the delphic expanse

Back when I had a more freelance schedule, I wrote all the time. I mostly had control over how my day was organized and so I could plan and set aside time for writing fiction (and a lot of no-fiction as well).

In some sense, I'm still writing all the time, since my job requires it, but in this process oriented, super-fast-paced, high-stress office, I'm not doing any sort of thoughtful writing. It's been hard to find the time to write any fiction, since I was so used to being able to carve a larger chunk of time out of my week to focus on writing. In fact, it's even been hard to find time to tweet - and that's just 140 characters at a time!

So I'm trying something new: instead of trying to pin down an increasingly elusive larger chunk of time, I'm writing for five, ten minutes each morning while I have my tea and breakfast. I've done it twice now and it seems to be working well. For one thing, I'm not already brain-dead and emotionally fried from the office and so I slip into the story very easily. I am a little sleepy, but focusing on the writing seems to help wake me up and it's proving to be a lovely way to start the day. I'm realizing too that my Twitter-based fiction used to start this way - first thing in the morning, just a few tweets to warm up while I had a light breakfast and tea.

So now I officially have a specific time of day to write. We'll see if it's sustainable and I make any progress on my languishing almost-finished fics.

How about the rest of you? Do you have a specific time of day or day of the week to write? Or, like me, DID you at one time and you're trying to readjust?

Before my broken ankle saga threw everything out of whack, I'd been getting up an hour early to write most mornings.

I am not a morning person, so it hurt to do this. A lot. But I discovered that it was worth it for several reasons. First, accomplishing something that early in the morning tended to set a better tone for the day overall. Second, it helped me realize that the reason I don't write after work is because my brain is too full and too tired by that point. Third, my writing improved by leaps and bounds.

I've been trying to drag myself back to that schedule for a while now which is part of my frustration with the fact that the ankle just won't seem to heal. I'm still getting up at the same time, but these days I need the extra time just to get myself through the shower and out the door because I'm so much slower.

During the week, at the start of the week, I have to do classwork. I'm lucky if I can do blogging/working on my site for 10 minutes on those nights. But once the week's assignment is in, and the readings are done, I can focus on fiction more. But I'm also generally working on wholly original stuff these days. I spend evenings, weekends, writing, writing, writing, when other things aren't coming to the fore.

I am looking forward to three weeks between semesters, although if I can get the books early, I'll be doing that.

Mornings for me, too. By afternoon or evening, I'm usually tired enough that it is difficult for me to be creative. However, the later part of the day seems to work well for doing revisions to stuff I've already written. The morning's creative blush has worn off by that point and I'm able to look at what I've written more analytically. Of course, the exception to this is the occasional night when I can't sleep, and I try writing for an hour or so. Often I have luck, other times It just helps make me sleepy so I can go back to bed.

Now if I just had some free morning time. The new job is going well, but my work hours vary from week to week. A few times I've had trouble remembering what day it is!

lfvoy wrote:Before my broken ankle saga threw everything out of whack, I'd been getting up an hour early to write most mornings.

I am not a morning person, so it hurt to do this. A lot. But I discovered that it was worth it for several reasons. First, accomplishing something that early in the morning tended to set a better tone for the day overall. Second, it helped me realize that the reason I don't write after work is because my brain is too full and too tired by that point. Third, my writing improved by leaps and bounds.

Your earlier mention of this was my inspiration to give writing in the morning a try! Here's hoping you can get back to that schedule.

Kathy Rose wrote:However, the later part of the day seems to work well for doing revisions to stuff I've already written. The morning's creative blush has worn off by that point and I'm able to look at what I've written more analytically.

I'm going to have to remember this. I know in the past that putting something aside for a while let's me look at it this way later, but I'd like to shorten that "put it aside" time span.

Whenever I can.. but mostly early morning, I've been waking up very early, 4am some mornings and I hate just lying in bed so I go downstairs and write.
I try and squeeze in time during the day. It helps having a smartphone as I do a fair amount of writing on there.

Frakme wrote:It helps having a smartphone as I do a fair amount of writing on there.

How can you stand the tiny keyboard? I have an 8" tablet and can barely stand to post from it. I have a Bluetooth keyboard that I can use with it, but honestly by the time I set up tablet and keyboard I might as well just be setting up my laptop.

So I find myself only writing at home. Any ideas?

lfvoy wrote:
How can you stand the tiny keyboard? I have an 8" tablet and can barely stand to post from it. I have a Bluetooth keyboard that I can use with it, but honestly by the time I set up tablet and keyboard I might as well just be setting up my laptop.
?

Not easily... it's only good for short bursts and no good for serious editing. Happily in two days time I will be getting a Chromebook, my netbook is permanently desk based as the keyboard is totally shagged. So I'll be able to move all over the house rather than confine myself to the dining room to write or use the smartphone.

Sadly, I don't have a particular time of day. Mostly, my time to write is any time I have something else pressing I'm supposed to be doing. The plot bunnies and the inspiration come when I'm really not supposed to be writing for me.

I have to say, I LOVE my Chrome book. It is making it soooo much easier to find the time to write since I can use it anywhere in the house or even in the garden.