Writing Routines

[madelinemasoch]

Sorry if there’s already a thread about this, but, do you have a writing routine? How often do you write? How do you discipline yourself and more importantly, how do you get into the creative zone?

 

[NuclearFairy]

I'm writing right now, can't you see?

Seriously though, I tend to write a few lines/paragraphs, then either get up and pace around, or flick through a few websites (sometimes getting horribly distracted) go back and write a few more lines/paragraphs.

As for the zone... I don't seek the zone, the zone finds me. Or not. I dunno how to trigger it, it's just sometimes I can sit down and actually focus for an hour or two and then I know I'm in it.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

My routine is supposed to be:
Block out a few hours every day to write
If you aren't in the zone, write anyway
As for finding the zone, @NuclearFairy is right, the zone sorta finds me. When that happens, my few hours can turn into an all day affair.

I'm about 60% on following my routine.

 

[OddLove]

I don't try getting myself into a creative zone and try writing routinely.

I find that when I try to force it, my creativity is weak.

When it shows up on it's own then I ride that creative wave, that's when I'm at my best.

Sometimes I'm creative daily, sometimes I'm not creative for days, weeks, and even months at a time. And I think a lot of people think they 'lost it' or 'ran out' of ideas, but another wave will come.

[EDIT] I will add though, if you don't give yourself the time and space to be bored, you might miss the wave.

 

[lovecraft68]

I futz around with a little here and there, and often it seems forced. I'll do something else, come back, another few lines and rinse repeat, until....I feel something click then I can tear off a good chunk and at that point the rest seems easier.

 

[ICantLeafYou]

The muses strike on a whim, I have no control. When inspiration hits, I ride that wave for all it's worth and write, write, write.

 

[madelinemasoch]

Do those of you who wait for the muse/inspiration to strike to write feel like there’s a deeper thing that’s grounding you and keeping your creativity going?

Also, do you ever catch certain ideas then leave them for later, and can you jump into them with ease after time has passed even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired, just because those ideas came when you were?

 

[dirk2024]

Also, do you ever catch certain ideas then leave them for later, and can you jump into them with ease after time has passed even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired, just because those ideas came when you were?

Yes. I sometimes think of things I want to keep when I'm not at my computer, so I text them to my email, then copy and paste them later. Sometimes I can incorporate the thought directly into an existing plotline, sometimes its an idea for some other point in the story. So I just copy it in (at the top of bottom of the page), high light it and save it for later when I arrive at that point in the story.

Otherwise, I often forget them.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

Yes. I sometimes think of things I want to keep when I'm not at my computer, so I text them to my email, then copy and paste them later. Sometimes I can incorporate the thought directly into an existing plotline, sometimes its an idea for some other point in the story. So I just copy it in (at the top of bottom of the page), high light it and save it for later when I arrive at that point in the story.

Otherwise, I often forget them.

Notes added to my Notes app --> saved to the cloud --> accessible from its desktop app version.

 

[dirk2024]

Notes added to my Notes app --> saved to the cloud --> accessible from its desktop app version.

I guess I need to download that to my phone. Is this like Notepad, which is on my computer. I would then need to connect them?

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

It's a native app on Apple, but I'm sure there are versions of it on Android/Google/Windows.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Do those of you who wait for the muse/inspiration to strike to write feel like there’s a deeper thing that’s grounding you and keeping your creativity going?

My writing has always come in cycles, a lull followed by a surge, to the point that I don't dwell on it, because I know I can't force it. If the muse is upon me, I write, if she's gone missing, I don't write. It's that simple, for me.

Also, do you ever catch certain ideas then leave them for later, and can you jump into them with ease after time has passed even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired, just because those ideas came when you were?

If the idea is good, it stays with me, for years sometimes. I rarely write a skeleton idea down, though - I'll either use it in a story, or it stays lying idle in my mind. It's as if, if I write it down, I run the risk of losing it, whereas if it stays in mind it stays active. Which is why I don't keep endlessly notes.

