Each of us is a unique person. I wouldn't want it any other way. We are also inquisitive, so here goes a few questions I would like to ask writers.
1. When is your best time to write?
2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere?
3. Do you dress or wear pj's?
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours?
5. How long have you been writing?
6, How many books do you have published?
I will give you my answers to these questions.
1. The best time for me to write is in the mornings. I'm dead after 12 noon.
2. I do have a designated place to write. I have an office of sorts in a spare bedroom. When I had surgery I wrote, what little I wrote, in a recliner with my laptop on my right knee. Next month, my right knee will be operated on, so I don't know what I'm going to do.
3. I fully dress. I have jeans and a knit top on right now. I can't work in pj's.
4. I try to write a set number of words. I used to write 2,000 per day, but since I've been out of the habit, I'm down to 1,500 a day. I am gradually writing more.
5. I have been writing for about five years. Not all the time. I took a few breathers when my mother was sick and died, when we had surgery, and when we moved.
6. My answer to this is 0. I've not given up. I'm still trying and writing. I am a determined person and I am going to be published.
Katt, great conversation starter! Here are my answers:
ReplyDelete1. I write well in the morning and late at night - afternoons I spend on busy work, emails, etc.
2. I have several places I like to write and when I hit a block or my mind gets fuzzy, I move. It keeps me and my writing fresh.
3. It depends on what I have to do the rest of the day. If I have to go out later, I dress. If not - it's PJ's all the way!
4. I have a VERY structured schedule - so I can accomplish things becase I'm insanely ADD. I work 8:30 to 5 every day.
5. I've been in the publishing industry 16+ years.
6. Not yet - my first book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home - will be published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas!
All interesting questions, Katt! I have answers to a few of them, pertaining to me...
ReplyDelete1. When is your best time to write?
I like to write in the afternoon. I know. Almost everyone says morning. I take care of email, blogs, etc. in the morning, then in the afternoon I'm down to doing tasks that let me think, and if I have some free time, I can really let fly. Free time is the hard thing to come by, these days!
2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere?
Not really. At work, it's at my desk if I can snatch a few moments. At home, it may be the recliner or my desk, depending on how I feel.
3. Do you dress or wear pj's?
Dress. If I'm too comfortable, I feel like I'm not "working."
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours?
Hey, at this point, I'm just happy if I get something written. I've got to get more organized, though. Some friends and I are thinking about putting together a "writer's contract" between us. Maybe that would help.
5. How long have you been writing? 3 years
6, How many books do you have published?
None. But it will happen. I've not given up, either.
Katt, I like to write in the morning, too. I usually continue in the afternoon, but not at night unless I am behind schedule. I dress first (jeans and a T-shirt today). I do have an office at home. Right now I'm writing about 3,000 words a day most days. I use weekends to catch up. I've been seriously writing fiction for 11 years, and I have 37 titles published.
ReplyDelete1. When is your best time to write?
ReplyDeleteAfter 10 PM; I've always been a night owl.
2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere?
Yes, I've set up a small office off our basement family room.
3. Do you dress or wear pj's?
Just sweat pants and a tee shirt; I'm easy!
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours?
I try to write a minimum of one hour per night. That may entail new words, editing old words, or banging my head on the desk because the words won't come. But I do my best to put in that one hour. Of course, if a hit a gusher I may be there for hours; it's happened before.
5. How long have you been writing?
Eleven years
6, How many books do you have published?
Four novels commercially published, two others being shopped, and a couple years ago I ghosted a non-fiction work.
Geez, most of you are morning people! I write at night, after getting the kids to bed. Sometimes I sneak in some writing during the day between work tasks. Usually I write on my laptop, sometimes a spiral notebook, so I can write anywhere. Like others, if I'm not dressed I don't feel like I'm working. But since I write later at night, sometimes it's PJ's for me :D
ReplyDeleteI'm editing right now, including rewrites. Also working on plots for a couple other stories. I don't have a set word goal but plan to give myself one when I start writing the next novel. I've been writing seriously for about 9 years and have 3 books published with Xulon Press (pod). Still waiting for "the call" from a royalty publisher, though.
Great questions, Katt. I'll give my responses below...
ReplyDelete1. When is your best time to write?
When I can get a moment free. Usually in the morning for about an hour, at lunch at work if I can squeeze in the time, and at night? No, I'm way too exhausted.
2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere?
Usually in my easy chair with the laptop.
3. Do you dress or wear pj's?
Whatever I'm wearing, which in the mornings is PJs with a good cup of Java. Ahh, the joys of writing. :-)
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours?
When I nanowrimo, it's an attempt to get at least 2500 words per day. Otherwise it's how much I can get done in my limited time.
5. How long have you been writing?
3 years. A scout in my troop got me hooked on Nanowrimo and the rest is history.
6, How many books do you have published?
None, zip. YET. I have four books in a fantasy series that I'm shopping right now, and two in a separate series I'm still drafting.
An Advent Christmas story in serious need of editing, which I'm doing some redesign on right now. I have several more, both fiction and non-fiction, in the works for next year.
Great questions!
ReplyDelete1. My best writing hours seem to fall between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.--although I would love it if I could change and become an early bird! (probably not going to happen though!)
2. I have an official "office" in my house with a desk and all--and never use it! Most of my books have been written from my favorite recliner in my living room.
