Today I welcome Angela Scavone to Terry’s Place. Angela is a debut author who currently lives in the capital city of Canada with her three precocious pups and one evil cat. She likes all things funny: books, movies, tv shows and people — the funnier the better.
Hi everyone! Thank you for having me here today. I would like to talk about how to find time to write. I have always found this to be an issue so I came up with three main rules (some not my own) to keep me writing and make those deadlines. Also, I find these rules help with my procrastination.
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A writer friend of mine, Mike Wells, once said that a good habit to get into is to write at the same time every day. Once you do this for several days in a row then it will become a habit. I used to write on the weekends in the mornings but finding time to write in the mornings during the work week gets a little hairy. Apparently bosses don’t like you pushing your work aside to get some writing done at a specific time. Therefore I changed my writing time to between 7-9pm. I did that for over a month and now when 7pm hits I stop what I’m doing and start writing.
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Make writing fun, put some music on (if you can handle music playing), get a glass of wine, do whatever makes you look forward to sitting down and getting something on paper. I, myself, like to sit on my deck. My backyard is a bit of an oasis (sadly without a pool) and I find it extremely relaxing to sit out there and write in the evenings. Yes this can be an issue in the winter but when it’s cold and snowy I stay indoors near a window so I can watch the snow falling.
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Say No. I literally have to say no to the dishes in the sink. They can be dealt with either before or after my specified writing time or they can be done by someone else in the house (insert laugh here) either way I say no. I do not answer the phone, check emails or answer the door during my writing time — this time is dedicated to me and my characters and people in the real world can wait…unless a dog asks to go out then that must be attended to or I could have more to clean afterwards. Remember this is your time. No one else is going to let you have this time, so you must take it and no it’s not mean that you’re not answering your door or phone (if you have children I would recommend waiting until they are asleep or in school because, really, they can’t be ignored)
What do you do to make sure you have time for writing? Do you have a goal in mind for every day? Or do you set out specific times to write?
You can connect with Angela on her website, facebook or twitter. You can purchase her debut novel Love by the Book at Amazon or direct from the publisher Soulmate Publishing
Great ideas. I think I’m half way there. I don’t have a specific time, but it’s always right after dinner dishes are finished. If I’m editing, I can handle my husband being in the same room, watching TV. But if I’m writing fresh, I have to have total silence.
Sounds like you’ve got a wonderfully serene place to concentrate on that next book. Can you tell us about your WIP ?
Cynthia I am the same way! Lol! Totally need silence if I’m writing fresh. My back yard is wonderful, would be perfect with a pool, but it is a nice place to be even without the water.
My latest project is a story about a woman officer in the military whose sole job is to go overseas to pick up the bodies of military men and women. The trips start to become dangerous and she is forced to have a partner go with her on the missions. Much to her regret she is partnered with her ex husband. There are funny parts to the story as well as parts that make you cry and parts that make you think about life and what’s really important.
Thanks for stopping by today!!
Thanks, Angela.
Sound suggestions, and if followed, a writer is bound to get something great accomplished.
Thanks Ann! I try to make things very simple to follow especially for myself. The simplier the rules the easier it is to follow them
Great ideas! I usually get up before everyone else and fit my writing in then. A habit is always helpful, as you mentioned in your post.
Great idea getting up before anyone else, if I was able to do that I would prefer to do it in the morning!
What I have to do less of, or organise better, is my social networking, since it takes up huge chunks of otherwise writing time. We all know this, and yes, it is necessary. Finding that balance eludes me. (Debut novel Aug 2011, two novels releasing Augh 2012 and one Dec 2012) Where’s my novel in hand? I’m off to try tht two hour slot of non interaction with anything or anyybody! Thanks, Angela!
Congrats Nancy on all the releases! That’s awesome! Social networking is a whole other ballgame isn’t it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to get cloned so one of me could write and the other do the social networking
Good luck on the two hour time slot! You’ll love it once you get started I promise!
Great suggestions. I’ve found that I have to set aside a time to write, like you, and not let anything intrude. It really helps.
Thanks for sharing.
For about the first four years of my writing attempts I wrote late at night after work. I worked the evening shift 3–11 PM. I always thought if I didn’t work I would write all day. PFFFT! I no longer work after my husband’s death on 30 Nov 2011 I was positive once I had my own place I could get up and write. I still haven’t done that lol. I find myself waiting until 10 at night to get started writing. I usually write until I reach a word count I like or midnight. I shoot for at least 750 words because I write on this website that runs a monthly challenge of 750 words per day. I should push harder but I’m still finding my way I think.
Thanks for stopping by Janna! Setting time aside really does help
Cathy, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband.
750 words a day is an amazing feat!! Thanks for stopping by!!
That’s awesome that you still write at night. I used to write at the same time you do but can’t seem to get the creativity flowing at that time anymore. Obviously your muses are night owls and don’t want you writing in the morning
Thanks Terry for having me today!!
Those sound like great rules. I should really dedicate a “writing only” time that does not include social networking, blogging, research, etc. I let those get in the way and eat up my work time. Thanks for the ideas.