Thread: Writing routine

What Bloggsworth said.

I try to write or edit at least an hour a day. Sometimes, when writing the rough draft of a novel, that means 1000 or more words per hour. Often when editing existing work that means reading and tweaking just a single page of text.

Sometimes the real world gets in the way, but sometimes it helps in odd ways. I kept my mind occupied and off of possible horrible outcomes when I was sitting in the ER with my best friend by working on editing my novel. By the end of six hours I had about 30 pages of editing done and my friend was out of danger.

I'm a teacher and my job requires me to do work at night and the weekends (and holidays ) and I have found it difficult to squeeze my writing in. So I have a very small target of just 100 words per day. Mostly I write much more than that, but sometimes I don't even write one word!

I think you're doing well with your routine. I wish I could dedicate 3 nights a week to purely write. I study part time and I have an assignment due in 5 weeks time, this is not writing related so I have to literally shift my brain in genealogy mode for this. Its not hard but all I can think about right now is developing my character and her story, not an assignment about a website! So not only do I have to find the time to do some writing, I have to start my assignment, find time to squeeze in some reading as Ive started a really good book and on top of that I cant forget my crosswords! All this while juggling 2 young kids and an absent husband due to work this week......methinks I need to draw up a schedule otherwise time spent infront of the computer may end up being time spent unwisely on the interwebs

My wife and I decided not to have kids, so I don't have that distraction (no offense). But, I had to get rid of a few things to make my writing happen: Dish Network, quit playing an MMORPG, Fantasy Football and poker. These were time bandits that took me away from what I really want to be doing. Sadly, I have yet to get rid of the 50 hour a week job, but I'm working on that too

Exactly squidtender, you have to get rid of the things that you know distract you - mine is the internet. Thing is, I write on my computer so when Im on it I just 'take a break' to see whats goin on and before you know it.......what I need to get rid of is the wifi. Its wifi's fault.

Full time mom with 2 boys involved in a lot of afterschool activities and one little one not yet in school so there's never any real 'down' time. When my youngest is preoccupied with toys or tv or playing and I don't have chores to do I use the opportunity to write. Thankfully my husband is home early enough that he can take over and allow me time to write. He loves the noise and chaos but I need quiet in order to do my most productive work

Early morning, immediatly after breakfast and coffee. This is the most creative time. But when writing becomes tough, right time to write lasts 24 hours a day.

One novel, now complete except for the epilog, which, hopefully, will be written in the next 2 weeks, 20 years to finish. Why so long? Wife, kids, job, etc. Routine? What routine??? I am amazed that I have actually finished it (except for the epilog, of course, which I hope doesn't take another 20 years to finish!), and will be presenting it to an agent by the end of the month. Hopefully... Ah, but now there are grandchildren thrown into the mix...

I would die for an uninterrupted routine...