3. My favorite writing "outfit" is something comfy, which could be jeans and a sweater or fleecy pants and a t-shirt.
4. I have a certain number of words that I have to hit per day--and that number varies by the date of my deadline.
5. I wrote my first story in the 1st grade. :) But as far as writing for publication--about 5 years.
6. My fourth book just released in October--Love is Grand from Barbour Publishing.
This has been interesting so far. I don't know whether to make any comments or not. I think I'll keep my comments to myself. It is good to see such dedicated writers/authors. I believe we have to be dedicated. I'm lat to the computer today, but my Christmas shopping is finished. Now to find the tree and put it up.
ReplyDeleteThis came in my email and I have permission from M'Lynn to post it here.
ReplyDelete1. I, too, write in the early morning. I am at my computer with the first cup of coffee in hand by 5:15. My brain ceases to form compete sentences starting around noon and by 2pm, I am almost incoherent.
2. Touchy subject for me at the moment - I've had and lost - for a variety of reasons - my designated spot to write several times over the years. At the moment, I am in transition from my 'office' (and I use the term lightly) in my dining area to my 'office' in the back room I have claimed as my own. My husband, bless his pea-pickin' heart, thinks I need to be in the middle of things to know what's going on. Huh? Obviously, he's never written more than a check. No kids at home anymore but we are parents to 4 indoor dogs that bark at every stray cat or rabbit with the nerve and audacity to cross our yard. We live in the country...a LOT of cats and rabbits cross our yard, 'nuff said!
3. I have to dress to work. If I try staying in my jammies, I feel slouchy and I can't write feeling slouchy. If I'm feeling particularly unproductive and uncreative, I tell myself I am a professional writer and professional writers DO NOT look like they just rolled out of bed. (See my blog 'Truth in the Morning' @ www.truthinthemorning.blogspot.com and read the posting on self-talk.) 'Splains it all.
4. I write while the irons hot, so I guess that would be a time factor. If I push for a word count when the juices have stopped flowing I'm only creating work for the next day when I have to erase them! LOL I do make myself work on a whole chapter when I'm editing, re-writing. Again, not always wise, fried brains do not make wise decisions.
5. I've been writing all my life. Mostly for myself. My most 'finished' WIP is book 1 of 3. It's most likely to see the harsh glare of critique first. Book 2 is in outline form and book 3 is 2/3 finished if you do not count the obvious changes it will go through by the time I am actually working on it again after 1 & 2. Book 3 was the original book, bumped back from THE book to #3 when God changed my game plan. Long story there.
6. No books published at this time but am anticipating many, MANY books - if that fits into God's plan, that is. LOL
Thanks for asking. I'd be interested to hear what others tell you, too. I've procrastinated long enough and must get back to work. This was a nice reprieve.
M'Lynn Bermea
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat chatter questions, Kat! Here's my answers:
ReplyDeleteMy best time to write is usually during naptime in the afternoon, or first thing in the morning before my daughter wakes up. We'll see how that changes once the new one arrives next year. :)
I have an office at home that's part of my bedroom, and my desk with computer is there. If the weather is nice, I have a table on the deck and go out there. Occasionally, I go to a more public place just to get inspiration.
I'm usually dressed, but if it's first thing in the morning, I'm in PJ's.
My goal is 1000 words a day, but I don't always reach that. And some days, I do more.
I've been seriously writing for about 7 years, and I have sold 11 books so far, 8 of them actually released.
Thanks, Tiffany. I didn't know how it would be received. I love to ask questions, you'll never know the answer if you don't ask. It has been interesting to see how many people write in the mornings, opposed to the afternoon or evening. I understand about the nap time. I have to have it quiet to write. My best days are when my husband goes fishing.
ReplyDelete1. When is your best time to write? Probably mid-morning, but I have been known to stay up until 4 a.m writing.
ReplyDelete2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere? I like to write at my desk by my window or in a comfy chair on my laptop.
3. Do you dress or wear pj's? I prefer to get dressed first. Something about that wakes me up and makes me more productive.
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours? I've moved towards hours, as that's what is most within our control, but I do pay attention to how much I wrote that day.
5. How long have you been writing? Over ten years seriously. I've done it most of my life for fun.
6, How many books do you have published? 1
Interesting questions, Katt. I can write at any time after noon. I'm NOT amorning person! When the kids were young I wrote during nap time, Now i write in the evenings and during holdiays from work I stay up lat into the night.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not like lounging in my pj's (ever!)
I have two novels published and one play. I've been writing seriously for twenty five years, but have only been seekeing publication in the last five or so
Sorry it took me so long to answer...
ReplyDelete1. When is your best time to write? I really write "faster" first thing in the morning, but I have so much going on then that I find my best time as far as convenience is from 11:00 to 3:30, while my daughter is at school. It's a slower process, but it works for me.
2. Do you have a designated place or just plop down anywhere? I write best at my desk, but if I get in a rut, I take the laptop and move to another part of the house or, on rare occasions, to the coffee shop. Every Friday I hit the coffee shop, just for a change of pace.
3. Do you dress or wear pj's? I get dressed. I have to because I go to they gym first thing and they'd probably frown on pj's. But I am partial to my giant, oversized sweatshirt when I write. :-)
4. Do you try to write a set number of words, chapters, or hours?
It depends on where I'm at. If I set a word count, I tend to shoot for quantity and not quality, but that works for me if I am in a slump, because it forces me to come up with ideas. Typically, I go for time, especially if the story is talking to me and I really know where I'm going.
5. How long have you been writing? All my life. But SERIOUSLY as a business, two and a half years.
6, How many books do you have published? None, but I have interest in a stand alone and a series right now. Waiting to hear from one publisher, and one has requested edits and a resub based on their house guidelines. Praying! :-)