Here's a question for everyone that dares to string thoughts together outside your brain and call it writing. How often do you write? Maybe that's not the best way to ask. How much time do you devote to your craft? Better.
While my children were playing in the pool today I sat there thinking about how much I don't write. I had my notebooks with me. Yes, I'm one of those that likes to write on paper still.... ancient way of creating I know, but it's freeing to me. I have an idea notebook crammed full of book ideas and stories with beginnings and very little else. So, I decided to count all the works in progress... or works that have been set aside so long that I can't really remember everything in them. Well, 47 is the magic number of unfinished or forgotten work.
Now that inventory has been taken, I feel challenged to complete some of these before the end of the year. It's going to be exciting visiting with the old friends of my imagination and embarking on journey after journey to the far off places in my mind.
My only problem... when in the world do I find the time? I'd love to hear from any of you about your writing schedules.
Sometimes I jot things down but othertimes I write a poem as I go along espe3cially if it's a poem about a life experienece.
ReplyDeleteLoved your post.
Yvonne.@www.welcometomyworldofpoetry.blogspot.com
I find that I have to designate certain times, like an appointment. I have a good schedule for this - I am off work Thursday through Sunday. On Thursday, I'll see where I've left off and mull around some thoughts. Then I'll try to move forward a little bit each day for the next 3 days. It's not so much about how much time, but just getting some time in, and moving it along until I've let out what I have that day. Sometimes it's only an hour, but there are times when I've written all day. I know that you have a different life and different obstacles. But I'd say, don't be too stuck on "how often" or "how long." sometimes I like to write by hand too - there is something about mind to hand that is freeing. Some workshops, like Tom Bird teach it that way - write by hand. I also like to spend 10 -15 minutes in quiet meditation before writing - picture the scene you want to write, see who shows up, then open your eyes and write.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be no rigid schedule for me, but writing is somewhat of a random activity. Since I do consider the activities of blogging to be part of practicing the craft of writing, I apply myself to a much greater extent than I have done over most of my last 30 or so years. My schedule is dire need of organization.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
On a regular post I'll usually spend an hour or two writing it. Sometimes more if it's a bit longer. I'll often rewrite six or seven times to make sure that they are 'right' before I publish, too.
ReplyDeleteI like to get up before the kids and sit out on the patio with a cup of coffee. That is often the time when fresh thoughts come to me and I write a lot. It's hard for some moms to get up extra early when you don't have to, but that start of the day alone time is so amazing that after a while you actually want to get up when the alarm goes off. You will be surprised at the flow of ideas first thing in the morning; no noise except the birds.
ReplyDeleteI use to write a lot of sports blogs and it seemed the best time to write was after the event had just ended. It was still fresh in my mind and the emotions came our easier. Of course sometimes that wasn't a good thing. I tried to be objective about what I had just witnessed and if my team didn't do well it was hard to do. I guess that's what makes writing great. Everyone has their own way of being creative and no way is wrong.
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