things sometimes, but for the most part it's a good two hours of non-stop writing. And I always feel better after I've done it. I used to take some random days off in between for recharging, but the more I've done it the less I've needed to do that.
ReplyDeleteI guess the bottom line is that everybody has to find their own way of doing it. Whatever it is, I think the discipline is good for your mind and pays off in increased output.