When do you write and Vonnegut's Eight

[BuckyDuckman]

I'm wondering when you write. I used to write late at night, the dark hours when the house fell quiet and it was easier (and more fun) to turn my thoughts inward. But for the last several years, I've become a morning writer. Most mornings, within 15 minutes of getting up, I'm sitting in front of my computer working on a story.

If I writing for Literotica, that means I'm starting my day writing/thinking about hot bodies doing even hotter sex things. Interesting way to start the day.

Also, here's a link to Kurt Vonnegut's eight best practices for writing short stories that includes a summary and a video. If you've not seen this list, it's a good one:
Vonnegut offers 8 tips to write good short stories. Good links at the bottom of the article, too.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

I'm wondering when you write.

Whenever I have both a) at least a few sentences already worked out in my head, and b) a few minutes alone at the computer without anything more pressing demanding my attention. Sadly, both have been in short supply recently, and it's a rare convergence.

I'll have to find some time to check out the Vonnegut link. I'm definitely what he calls a 'Swooper'.

 

[TxRad]

When I wake up, I count it as a good day. After that, I take my morning meds, feed the cat, and make coffee. As the coffee brews I head for the computer and pull up my writing files. If i have a book under construction, it gets the first of my time.

Coffee is the only interruption until things slow down on the writing front. This might be an hour or three hours. Breakfast calls about then.

Since I try to write at least three hours in the morning, if I'm short, I jump into the Lit stories. Editing sometimes, writing at others. According to how that goes, I'm usually out of coffee by now.

Sometimes, I write in the afternoons. Sometimes I write at night. Sometimes, I do both, according to how things go in my head. Sometimes other things interfere and I have to take care of those.

I looked over Vonnegut's advice and most of it makes sense and is reasonable. The problem is, a lot of it does not fit my writing style.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

Since I'm on the computer practically all day, I write throughout the day too. I try to spend at least a solid hour each session.
I've read Vonnegut's Eight and agree with all but the last one. In my stories Public Static Void and Angel, Devil, Phantom, Fool, there were quite a few surprises, especially at the end. I would have been disappointed if my readers had thought they were 'predictable' enough to have finished themselves, and they probably would have too.
Knowing how much information your audience needs and when to provide it is part of the fine art of storytelling. Twists should surprise your reader, but then the reader should have that ah-ha moment where it all makes sense.

 

[SolarRay]

Like AR, I'm also (sometimes dreadfully) in front of a computer all day. I usually wait for that one solid burst of inspiration to hit after dwelling on an idea for days/weeks, then sketch the whole story out in a good amount of detail during one strong writing session. Then when things are slow at work I fill in bits and pieces of the story as a little escape, over however many days it takes. That's how it finally comes together and manages completion.

The Vonnegut tips are interesting. I usually take these with a grain of salt because I find that all the writers I like seem to have different formulas and inspirations. Though, I have no doubt his will lead to a good story.

 

[KeithD]

I write any time of the day except for the morning. I'm sleeping then. My most productive writing time is from about midnight to 3:00 a.m., when the world around me has settled down. That explains why I'm sleeping rather than writing during the hours before noon.

 

[ArdentHemingway]

Since starting to write on my phone, I write anytime anywhere the urge strikes.

 

[Jada59]

I mostly write late at night but if I'm at the computer and the urge strikes, it could be any time.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Since starting to write on my phone, I write anytime anywhere the urge strikes.

I've tried that a few times. I find writing on my phone more frustrating than convenient. It's like trying to tune up a car with just a Swiss Army knife. But when the muse strikes and a phone is the only option, I'm certainly glad to have it.

 

[_Lynn_]

I write whenever I feel like it. Some days I'm up early and start right away. Other days, I don't start until afternoon. If I have other things to do, I might not write at all.

 

[HeyAll]

I'm on the computer a lot. Morning, afternoon, night. I always have my 'heyall' stuff open ready to write, but something nothing comes out.

I write when there's inspiration and ideas coming. Sometimes I'll only type a few words. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes I'm too tired to write at night. Other nights I'm on fire with writing. Same with mornings.

 

[FEELINGLUCKYPUNK]

I'm a morning people all my life but now its any time

 

[ChloeTzang]

Early morning is my writing time but if I get the chance I'll write all day.

 

[xelliebabex]

If I could I would write every morning but I would run late for work if I tried to do that Monday to Friday because if on a roll I would not stop and be in trouble, lol. On weekends I am definitely an early morning writer and like Chloe would sit there all day if the words were rolling and no one came to interrupt me.

During a work week though I try and make myself write a few pages each night just to keep the momentum going. I find I need at least 6 hrs sleep or like a toddler, I get whiny and cranky the next day and in my job, I can't afford to be running at less than 110% or those tiny humans I teach would run rings around me and some disaster would occur its guaranteed.

Luckily teachers get quite a few vacations throughout the year and that is my prime early morning writing time when my brain is fresh and easily plumbed for creative muses and bunnies.

 

[Soma99]

When did Vonnegut learn to write GOOD stories?

 

[SamScribble]

I'm wondering when you write.

For many years, I was pretty much a nine-to-five writer - although I wrote my first book between five and seven in the morning. And then I'd shower and get ready for my 'day job' as a freelance writer and columnist.

Since I retired (for medical reasons a little sooner than I intended to), I write between naps. The morning is still quite productive. Between about seven and nine-thirty I can usually crank out a few words worth keeping. But, over the past few years, I also seem to have developed the habit of a late afternoon spurt.

Graham Greene reckoned that if he managed to write 500 words worth keeping, that was a reasonable day's work. I aim for a thousand.