{"id":6188,"date":"2013-04-19T00:30:03","date_gmt":"2013-04-19T05:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/polarbear60.org\/randr\/?p=6188"},"modified":"2013-04-19T00:30:03","modified_gmt":"2013-04-19T05:30:03","slug":"mgr-blog-tour-writing-routines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeanschara.com\/pmtoo\/mgr-blog-tour-writing-routines\/","title":{"rendered":"MGR Blog Tour: Writing Routines"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re looking at writing routines this month, and this is not going to be a pretty post.\u00a0 I guess I do have a writing routine.\u00a0 It’s not very productive, and I’ve been giving that some thought, because I’m not getting any younger.<\/p>\n

My writing routine has been to write a first draft each year during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and flounder the rest of the time.\u00a0 This November will mark my tenth year of participating in NaNoWriMo, and I believe it will be my last.\u00a0 I’ve enjoyed using it as my opportunity to create a first draft.\u00a0 Great.\u00a0 I’ve proven I can do that. Now what?<\/p>\n

A few years ago, I began working on the How To Revise Your Novel Course offered by Holly Lisle.\u00a0 I have to be one of her slowest students for this class, but I’m still plugging along, and I believe it’s doing me some good.\u00a0 But this is where I need to place my emphasis for the foreseeable future — revising drafts to salable condition.<\/p>\n

I’ve been working on two other areas — writing regularly with committing to Morning Pages this year (or, if you prefer, 750 words per day).\u00a0 The idea behind these (which are supposed to be written first thing in the morning, but I do mine as soon as feasible in my day’s schedule — sometimes I finish as late as 10pm) is they clear your head and prime the pump of creativity.\u00a0 It doesn’t completely work that way, but it does get me in the habit of writing regularly.\u00a0 Just not words that could result in sales.\u00a0 Yet.<\/p>\n

The other things I’m struggling with is writing short stories.\u00a0 I have trouble writing effective conflict.\u00a0 I have this problem in novels, but if I use novel length writings to work through this problem, I don’t think it will be as effective as if I try to work through the problem with a shorter venue, such as a short story.\u00a0 If can effectively deal with conflict in a short story, I should be able to translate that to a longer work.<\/p>\n

Even though I’m retired, I don’t have time to sit around all day and write.\u00a0 Frankly, if I were actually doing that and selling work, my husband wouldn’t complain, but he’s reached the point of, “Where’s the money?” So, as far as he’s concerned, this is a hobby instead of a career aspiration.\u00a0 If I’m actively writing, he’ll support me, but if all he sees is internet surfing, he’s not interested.\u00a0 There are a lot of other things we need done around the house and property, and I can see his point.\u00a0 So, unless I’m focused on productive writing work, I need to be out doing work we’ve agreed needs to be done for our collective goals.\u00a0 Writing will work around that stuff — like it does for other people with a day job.<\/p>\n

What are my writing routines, then?\u00a0 They are in total disarray, and I’m wallowing around trying to find balance and what will work effectively for me and my family. I suspect that’s not unique to me.\u00a0 What do I want to do?<\/p>\n

I want to:<\/p>\n