Sunday, July 9, 2017

Lines Of Demarcation

A long time ago in my writing experience, I attended a workshop hosted by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She's a very funny, very busy lady who revealed her secret to finding time to write. She bought herself a kitchen timer and every time her creativity was interrupted she stopped the timer.
She'd set herself a number of hours to devote to her writing every day and measured it out with the timer. Sometimes she got done before noon, sometimes it took her until midnight. I tried her timer method for a while, but found it didn't work for me as well as it did for Susan Elizabeth.

I also for a time latched onto a bit of advice to steal minutes of time wherever and whenever you can. I so admire my friends who are able to write while watching their children play soccer or hockey, who can grab fifteen minutes before the baby wakes up to jot down the beginnings of a scene. I wish I had the persistence to do that.

It's taken years for me to figure out what works best for me. And I've determined I can't write in bits and pieces. The first 500 words are a struggle for me. I stare at the screen, lay down sentences and then erase them, glance out the window, grit my teeth and keep plugging away. Then, as if by magic, after 500 words, my eyes glaze over, my fingers begin to fly over the keyboard, and before I know it, my characters have taken over and polished off the scene for me. I come out of my stupor, read the scene and begin to think about what comes next.

Like I said, it's taken years for me to realize that's my approach to writing.

Now, when it comes to walking, it's a different story. As many of you know, I had a problem with my hip replacement surgery that pretty well put me out of commission for 1-1/2 years. I was held together by an awkward brace, so after my final surgery, I had to build my stamina back up. Factor in the Taylor Swift fall from the treadmill, and it's only been within the past six months that I've actually started working on getting fit again. My dog Mary and I head out every day it's pretty and start walking toward town. In the beginning, I measured my progress by getting to the next driveway. Then, my line of demarcation was where the new sidewalk met the old.
Then it was to the stop light. Now it's beyond. One driveway further each day. I figure we'll get to uptown by fall at this rate. Mary likes to lay down in the middle of the street, and there have been times I've been tempted to join her. But. one step at a time, we make it back home.

And, one scene at a time, my next manuscript gets written.

How about you? Do you need a dedicated chunk of time to write, or do you grab a few minutes wherever you can?

14 comments:

  1. My writing process is very much like yours, Becky. I can't designate a particular time to write, because either life gets in the way or my muse doesn't show up. So, like you, I struggle with those first 500 words or so, doing a lot of backspacing and rewriting. But eventually, when "their" time is right, the characters time in then, the magic begins. :)
    Thank for sharing your process!

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    1. It's such a euphoric feeling when your characters finish off the scene, you come back to the present and find you've written 1000 or more words, and you remember only the dreaded first 500.

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  2. I try for 1,000 words a day. Some days it comes easily and I write even more, other days I stop every few hundred words or so and do a happy dance when I'm done. But that goal does help me persist and get the words on the page.

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    1. Yep, I try for 1000 a day. Sometimes I get there and beyond, sometimes not, but it seems to average out.

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  3. I'm a "plodder/tortoise" when it comes to writing. I do have a set time when I do my best writing, but sometimes life intervenes with it. But I keep going, trying to put in at least a half an hour each morning and ideally a couple of hours. Slow and steady wins the race and I've finished over 16 books with this method. Good for you on you attempts to get fit. I've been very fortunate to have "spry" genes and to be able to hike fair distance and be active. But I think every little bit helps. Keep going and I'm sure you'll surprise yourself in a few months. Cheers!

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    1. I think I have the same mind set when it comes to getting fit as I have for getting words on paper. A bit at a time, and I'll get there.

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  4. I need a regular period of time. First thing in the morning seems to be when I'm most creative. Later in the day, there are too many distractions. You're very determined and setting a new goal every day with your walking program works for you. Keep at it...you'll get there.

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    1. I like writing in the morning, too. Usually by 11 am, life takes over, but I can sit quietly with just my dog and my coffee, for a couple of hours and get a lot done.

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  5. There is no time when I don't want to write. But yes physical health, family obligations, and work grab so much time away. I'm never happier than when I steal that time back.

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    1. If I'm not writing, I'm plotting in my head.

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  6. Mine's whenever I can grab the time. I like the comparison to walking, something else I'm trying to find time for.

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    1. As long as we each get to the finish line, I'm fine with whatever way each of us get there.

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  7. I aim for a certain number of chapters a week, instead of striving for a certain amount per day. It helps with the little ones running around. I never know when we'll have a busy day, or when they'll be content to play together and give me time to work. This way I'm not stressed on the days I devote to them and feeling like I need to be working on my word count instead.

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    1. Sounds like you've figured out what works best for you, Danielle. With your babies, I'm totally in awe of you being able to get any writing done.

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