Jane H left a comment on Kate Hardy's blog about what she reads. It was about writing before the school run.
Now, when I decided to get serious about my writing, I started setting the alarm an hour early and getting up at 6 am to write. This was my hour of uninteruptted time. It means that I can go to sleep thinking about my story, and wake up with things sorted. (Or in theory at least). I am also most efficient in the morning. But the most important thing I suspect is that it became in my schedule. I got up and therefore know that I will be writing.
Some people find it easier to write late at night.
Others write in snatches during the day. SHrley Jump writes while she waits for her children...
Because I have a family, I can't do what some people do which is to have a marathon writing session at the weekend. I work on the weekends (the only day I take off really is Christmas) but it is in the morning.
And writing when the mood hits me, strikes me as a quick way not to finish. But then my muse is more of a deamon and therefore likes to play and so is best on a schedule.
I find attainable writing goals are better than going for huge chunks. For example the whole Novel in A Month thing makes me a rabbit in the headlights. (This is even though I wrote An Impulsive Debutante in 3 weeks).
Ernest Hemingway used to make sure that he did his words every morning. He also called his first drafts -- Piles of S... that got moulded and sculpted into perfection. I go with that -- get something on paper and work with it, rather than expecting things to come out perfect the first time.
As it is all about bottom in chair, hands on keyboard (BICHOK) when do you write?
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Research
Jackie - I do quite a bit. For the medicals, I use the Oxford Handbooks (which are also used by junior doctors); if I'm stuck on something, one of my Medical Romance colleagues will either know the answer or can point me in the right direction. (Cheating a bit, I know!)
For the Modern Heat, it depends on the setting. I'm quite nerdy and I enjoy finding out how things work, so my heroes tend to have a nerdy side.
The trick is not to let your research show - use light brush strokes because the romance between the hero and heroine is the most important thing. My editor has a "nerdy bit alert" radar and it usually goes off a couple of times in each manuscript!
Kate Hardy
M&B Modern Heat and Medical Romance author
http://www.katehardy.com
http://katehardy.blogspot.com
It is all interesting
There really is no right or wrong answer.
And I know all about Kate H's working early....
The important thing I think is to do a little each day. Sort of setting two goals -- one a minimum target and the other a max. BUt the minimum could even just be a pargraph. It is all about developing habits...
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Generally by 8pm both my
Generally by 8pm both my girls are asleep and DH is a shiftworker so there are many nights that he either goes to bed early or is at work, and this is my time. I try to aim for a few hours but if i am on a roll i keep going.
This works well for me at the moment because I am still on maternity leave, that will all end in a month or so and its going to be a whole lot harder to squeeze in some quality writing time...
Gibbering Writers
Kate H, I probably AM a gibbering idiot at that time of the morning. But that don't stop me writing!!
http://janewritesromance.blogspot.com
http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com (Tribute site)
evenings, usually
I find it easier to write in the eveings, hopefully there are fewer interruptions then, and will often write into the 'wee-sma'-hours'.
Sometimes, when I'm 'in the zone' I'll write until the urge fizzles out, regardless of the time of day.
I admit to participating in the monthly challanges, twice a year, and found them great for learning writing discipline.
All I have to do now is to remember that when I scramble the file not to forget to resave it in a new file, as I did last year. I lost all but the first six chapters of that book. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
All attempts, so far to rewrite, have not gone well, so have started something new. Perhaps one day inspiration will revisit on the lost ms. On average I try to write 1000 words a day.
Kate H, how much research do you do for your books? And when you need specialist informmation, how do you know who to ask, and do they always respond to your requests?
Larks and Owls
Jane H, I take my hat off to you - I would be a gibbering idiot at that time of the morning!
I normally sneak in a few minutes at my desk first thing (that's when I tend to email the person who started this thread!!), then work from when I get back from the school run until pick-up time. Then I sneak in another hour in the evening, and also weekend mornings because DH and littlest both like a lie-in, and son would rather be on the X-box.
Then there are research trips, which I disguise as family outings. I can't WAIT for this weekend, when it's a trip for the new book.
Kate Hardy
M&B Modern Heat and Medical Romance author
http://www.katehardy.com
http://katehardy.blogspot.com
Whenever I can
Whenever I have opportunity, really. Looking back over the past week, it's been evening work, but I also usually grab an hour in the afternoon when the children are all drooping. As long as I've written something by the time the laptop gets turned off, I'm content, though it really, really helps if I've got a number to aim for.
This afternoon, I shall manage to get a good few hours in because Dh is looking after the children for me, and I'm hoping to at least finish a chapter, then see what happens this evening.
I really should try the early morning thing, but I have a hunch it wouldn't work very well for me - I'm a coffee-craving zombie in the ealry morn!
not an early bird
When my first kids (now on second husband!) were old enough to get themselves ready for school, I would get up earlyish and work through until pick-up time at about 3pmish. Now that I have new smallies with runny noses and lost-my-uniform syndrome, and I'm also studying part-time at University, I write late at night instead. This is so I can spend time with DH (i.e. watch telly together!) and still write for four or five hours post-10pm. That takes me through to about 2 or 3am most nights.
An extreme regime, though it seems to suit my lifestyle right now. Which is why I can't get up much before 7.45am most days. Not without suffering, anyhow. :(
I aim to do at least 1000 words a day when writing prose, but hope for double that or more when I'm really flying.
http://janewritesromance.blogspot.com
http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com (Tribute site)