During my first year as a full time writer, I've settled into a routine that works for me. I do promotional work like blogging, tweeting and whatever in the morning or afternoon. Working on my WIP takes place in the evenings. That gives me all day to think about that next scene. Rainy days when I don't go running or work outside, I may start the writing a bit earlier. I love this schedule. I get a lot of writing work done and all the household chores get done too.
Until this week. I visited my mother for Mother's Day since I won't be able to this weekend. That's an entire day of driving. Today, I'm helping my son move his belongings from Penn State to home as he finishes his college career. And we have to sign the papers and pick up his new-used car. Another day gone. Then I'm riding with him on his move to Colorado to share in the driving on Sunday/Monday. I'll be staying with him for two days to help him set up his apartment. (For those of you who aren't parents, that means I'm buying.) Then a plane trip on Wednesday. Oh, yeah, I have to drive to Boston this Friday to pick up my daughter from Boston University. Another day in the car. The following weekend I'll be at the Pennwriters' conference all weekend. Where did my schedule go?
Having children does teach one to be flexible, but the next two weeks see a total destruction of my lovely, comfortable writing schedule. Everything will be jammed into a few hours in the evening. Kind of like when I worked the day job. Being a writer necessitates using what time is available to do the best you can. That will be me for the next few weeks. I'll be doing all my blog commenting late in the day.
Do you have a set schedule? Does it throw off your creativity is your normal routine gets upset? Did you ever have a period of time where your commitments were a bit crazy?
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27 comments:
Happy IWSG and thank you for your kind support, much appreciated.
It's not easy for me when my writing schedule gets thrown off. I'm trying to keep my routine a little looser so change doesn't freak me out so much. Not sure it's working though…. :)
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Schedule? What on earth is a schedule? My world is chaos all the time.
My in-laws are coming to visit next week, so I know it will only be more chaotic.
Enjoy the trip with your son!
I have trouble sticking to a schedule just because I'm so unorganized. I hope you have a great time with your son and congrats to him on finishing college!
Sounds like you've found your groove. That's excellent and I think also, key to being productive.
Well a little destruction of the schedule just gives you more to write about, but blah to all that traveling haha
My entire April was thrown off, but once I get through today, it's back to my schedule of writing every evening.
Safe travels!
I'm going on holiday next week, which means no writing for 5 days at least. I hate when my routine gets interrupted, but at the same time life would be boring if it was the same thing every day.
Good luck squeezing some writing in :)
Maybe view it as a mini vacation (except the kind where drive around a lot but don't actually go anywhere) ? :)
As a college student, let me just say how much we appreciate mom's help. We'd be totally lost without you guys, though we might not admit that out loud.
The routine will always be there when you get back! In the mean time, I hope you enjoy your time with your *not so much* babies!
Sam
Writing Through College
i guess i do have more of a schedule than i once did--but not about writing---i just write when it hits me---but i admire how you can do all that driving---that would throw me a curve ball :)
It's great to have a schedule, but life can sometimes throw a wrench into it.
All I know is that when I cram anything between this and that, I usually mess up. That goes double for the writing. When I have to cram it in, I usually resort to just making quick notes, and then I use those later when I have more time.
Good luck. Don't forget to breathe. It helps.
Schedule? What's that?
Wow, Susan...
You certainly have a BUSY two weeks! How exciting for your children though...
Spending time with you and starting their new lives.
I admire you.... I love to see parents so involved with their children's lives....
I'd be that way if I had kids....
No, just me. BUT always INSANELY busy. Life takes me ALL over the place.
Enjoy your time off from your schedule... That what makes life FUN....
I do not have a set schedule. It seems every week is different, so I take it on a week by week case and decide on Sunday which days/times will be writing days/times. And then adjust mid-week when needed.
Safe travels!
Wow! Sounds crazy, but adventurous too. Congrats to your son. Enjoy the writer's conference. And when you drive to Boston and see signs for "points south" wave to me.
One day you'll be telling us about his wedding, and his new home, and ... then the big news, his baby! Or not. Maybe you'll have to wait like we did. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with you young man, Susan. You'll have a great time.
It happens to everyone, and just think how nice it will be a few weeks from now when you're settled back into that cozy routine. In the meantime, enjoy these exciting times with your kids. Congrats to your son on completing his college adventures!! I get to start in on all of that stuff w/ my daughter this August. *gulp*
The schedule is a work in progress, and a learning process of what I can do and what I cannot do, and the balancing the two.
I accomplish when my schedule is thrown off, but I am getting better at it.
Happy Writings
Juneta at Writer's Gambit
Oops missed the fact I left out a word.
I accomplish very little, when my schedule is thrown off, but I am getting better at it.
Sorry, lol
Juneta at Writer's Gambit
Yes Susan having children does cause for flexibility. I'm glad you have a writing schedule. My plans always go bust, but I do manage to get a lot of writing done.
People who have day-jobs get to take vacation and sick days once in a while. Perhaps you could think of this time as a vacation from your "writing job?"
Writer's conference? You lucky gal!
The planning and following of a writing schedule should be one of my WIPs...
I do my best writing at night.
I have mentioned to the family that the most appropriate Mother's Day gift would be a chauffeur's hat. Of course, one of my wise guys said I'd be better off installing a tip jar.
Have a great time at the Pennwriters' conference.
YIKES! That IS a crazy week. A TON of driving, too. I hate it when I lose writing time like that, but sometimes it's just reality. I much prefer to write in the late afternoon, whenever I can!
The only thing on my set schedule is the morning "feed the cat/drink coffee/read the paper" routine. After that, anything can happen.
It sounds like you have it sorted ;) I have a schedule of where every minute is spent wondering what my schedule should be!
I do love schedules, I like to know what I'm doing, when and where. But as soon as I miss something in that schedule I get very annoyed with myself and I start to feel like a failure.
I'm trying to work to loose schedules now, with an idea of when I can plan something in but not worrying if I'm half an hour late getting to it.
It helps that I'm off work now so I don't have the pressure of cramming everything in the evening, I can work through my to do list more leisurely now.
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