How often do you write?

I used to be on a strict schedule of writing every night before bed. However, lately, things have been crazy. I'm an avid journaler and I feel that journaling is the best medicine and time for self-discovery on my path of writing.

So what is your writing schedule and how long do you usually give yourself? Or are you like me and just write whenever the urge strikes during your day/week?

 

I used to write just when I felt like it. When I began to write professionally, I learned I had to get into a routine or deadlines would rear their ugly heads and I'd have to pull all-nighters. (Just like back in school.)

What worked best for me over the long haul was about 2-4 hours a day, five or six days a week.

It depends on what you want to get out of writing. If it's just a means of creative self-expression, you can wait until your muse prompts you to sit down and write. But if you ever want to make a career from it, you need to treat it like a job and find time to work on it pretty much every day. (After a while, your muse shows up on time too. Bonus.)

 

I tend to write daily, I much rather use pen and paper than the computer. We have also been writing letters a lot recently too, so I always have a pen and a notebook on me for anything and everything.

 

It fluctuates, seeing as some times of the year are busier and than others, but I usually write at least twice a week for an hour or so.

 

I am definitely a pen and paper person myself, also.

I'm hoping that someday I can make a career out of it. What I want to try and do is wake up an hour earlier everyday and dedicate that "quiet time" to write. I have a hard time trying to figure out just what to write, though. I feel that if I don't already have a project started, then I'm lost as to where to start (fear of the blank page, I guess). It's something I'll have to get over and just begin...

 

Yep, writers write. But all come to fear the dreaded blank page (monitor). Your idea of getting up an hour early is a good one, though. It works for a lot of folks. If it genuinely becomes a routine, it won't be long before you have a project (or four) on the go.

 

It all depends.
In highschool, when I first started, I wrote almost daily. Over time, that became more of weekly.

And now, I tend to write a lot in times of stress, and not much otherwise.

 

I write when the mood takes me, that is why I carery a notepad pen at all times, have a notebook by my bedside table and 'notes' everywhere.
Trouble is I keep getting sidetracked
I thought I'd do a Blog on my trip to Glastonbury (Mind, Body, Spirit festival) trip - then it went to a log of my 5 days, then I got sidetracked and is still going 13,000 words onwards
iThink, I need a PA/Secretary.
Please apply to .... lol
eace:

 

I've been trying to write every day lately because I started a novel that I hope to get published one day and I know I'll never finish it unless I force myself to write every single day. I get a lot of anxiety on days when I just don't feel like writing because I worry that its not as good as my writing on days when I'm inspired, but I'm starting to realize it doesn't matter if a writer is inspired or not, a writer must write or nothing will ever be accomplished

 

True, Maliai. And if you strive for publication one day, you'll soon learn (to your horror) that much of writing is re-writing. It doesn't really matter if the stuff you come up with on uninspired days doesn't quite match the days when your muse shows up. Because at some point, you're going back over the finished work at least a zillion times, tweaking this and polishing that, until you've got 90,000 or so perfectly arranged words.

(And then the editor tells you that it would read better if it was all changed to 3rd person and if you killed off the secondary character in chapter 6 instead of chapter 9 and....)

 

I write when all mental conditions suitable for writing are met.

-natural high (usually from running or a good mood triggered by random stuff)

-clean space

-quite

-solitude

-desire

-a low point over turned by a motivating future plan

the last one is key.



Peace to the gods

 

I write every day, almost all day. And when I'm not, I'm usually writing to all you great Hipforum folks. I rarely write "just for fun" anymore though, but all writing is fun so it's all good!

 

I never force anything. I just write whenever something comes to mind. Sometimes I write a couple poems a month, sometimes I go three or four months without writing anything. I don't do blogs because I don't think anyone would read my rants. I write poetry mainly for catharsis.

 

Me? Oh, man... I write all the time! Out of leisure and business. As a beginner artist, I feel like I have to, but it's kind of funny how I "want" to. I usually find myself scribbling guitar chords and coming up with lyrics late at night. It's a fun process and I haven't the slightest clue how I figured out how to do it. I kind of taught myself how to play guitar and, I guess I'm a naturally gifted artist. I took a few creative writing classes in college and was crazy about certain English classes in high school. Creative writing really helped me grasp some of my potential. I usually write basic poetry with various rhyming schemes. Sometimes, I'll just write out an odd rant... I guess it all depends on the mood and what kind of song I have in my head at the time. And, as you can see, I'm quickly becoming famous on HipForums for my short novels. lol!

A picture is worth a thousand words... but what is the worth of 1000 words? (if no one is listening?)
My answer is "faith." A little faith never hurt anybody. Except when that faith was placed in mankind's authority.

Great post! Got me thinking a bit

 

There have been times that I wrote (pen and paper) even more than once a day...I've never been published; nor tried...but that doesn't mean it won't happen. At any rate, back to the ?...

I write both in pencil and paper and maintain a type of journal on the computer...that being said...I think there is power in words.
Keep an ongoing list of what you NEED (and want for good reasons, too) and regardless of income or what...just do that.
You might just be amazed at the results.

It makes me sad to know that there are people out there that cannot complete sentences nor even form a coherent thought and expect one to like and understand it. Ya' know? Or am I being "old-fashioned" and speaking illogical or at best questionable nonsense is read and desired?

I would seriously like to know.

 

I have never had the habit of writhing something .I hate it

 

^ "writhing"? me neither.

writing.

 

Only on HF in writers forum

 

If I have a dream that I can remember well, then I'll write it down in as much detail as I can... so about once every week or so

 

I write whenever the urge strikes. Literally, whenever.

I journal. I have since I was about 12. There's actually been months and years that I haven't and I've discovered that I'm much more calm, collected, and myself when I write regularly. So I try to keep something with me at all times in order to be able to write when I feel the need to.