Writing Habits

When it comes to writing habits, everyone is different.  While working for myself in the print shop, I was putting in crazy hours.  There were never any set hours for me.  Owning your own business had its advantages, as well as its disadvantages.  For me, the disadvantage, was that I couldn’t have a regular schedule.  The print shop had deadlines.  Many times it required that we were working until the job was done.  Sometime that was late at night, or sometimes I worked until late the next night.  It was not unheard of to go for three or four days, with only catnaps here and there.

Even with that disadvantage, I still did a lot of writing.  I use to write whenever I was not working at the shop, and was still awake.  I learned the hard way that I had to pace myself. Writing has been described as a lonely activity.  Some people have to do it in very quiet secluded places, other wise they would be distracted.  Others find noisy places, so they will not feel the loneliness.  Others find places where there are people to observe and get inspiration that way.  Others listen to music.  I don’t think it matters where you write.  There are no rules.  I think a person can do whatever helps them do their best work. 

Myself, I can write, no matter what else is happening, however I prefer to listen to soft music while I write.  I have written in hospitals, trains, planes, at camping, while others are watching television, or in the still of the darkest loneliest night.

Now that I write pretty much full time, I treat it like I would any job.  My back and neck will not allow me to sit still for as long as I would like to write, but I still get in about 10-12 hours a day writing.  There are days, when some of that time is spent researching between scenes.  Some of that time may be spent making notes of what I’ve written and how I will tie it into the next scene.  Sometimes I listen to inspirational messages and music, I pace while meditating, and I read. 

However, most of that time I’m usually writing.  If I am in the zone, and things are coming quickly, then I stick with it, even if my spine doesn’t like me.  When thoughts are coming fast, I don’t even notice the clock.  I usually try to knock off about the time my wife comes home.  Sometimes that’s easy, and sometimes I’m in the middle of a streak. 

I’m blessed with a wife that isn’t bothered when I stay with the story from time to time.  It doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen.  I do most of my heavy writing in the morning.  I do projects and blog writing in the afternoon or evening.  I try not to let trivial things interrupt my story writing until afternoon.  That doesn’t always work, but that is my intent.

That being said, it is doubly important to me these days to rest up.  I try to get to bed at a decent time, eat right, get some regular exercise and spend some time each day to read or listen to scriptures or uplifting spiritual messages.  I find the results are more and better ideas.  When I feel good, my writing flows better.  When I’m in the zone, and I’m rested, I have been known to punch out 300 pages of story or more in a week.  Many times I may only have to change a few things, when editing it. 

On the other hand, when I’m not in the zone, or if I’m not feeling well, and I go ahead with the story, I may need to change 100 pages or more at a time.  There have been some stories that I have scrapped everything and started over.  Health can play a big part, so I don’t disregard it.

I write for business 6 days a week.  I leave it alone on Sunday, although I will write letters and notes then.  Everyone needs a day to rest, energize and be spiritually recharged.  Without it, we get stale and boring.  We feel that way too.  A person can burnout without that recharge.  I believe the only times I have had “writer’s block,” has been when I’ve allowed myself to become tired or spiritually drained.  The audience can feel the unease in our story.  I can feel it when I read over what I’ve written before.  It’s painful, but I’ve learned that it is better to go back and rewrite those places, after I have spiritually recharged.

The most important thing for me, when I’m starting out on a new project is to organize my self and my surroundings.  I clear my desk, sort through my drawers, get rid of useless notes, rewrite notes so they are legible, (if they are applicable.)  File any old stories, or current stories that I am writing on, and make certain that everything is in its place.  Then I start pondering new ideas.  It’s like getting a recharge, as if starting out completely brand new.

Well, I need to get to work straightening up.  I’ll get back with you when I’m ready to start.  I hope you are better at preparing than I am.

Until next time.

Jene