On Writing : Writing Routines by Tessa Shaffer

Tessa Shaffer

Writing Routines

What's everyone's writing routines like?

Do you schedule writing time or just get to it when the inspiration hits?

Any rituals you do before you start writing that help to ground you back into the world of your story?

Mine's not super unique but I buy a new mug every time I start writing a new book and use that mug while I'm writing. It reminds me of how excited I was to start a new project once the newness wears off. =D

Erik Meyers

I try to write every day...and in the morning before starting anything else. Although I am definitely not a morning person, this helps boost creativity because you are not distracted by anything else.

Karen "Kay" Ross

Morning Pages, for my own well-being; three days a week 8am-10am with a Writer's Cafe Group; I attend a weekly Wed Webcast in the Writer's Room, which is more note-taking than actual writing; a bi-weekly Coverage Report I co-host in the Writer's Room, which is more giving notes than screen or novel writing; and I usually have a class to keep me on task for a deadline. I may start doing monthly weekend lock-ins, like a giant pajama party or sleepover, to crank out scripts that have been lying dormant.

William Schumpert

Scheduled everyday. Set deadlines for my projects, and mapped out work for the next 6 years.

Tessa Shaffer

Daisy White a psych thriller sounds interesting, and I just bought another notebook today to start a new project because "the other ones were either too special or not special enough" ;)

Tessa Shaffer

Meg Stone I totally understand and will often text or email myself notes to a project in the middle of the night or other inopportune times!

Tessa Shaffer

Erik Meyers same, not a morning person but I've got my butt in a chair at 5am

Tessa Shaffer

Karen "Kay" Ross love the dedication, and I am a part of the Writer's Room too I need to schedule time to hop over there more!

Tessa Shaffer

William Schumpert 6 years out! Whew! That's amazing

Chris Chapman

No set schedule to write. More of when I can find time and/ or inspiration hits. Some days I do research on aspects of what I write or just jot down some notes for a new idea. I am under no contract with anyone to produce x # of pages per day so my time is spent between working on scripts or writing music.

Kiril Maksimoski

Having routine all works fine until you hit kids/dayjob/household...then u better enroll Bozo the Clown's joggling masterclass...

Pen Name Aislin Lee .

I know what you are saying I have 4 little ones of my own, and it is great when you have a support group to help with your kiddos. My husband does wonders and my sister helps me out also. But my routine is this I get real early before the kiddos get up, and then I stretch out, and then I make myself a coffee, and then I sit down either in the recliner or at the kitchen table to work. I am in the middle of updating a few chapters of my newest books that haven't got completed yet now. I start up my music and get the created juices flowing for my creation to come to life in my stories. So every day, I start to write, but when the kids get up, I go and spend as much time with them and making sure they are well taking care of before I get back to writing again.

I love it and enjoy what I do.

Pen Name Aislin Lee .

Oh and I usually have some kind of food beside of me, and then my dr. pepper after I have either tea or coffee and jamming the music in my earpods in my Jam Jams. got to have that for my routine

Geoff Hall

Four hours between 1pm and 5pm, when the family arrives back from their working day. Then in the evening when everyone disappears to bed, I stay up and read a book or watch something on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Got to have some intake!

Tessa Shaffer

@Pen Name Aislin Lee, Yes--don't forget the writing snacks! =D

Chad Descoteaux

I don't have any specific writing routines, but I try to keep it regular. If I realize I've been slipping, which doesn't happen much, I'm back on the bat-winged horse.

Dawn Prato

I have a writing partner and we schedule time for a 'sprint' from 7-7:30 every night - usually gets me going past that, but at least on unproductive days, I have that half-hour where I know I have to plant my butt in a chair and write, even if it's not something I keep.

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