(New visitors, see contest info on the sidebar.) Contest runs the entire month of February! So party with me.
For today's post I thought I'd take a trip down blog memory lane. Back when I first conceived of Anissa Off the Record, I used to start each post with a little blurby thing. Like so:
For the record: I tell people, "Stop by anytime."
Off the record: People who really know me understand that this means, "Give me 2 hours advance notice." Because truth be told, that's about the only time housework gets done.
Now on to your fabulous questions...
Melissa asked: What is your writing schedule like?
I chuckled a little at this one. Not at Melissa, but at myself. I'd love to tell you I'm this uber-Mama who lives and dies by a schedule. Truth is, I'm a big ole mess. Seriously. This revising has kicked my butt so hard I've lost any semblance of a schedule. In the beginning of my writings, I used to get up early and draft for an hour or so. I'd crank out my 1,000 words and be content. No more. I seem to need more sleep as I age. Go figure. So these days I squeeze in editing whenever I can. 30 minutes of Olivia (that silly little pig on Nick Jr.) is a wonderful thing. Plus, I've started to work before bed. Sleepy brain isn't ideal, but I've found I can revise through it. New words? Not a chance, but right now I'm all about revision. Still. Endless revision.
Great question, Melissa. Thanks! Now I'll make it easy for you to comment by asking my own question. How do you find time to write? What tricks have you learned to squeeze it into your tight schedules?
There you have it, folks. Welcome to the party! And remember, every comment gets you an entry into the contest. Details to the right. ----->
19 thoughts:
I am still working on my time management. My kiddos are little so it has been hard to get in the zone. BTW--I posted your contest on my blog.
Thanks for spreading the word, Christine. :)
Having small children makes the zone so much more elusive. I totally get it. Keep at it though!
The time thing is always an issue. I'm trying to figure that out right now.
I have to force myself to write throughout most of the week. School keeps me so busy writing other things, that I generally don't have time.
To get around this, I set myself no word goals etc...because it will only stress me out.
Susan - I'm convinced there will never be enough time.
Natalie - I think that's smart. A stressed mind produces nothing creative. Keep at it!
Writing and motherhood, it is so tough. I have a schedule, that I stick to most of the time, except when my kids forget their lunch or need their skis dropped off or them picked up or whatever. And it never fails, if I set aside a day to catch up, someone gets sick. But still, they are my biggest fans.
Oh. I was hoping the other commenters had the answer.
I get most of my blogging & housework done during naptimes (sorry for the misleading blog moniker...I actually don't get much writing done during naptime). Then, after the Pea heads to bed, I write.
It's hard to find that balance.
Time management is not by strong suit. I try to write in the evenings after dinner. It helps that I'm not a big television watcher. Especially during the chilly winter it's nice to get under the covers early, and type for a little awhile before I fall asleep.
Hi, Anissa! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I am excited to find yours. Always love finding more wandering hopeful writers to commisserate with. <3
Time... hmm... what is this time of which you speak? Lol... Like everyone else, I have none. I teach full time (first grade), which also involves bringing a whole lot of work home (marking papers, lesson planning, even cutting lamination takes forever!). I have two kids (7 and 2) that I don't see enough of when I am working all day, and a hubby I like to hang out with when the stars align... lol. Writing always seems to come last, but I love it, so it is my resolution this year to TRY to churn out a chapter a month... we shall see... time is eeeevil! :)
Wow, a contest with prizes and everything! I'm even more impressed you're planning to post every day for a month! I feel like I'm doing great with my twice-a-week posting.
As far as finding time to write. I finally caved and have been getting up an hour earlier, at 5:00 a.m. I've really been a lot more productive since doing this. Although, I tend to stay up too late and then need to take a nap around Wed. or Thurs. Ha, ha!
I am chasing around a new puppy too, you may have noticed from my pictures.
Thanks for following my blog!
(Veni, vidi, vici)
JD - That's so cool. Mine are still too small to read what I write, but I hope to someday be able to say the same.
Karen - Oh how I miss naptime. Though more often than not I napped too. Maybe that explains how I used to be able to get up so early.
Alissa - TV is a huge time suck. I don't watch much anymore either.
Dangerous - Ooh, I like calling you that. LOL! Time is evil. No doubt. Just keep plugging away. :)
Holly - I need to do that again. But oh, 5:00 seems so early now. sigh.
Jonathon - I did see your sweetie. And I'll be back to ooh and ahh over her often. ;)
Wow, you're contest sounds great!
My critique partner once asked me to blog about my writing process. I laughed too. I don't know how I'd put that into words!
As for my writing schedule, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa.....
*deep sigh* thanks, that was great.
Wow. I write about my disorganization occasionally, but I can't find the files.
Schedules require organization, which I sadly lack. I hear about these organized people, and I promptly turn them in for suspected meth use.
I am a night owl, and write after the kiddies go to bed, but I suspect I would be a better writer if I got up in the morning earlier and did it then, with the steaming cup of coffee and the prospect of a whole day ahead of me. But then I am sure my children would automatically start waking up earlier too. Hey, look! Now I'm a disorganized PESSIMIST!
I find I write WELL in the morning, but just can't get up early enough to be truly effective, so I stick to a 9 pm to 11 pm writing sked!
Okay, so I have no idea why I wasn't able to see this before. Maybe I clicked on an old link? Huh. But, I'm completely with you on the need for advance notice! My husband says if we never had guests, our house would never get cleaned. So, please, please phone ahead! Ha!
P.S. You can count this one instead of the other one ;) heehee
I'm with you- we don't have cable, but my daughter has 4 Leapfrog videos that buy me half an hour of peace when I need it. That's dedicated writing time for sure.
I have a hard time making time lately. Mostly because I love quiet and am living with my in-laws for a short time... meaning no quiet. Wonderful post and contest!
Here is a question. Where did you turn for critiques on your manuscript and your query? Where they the same individuals or plane or different?
Sincerely,
Emma
SincerelyEmmaM@yahoo.com
yay im a follower. :)
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