Well the new book is firmly underway. Thus far just over 1000 words. I have tried to work one progress meter today and failed dismally as you can see. I didn't get up at five this morning but at 6:45. I need to break myself in gently. So tomorrow its 6:30 and so on.
I have to say the only reason i have made it too 1000 words is the new constant companion in my life pictured here. This nifty little things means that with a spare five minutes here and there i can whip it out and work. I lose so much time during the day by having to get places early - otherwise no place to park. So for school pick up 13:30 I leave the villa at 13:00. We live less than a kilometer away. So I sit in the car normally reading which is good but with time so tight at the moment writing is better. I suppose i could try long hand but i think switching between the two might be too much for my addled brain to take.
Can you write in short segments or do you need a decent stretch?
I have to say the only reason i have made it too 1000 words is the new constant companion in my life pictured here. This nifty little things means that with a spare five minutes here and there i can whip it out and work. I lose so much time during the day by having to get places early - otherwise no place to park. So for school pick up 13:30 I leave the villa at 13:00. We live less than a kilometer away. So I sit in the car normally reading which is good but with time so tight at the moment writing is better. I suppose i could try long hand but i think switching between the two might be too much for my addled brain to take.
Can you write in short segments or do you need a decent stretch?
11 comments:
That is a nifty friggin gadget! I need one.
I usually sit down to write for at least an hour, but sometimes I whip out the spiral notebook and write a few things longhand if the muse strikes me.
That's a very pretty little machine!
I really don't like working in little snatches of time but most days, that's all that's available. I need long stretches to really get into it and sort out glitches - of which there are many:-)
When my kids were little, I used to snatch moments here and there and write in long hand while waiting to pick them up at school, and through piano lessons, swim lessons, dance lessons, etc. Lately I've grown accustomed to having long blocks of time, and now find it difficult to write when I only have a half hour or so available--an attitude I need to break as I am once more a caregiver, this time for my mother.
And congrats on a fine start to the new manuscript!
B.E. - it is fun and small and light (about two pounds) enough to fit in my handbag - great for all my travels too......
lane -i have gliches but I realized this summer that I had to make use of what little time I had if I was going to make this writing malarky work!
CS - I have heard the same comment from several other writers - but you know you did it before and therefore you will do it again :-)
Laptops rock!
I do my long stretch before I do anything else in the morning. After that, through the day, I keep a pad and fountain pen handy. Mostly, this book, I'm jotting notes for the next day's writing...
Most of us do a little of both. The difficulty I have with writing in short spurts is that of patchworking it together into an integrated work of fiction while manintaining the sense of "flow" so critical to a longer work's success.
That said, of course, my computer is overly populated with just such little snatches!
What I have taken to doing over the years with my laptops is using the "note" function in Microsoft Outlook to hold snippets of writing. Then I assemble them on the screen onto VISIO so that they are placed sequentially in the larger work. I've also begun using individual calenders in Outlook to prepare timelines for the story.
Wow, I'm writing a treatise here!
I find it harder to write in snatches of time but if it's re-reading and editing then that's easier to do while you're waiting around for something/someone.
I guess we have to take what we can get even if luxuriously long stretches of writing of time is what we prefer!
Vwriter you have definately given me a lightbulb moment with the outlook calender and I'm intrigued by the VISO......must investigate. Thanks for stopping by.
cc - I think I'm the opposite - I can write in snatches but when I was working on the major rewrite this summer longer chunks of time really helped me to hold onto all that was in my head......
I prefer a long stretch, but life with kids in sports means I've learned to write in short increments, in my car, at the side of a pool for swim meets... We adapt, eh? :)
I am writing, or at least attempting to write, my first novel. I find that I need a 3- to 4-hour block to write productively, but during that time I will usually work on only one or two relatively short segments. It is definitely not a linear process, which is different for me because I am a lawyer by training. It's also not a very quick process, but oh well -- it will take however long it takes.
Barrie we do adapt - needs must!
Adrianne, this is novel six for me and only now am I beginning to see how I work and to make the most of it - it's certainly trail and error :-) Good luck on novel one.
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