 

[iwatchus]

I am lucky that I have few commitments in my life, at least for another week. And then at all come next May. So I can just give up chunks of time. My most productive writing time is in the morning. My SO sleeps in most days, usually getting up about 4 hours after me. That is a particularly useful time, either to write or to read someone else's story.

I strongly recommend trying to keep time to read as well as writing. I had almost completely stopped reding when I started writing. But getting back to it again recently has helped my writing. And I see different things when I read now than I used to.

I have the complication that I am pretty obsessive about whatever I do. Which means I am willing to carve out huge chunks of time for it. But I also cannot let it go.

 

[Rob_Royale]

As a married, employed fella with acreage and animals, I write when I have time. So what I have been doing is writing in my head, one scene at a time. When I get a few hours, I get it down and then take a break, going off to something else as I ponder the next scene. Sometimes I do this with up to three stories at once. Then when the first draft is done, I step away for a week or so. Then go back and polish the hell out of it.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

As a married, employed fella with acreage and animals, I write when I have time. So what I have been doing is writing in my head, one scene at a time. When I get a few hours, I get it down and then take a break, going off to something else as I ponder the next scene. Sometimes I do this with up to three stories at once. Then when the first draft is done, I step away for a week or so. Then go back and polish the hell out of it.

Sorry, I know lots of people like this. I'm calling BS. Have time, yeah, not happening. LOL

Yes, I didn't underline employed. Those who know the pecking order, know the pecking order.

 

[Belegon]

I learned, about a decade ago, that it was possible to force myself into a routine where creativity had the opportunity to find me. I can't force myself to sit down and write, but I can force myself to sit down and eliminate possible distractions. This doesn't always work, but it works often enough that it can be productive.

What I try to do is set aside a daily amount of time to give that creativity the opportunity. It doesn't always work, but it is the best thing I have come up with so far.

 

[stickygirl]

I bought a book by Joanna Harris called something like How to be an Author in Seven easy Steps. One of her first was to set aside an hour a day to writing ‘ it doesn’t matter what you write but build a habit’ …. I didn’t read further because it was clear we have very different approaches.
I could sit down and doodle for an hour or I could write 1000 decent words to a story. My mood is in charge. With northern hemisphere’s autumn now on the way, it’ll change my mood and maybe my incentive. It’s frustrating that my brain will only engage when all my stars are aligned, but I’ve learned to roll with it. I can’t force creativity.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Writing Routines​

I don’t really have one. I write on my phone, so it’s kinda whenever. When I write is dictated more by external factors. How busy am I at work? Am I in the office or WFH? Is my SO traveling? What are we doing at the weekend, and with whom? I fit writing around stuff like that.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

do you have a writing routine?

I don't. The reason is because I can't stick to a routine. My schedule is extremely chaotic. You know that Mike Tyson quote? "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face"? I'm always knocked out. Even the most flexible plans always end up ruined.

The only rule that I have is simple: I only do at least ten minutes of writing daily. One page is better than no page.

How often do you write?

As often as I possibly can. If I can do many sessions, I'll do it. If I can do one, I'll do it. Same logic as above applies.

How do you discipline yourself?

Having stakes. For instance, I speedran finishing my novel this week because I put a deadline on Saturday, and what do you know? I finished right when Saturday hit.

Timers also help.

how do you get into the creative zone?

I get into the creative zone by writing. It's as simple as that. Again, timers. Nothing gets the juices flowing like having a timer feeling like a gun at the back of your head that will detonate as soon as your fingers stop typing.

Do those of you who wait for the muse/inspiration to strike to write feel like there’s a deeper thing that’s grounding you and keeping your creativity going?

Look above.

Here's a harsh truth: the muse only comes whenever you're writing. You don't look for the muse, the muse must find you working.

Also, do you ever catch certain ideas then leave them for later, and can you jump into them with ease after time has passed even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired, just because those ideas came when you were?

I have a notebook of filthy ideas which is where I put everything. I do my best to not get sidetracked because I'm prone to starting many different things, but it ends up more like laying a million different bricks for a million different houses and expecting for them to turn into a mansion. It won't ever happen.