Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Habit

Do you currently have a writing routine?  I use to have a great avoidance routine and my house was never cleaner.  That changed for me during Nano.  I knew that I would get up in the morning and write.  I knew that when I got home from work I would write.  No questions, no excuses, I just wrote. 

Now I get up every morning and write for at least an hour.  I leave my evenings for reading and other things I enjoy doing.  I found that by making an appointment with myself every morning I was more productive.  Since Nano I don't worry about word count just the act of writing every day.

I know lots of writers who have remarkable spread sheets and other ways of keeping track of how many words they wrote, how many they edited etc.  Perhaps when I have passed this fledgling stage something more complex will be needed.  For now I have a method I call "Shooting for the Star". 

I use a wall calender that I see every time I leave my bedroom.

Left to right diagonal marks days I've exercised.  Right to left days I've stuck to my diet.  The straight line are days I've written.  As you can see I do better at some things than others. ;)

Do you use a spread sheet or some other method to keep track of your writing days?

21 comments:

  1. I write fiction every day, whether it's on my WiP, a story, or just a prompt or writing exercise. Got to work that creative muscle!

    I think your wall calendar idea is great! I love the star system. I just read something about that the other day, how when you mark each day you're creating a 'chain' and you want to do your best to not break that chain.

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    1. It is very motivating to not see an empty spot.

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  2. I don't use a spreadsheet, but I think I'd like to. I've been wanting to time myself so I know exactly how much time I'm spending on outlines, research, actual writing, etc.

    ~Bouquet of Books

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    1. I'm just not that smart. I down loaded one that a Nanoer had compiled and was willing to share. I spent more time trying to figure it out. There were a few things that needed tweaking to make it my own and I think I blew the poor thing up. ;)

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  3. Hi - It's Mary who just said she could not find your blog - then I found it. Hooray!

    No, I don't have a routine. If I were serious about publishing I would, but for now I'm just playing. I have 3 very different pieces started, but do not do justice to any of them. I'm both lazy and too ambitious about what I take on.

    All that explains part of why I joined the challenge. The other reason is that I get no visitors on 2 blogs and a website I have. So I decided to make something new of a different sort and air it on the challenge. It's working! This may inspire me to work regularly on the other blogs & website, or even start another.
    Thanks for visiting and for inspiring me.

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    1. You're welcome.
      I'm having trouble linking back to you as well. I'll get it figured out.

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  4. Sadly, my writing days seem to have slipped into the distant past! ;-) But, when I did write, I would just start and then keep on at it until stopped by the need to eat, visit the loo, replenish the coffee or tea, or have to attend to household/family duties like laundry or shopping!

    On days when none of the distractions concerned dealing with other people's well-being, I could write into the wee small hours and not even notice the passage of time (or the darkness outside!)

    Loved finding this blog of yours on the A-Z hop - will be back to explore further! ;-)

    SueH I refuse to go quietly!

    Twitter - @Librarymaid

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  5. The one thing I miss about not doing NaNo is the routine it provided me with. I need to get back on track once my boys are back in school.

    I think your chart is excellent motivation, and it's great that you make an appointment with yourself to write every morning. :D

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    1. Nano is good for daily motivation.

      Best of luck once the boys are back in school.

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  6. I like the idea of having a visual prompt to remind me to write daily. I am going to look into getting a white board. I need all the motivation I can get.

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  7. That's a very cool way of keeping track of things. I've recently started using loseit.com for keeping track of my diet and exercise. It's a simple site, and you can earn badges! Funny how badges can motivate a person. :)

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    1. That sounds like an interesting site. Badges? Yes, please!

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  8. I don't keep track of my writing. If it happens, it happens. I try to get at it every day, but since I don't write well under stress, I try not to worry about it if I don't get to it one day.

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    1. I don't worry if I miss a day or two but there are times when it has stretched into a longer time span. Things don't feel right, can't put my finger on it. Then I realize a week has passed. I'm much happier when I'm writing.

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  9. It's amazing how just deciding to a little each day can lead to so much. I try to not beat myself up if I miss, but usually if I say I'll just spend 15 minutes, I can do that and more...

    http://rubywilbur.com/hansel-in-his-cage/

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    1. You are so correct. Butt in chair is an amazing writing tool. Once you get started...

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  10. Your A-Z posts are so writerly and awesome. I find I am enjoying visiting each day for little writing chats. As for routine, I don't really keep to a writing schedule. I get up at 5 and read blogs while I eat breakfast, then try to blog and write a bit after work among everything else. I get most of my real writing done on weekends. Netflix is a bit of a distraction at night, or books...

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    1. Thank you! When I went with the writerly theme I had doubts, what does a newbie have to offer, ya know? You made my day.

      Netflix is a definite distraction. That tends to be my Sunday guilty pleasure.

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  11. I prefer to write late at night after everyone's gone to bed—I'm easily distracted. I usually stay up until 3 or 4 am, get up early and try to sneak in a nap before dinner.

    Yes, I realize it's bizarre. :)

    ~VR Barkowski

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    1. No it makes sense. I write in the morning because that's when I won't have distractions. I'm the only early bird in the family.

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