Comments on: The Writing Schedule

By: What I learned this week « One Mean MFA’s Blog

What I learned this week « One Mean MFA’s Blog — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:46:23 +0000

[...] to improve on if I want to survive my four course load. I wrote a while ago about getting into a writing schedule and although I have sort of established one now that school has started I have noticed that I [...]

By: onemeanmfa

onemeanmfa — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:46:24 +0000

Thanks so much for the advice. I love the idea of committing to a certain number of pages a day. I believe it is Anne Lamontt who says to write at least 300 words a day.

By: phdhelp

phdhelp — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:23:39 +0000

One thing that helps me is to have the ability to write whenever the mood strikes. For instance, I keep journals by my bed, notebooks by the coffee table and I use my notes feature on my iphone regularly. Even if I only write down ideas or a sentence I don’t want to forget.

I do this in addition to using the laptop and desktop at home or in my office. It is a pain to transcribe sometimes, but the most important aspect is making sure I write.

Also, if I find it hard to write about a subject, I tend to overload on the subject by listening to podcasts, reading books or articles, watching films, etc. After a while I am brimming with ideas and insight and can’t help but write.

One last idea. Sometimes the time spent writing is not as important as how much is completed or the quality that is produced. I finished one of my books (220 pages) by only writing 1 to 3 pages a day before.

In grad school, I finished my dissertation (writing that is) by commiting to 5 pages a day. Sometimes, I wrote more, sometimes less. But it wasn’t the time I was concerned with as opposed to what I wanted to accomplish.

By: onemeanmfa

onemeanmfa — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:42:22 +0000

Thanks for the comment. I’m going to try both of your ideas and I’ll probably write about which works best for me. You’re right about having fun. It’s easy to forget to do when getting caught up in our busy days. I’ve always been and probably always will be go go go. Stopping to have fun might even help get so material. Again thanks.

By: krissy knox

krissy knox — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:25:51 +0000

I have two ideas for you. The first goes like this. You don’t have to choose the same time every day — for instance — 7 am each day. Instead you could choose 7 am on Mondays, and if you had a class on Tuesday mornings — choose 3 pm on Tuesdays, then maybe back to 7 am on Weds. Make it flexible and not something of torture!

Here’s my second idea, and it only works for some. There could perhaps be a psychological reason, if you are are absolutely protesting writing. It could be that you’re not naturally flowing at the times you have been “assigned” to write. So what if you didn’t have a schedule! Some writers write best when it “comes” to them. Drop the schedule and see what happens. If you see in a few days that it’s not working, gently reschedule some hours back in.

Right now I am pretty flexible, so I’m going to schedule my hours a little better. But I am not going to schedule something so tight and in stone that it will strangle me. This will take self discipline.

Meanwhile, each writer will have to come to know themselves — which they need, more self discipline or more room for creativity; more scheduling or more writing when the spirit strikes them. As you learn the style that is best for you, you will see yourself flourish!

Really think about it, and remember — this is supposed to be freeing and fun, as well as hard work. So work hard, play hard, be creative, have fun! And go have some egg nog or hot cocoa and decorate a Christmas tree! Don’t feel guilty for having fun, you’re allowed! Just come back to your writing…

Krissy
my main blog: Sometimes I Think
my twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy