6. Write Everywhere.
James Philips points out that while many writers go to coffee bars, as a parent, he has learned to make use of the time available by pulling out his laptop at hockey practices, dance classes and TaeKwonDo.
Me too. I always carry a folder with a chunk of work that I can edit by hand if I find myself on long drive (with Ted driving); cooling my heels in a doctor’s waiting room or sitting under the dryer at the hair stylist’s. It’s amazing how much work you can get done in the cracks. Those 20 minute periods waiting for kids to finish playing hockey or perfect a new technique at Fada Dance add up. Use them wisely, and you’ll surprise yourself.
7. Rewards and Consequences:
Laurie Finstad Knizhnik says, “I do deadlines, and I’m a bitch about those. Make them, or suffer the consequences. I tell myself I’ve got two weeks to get to the next stage or else. If I’m not there I work late. When I get there, I celebrate.
I’m with Laurie. As a writer of mystery series, I have deadlines. To keep everyone happy, I produce a novel every two years. That means having a solid first draft of a new novel on my editor’s desk 15 months after the last novel was published. Once the novel’s at my editor’s, her deadlines become mine. The rest of my writing (short stories, theatre pieces, my new Rapid Read series) is tucked into the spaces available.
8. Procrastination is Process…Until it
isn’t.
While they acknowledge that experienced writers understand the value of a break to free up thinking, the writers contributing to the Canadian Screenwriter piece are frank about the dangers of the Internet. Alex Epstein says it is ‘one big baited trap.’ Others acknowledge the seductive powers of Scrabble, Hearts, online poker, or blogs.
I have many sins, but procrastination is not among them. Perhaps because I have combined full time work, motherhood and writing for most of my writing life, I am so relieved when I finally get to my laptop that I don’t waste a second. That said, online Scrabble does sound like fun.
9. Just Keep Typing
I like what Elan Mastal says. “Even if I’m in a suck-mode that day, I can fix it later. The point is to crank out the pages. That’s the only way to write anything good.”
I agree. Hemingway talked about keeping the well primed and that means never stopping before you’ve left yourself something to work with.
10. Oooo…Oooo…You Make Writing Fun
“I would generally
rather be confabulating than having dinner in a nice restaurant,” says Alex
Epstein as he celebrates the pleasures of writing with his partner. It does indeed sound as if Alex and his
writing and romantic partner, Lisa, have fun, but I can’t imagine writing with
my husband. A thousand years ago,
when we were in graduate school together, I asked Ted for his honest opinion of
a paper I had written about Northrup Frye. He told me. In
forty-one years of marriage, he’s never made that mistake again.