When Do You Write?
This past week has been a learning experience for me. What did I learn? If I start my day without writing FIRST, I never get to write. Big sigh…
I have been wishy washy about setting a specific time during the day to write. I know others have chosen to write in the evenings, or during their lunch hour. I can write during those times IF all factors work with me. If all factors do not work with me, well… If I plan to write in the evening, my brain needs to be able to function. If the day job sucks out all of the energy, that simply does not work. Lunch time is not a good time to write because I usually work through my lunch. That leaves the morning, before I start my work day.
My decision came this week when I realized that once my work day started there was no chance I was going to have the time or the energy to write. For this very reason you have read no new blogs posts from me.
Rather than reading email or other people’s blogs first thing in the morning, as has been my routine, I will write instead. Emails and blogs will have to wait. Yes. I will glance at email headings to see if there is anything urgent that needs to be addressed, but everything else will simply have to wait. Period.
I need to write. When I don’t get to write I get cranky. Seriously…
So what about you? Have you set a specific time to write your blog?
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Filed in: Blogging
I most definitely work on my book in the morning and I write without having my email, Twitter, or Facebook open to tempt me from my task. Then I blog in the afternoon. I'm gradually cutting back from posting five days a week to three days a week. The blogging happens in the afternoon since I find I better handle distraction with blog writing as opposed to fiction writing. Same goes for exercise too. If I don't get it done in the morning, it doesn't get done. Which is funny, because I used to be a night owl…
I am definitely making changes to keep all those items you just mentioned from distracting me from what's important – writing. Interesting that you went from being a night owl to being a day person….
What a great Aha to share Geek Girl. Actually, when I schedule time to write, it's like an appointment so I do get it done. However, always one to improve, like this idea you share, to write in the morning. For me that would mean to schedule it for the morning instead of the afternoon. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks.
I totally agree with you. I have the same problem with my walking. If I don't walk first thing in the morning, it quite simply will not happen. I have also learned that after the walk I have all these ideas and that is the VERY best time to write. Once that is accomplished I then take the time to comment on other blogs and respond to my own. It took me a while to get there, but when I do that, everything seems to fall into place.
Interesting that you should note that you get ideas when you are walking. Maybe it's because there are not the same distractions present when you are walking versus when you are sitting at your computer.
The morning really is the best time for me, too. These days, however, I'd have to get up at 5 am and that's just not happening. Stick to it! Good luck.
5 am would work great for me! I am a morning person. I just might have to start my day earlier. Good idea!
Hi Cheryl, You'll have to let us know if scheduling time to write works for you. I generally don't schedule a time to write. For me, my writing comes in spurts. I've found that some of my best blog posts are inspired by real time conversations that I have with someone. Even though, that "conversation" could be in the form of an email or a reply on a social networking group. It dawned on me one day that if I'm answering a question or making a recommendation to someone, there are probably others who would benefit from it too. So, I often copy and paste my reply into a running document that I keep and then use that to build on when I get a chance.
Great thought-provoking post BTW.
I wish I could just 'make an appointment' and all would be right with the world of writing. For me my scheduling has got to be before I start anything else. That way I am guaranteed some writing time.
I get some great post ideas in some of the same ways. But I also have some book writing I am trying to focus on, too. Glad you liked the post! 🙂
Hi Cheryl,
I have found if I don't write a blog post in the morning it doesn't get written. I then edit it in the afternoon to post that night. When I don't do it the articles don't get written because my brain slows down after lunch time and in the evening, well forget it as nothing would be written.
I am finding that to be the case for me. Not sure why it took me this long to figure it out… LOL
For me I have always written whenever I had to or have the inspiration. Have never been able to set a time for writing. Having said that morning is most likely the best time since we may be too tired later in the day or evening. Let us know how it works for you with writing every morning without failure.
For me setting a time for writing is really the only way for me to have the time to write. Too much work and no writing makes Geek Girl very cranky. Better to set a time and actually write then to be cranky because I did not get to write. 🙂
My most productive writing time is in the morning, but I often write in the evenings as well. As you, I work throughout my lunch break and don't write during the work day. As Susan mentioned, my inspiration for posts most often comes when I'm out walking my dog in the mornings and evenings – definitely because there are fewer distractions
Somehow I think morning is better for most of us since our brains have not been taxed with the cares of the day yet. Walking the dogs provides the same kind of atmosphere for the brain to become inspired. Just my 2 cents… 🙂