Writing Advice: My Take on Finding Time to Write

You're not going to find anything new here about managing time so you can write. There are blogs and articles galore about how to eke out minutes or hours to work on your masterpiece.

But here's my two cents' worth on what I've learned from writing 12 books including eight novels:

• When working on a first draft, I try to write in the predawn hours (I'm an early riser), when it's dark outside and relatively quiet. I have a timer on my coffee machine so the hot brew is ready when I go to my study and sit in front of the computer.
• I don't go online. I don't need distractions. I'm here to write. I have a cell phone but I'm not glued to it (a generational thing?) but it's turned on in case of an emergency involving family and friends.
• I generally have a good idea about what I'm going to write because I close the previous day's session with a hook to pick up where I where I stopped. And I give more thought about it, probably subconsciously as well, in the interim. That includes writing notes (I don't trust my memory anymore) to keep focused.
• I usually write for a minimum of one hour but it can stretch to two or three if I'm really in a groove. There was a time, when I was a younger man, that I could write for several hours (four or more), only breaking for liquid refreshment or going to the bathroom. I find that I can accomplish a lot in one hour, leaving me somewhat mentally spent. So I like to believe that it's quality, more so than quantity time. 
• I do use a general outline at the start of a project, but it doesn't bother me to stray from those early plans. That's part of the fun of writing: learning more about your characters and where they take you. And I have a good idea how the story will end, although it may take some twists and turns getting there. That's the fun part as well.
• When I'm finished with the first draft, I sit on it for a week or so, maybe even a month or longer, before going back to it. I like to have fresh eyes when I read it again. On rewrites and revisions, I generally work in afternoons or evenings. I find that's the best time to reflect on what's been written. 
• Working on a first draft or rewrites, I know that life sometimes gets in the way of best intentions. I prioritize. Family matters most. Other daily activities such as reading and exercise are important to me as well. I can be flexible to work around those events.
• Lastly, I write every day when working on a book. If something interrupts me in the morning, then I write before going to bed. Writing begets writing.  

Do you have any secrets, rituals, and advice on finding the time to write?

Until the next time . . . 

Moving Forward To Publication

I finished my manuscript on Sunday afternoon and sent it off to my publisher. I gave it a final proofread and  made some minor changes, and then formatted it to the publisher's specifications.

Am I completely satisfied with the manuscript? Of course not. I believe most, if not all, writers will tell you that they could tinker with their manuscript for years and never be totally satisfied.

But there comes a time when you simply have to let it go and move on to other things. That's not to say I'm not pleased with the story. If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be writing this post.

The editing process isn't over. The manuscript will go through another reader and then I'll work with an editor in finalizing it for publication.
Along the way I'll work with a graphic artist on a cover and complete other items such as the dedication, acknowledgments, and biographical information. In addition, there will be pre-publication promotion and a book trailer.

As you can see, there is more work to be done. At least I can take a breather for a few weeks.

Until the next time...  

A Break in the Action

I took advice from a couple of my blog followers (thanks Roger and Elizabeth) and decided to give my manuscript a rest for a week or so.

During that time I've written a notes, ruminated, and slept on the story. I plan to get back to it in the next few days with fresh eyes and ideas.

I've thought about the characters a lot, and in my mind's eye, they have become more vivid and real. Those characteristics will find their way into the manuscript as well as other elements to bring everything to life.

I enjoy the rewriting process, after getting into the meaty stuff, but it can be mentally draining after several weeks. I have some friends who get so absorbed in the process that they seem to have a degree of depression. 

My goal is to have the manuscript to my publisher sometime in June. It it will go through more reads and editing to reach its final form before becoming a book.

Now, back to my thoughts.

Until the next time...

"Butter in the Morning: Pieces of a Kentucky Life"

Georgia Green Stamper’s delightful and insightful “Butter in the Morning: Pieces of Kentucky Life” is a collection of essays about her rich and colorful life. 

Georgia spent her formative years in Owen County, a rural area in north-central Kentucky. She later became a wife, teacher, mother, and a writer.

There is a freshness and honesty to her stories that makes you laugh, smile, and even shed a a few tears. She has a wonderful sense of humor and shares many funny incidents from her life as well as some tragedies. It was from her mother that she learned that when facing life’s unpredictable twists and turns,  “You might as well laugh.”

The 270-page book, published by Wind Publications, is divided into four sections reflecting different stages in Georgia’s rich and colorful life -- from her childhood, humorous events, places she’s lived, and who she is today. There’s also some history about people and places interspersed that many readers will find interesting.

The stories are culled from columns and essays she’s written in several publications and as a National Public Radio commentator. Whether she’s writing about guacamole, her childhood home going up in flames, an encounter with chiggers, or getting into the wrong car on a rainy day, Georgia’s words are warm and sincere.

From her heart-felt remembrances, you discover that she was nurtured in a caring and loving family while growing up, and that she grew up to become a caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother.

And, after reading these stories, you will sense that she’s your friend by getting to know her so well.

Until the next time...