Some Thoughts on Writing

 

I’m like a marathon runner who runs a lot. Except, I don’t run. I write. I’ve been in training for the last decade or so. It started years ago when I signed up for a NaNoWriMo.org November writing challenge. The idea was to write 50,000 words on a book for a month. Since those days of sprint writing, I have grown to love that one-month challenge. Then, it began to occur to me that I really didn’t need to wait for November to roll around to do my heavy-lifting on the writing front, and I could do it whenever I wanted.

Then, I retired and found I had a lot of time on my hands, which had been a dream of mine for years. Time that I could spend writing. Gone were the days when I’d be at work, and it would occur to me that something or other was interesting, and the urge to write about it was there. Something I could not indulge in at the time, because, duh, I was working.

I keep a notebook handy in the living room if something occurs to me there. My memory isn’t what it used to be. It’s like going to the bathroom these days. You get the urge? Safer to move right then. No waiting around like you’ve got all the time in the world anymore. Come to think of it, I don’t have a handy notebook in the bathroom. Note to self: Fix that.

I’ve probably mentioned it before, but I set up this Excel Spreadsheet to track my writing every day. I identify whatever it was I was working on and then count the words. I have not gone so far as to count the time because sometimes a piece will go past a day’s work. I suppose I could, but the 24 hours I get every day are enough. Also, my writing isn’t always done at the same speed. Sometimes I almost can’t keep up, and other times, it can be like a slowly dripping faucet.

I have been tossing around an idea, though, and that is to finish a piece of writing that day. Unfortunately, I’ve got something on my desktop from a few days ago. I really don’t know how long ago it was because I didn’t date it, but I should take care of it today. I record the word count when I finish it. Anyway, like any new habit, I’ll need to allow it time to start working. Properly.

The Daily Tracker: #1: Words per article, #2: Words per day, #3: Accumulated Words per Month

Another thing I started about a month ago was to record my word output every week, having it stretch from Sunday to Saturday. I was really surprised to see that I am nowhere near being consistent. I’ve got productive weeks, and I’ve got not-so-productive weeks. I was surprised. What makes me happy is to have 3,000 words a day, which is likely two articles. What makes me pleased as punch is to have 5,000 words a day and three or more articles.

Not everything I do is a publishable article for one of the writing platforms I write on. I count my journal work, my dream journal (when I have something to record), my daily Do-Good File, where I try to think of something uplifting or motivating, which can sometimes lead to an article. That writing is just for me.

I don’t know any other writer who writes as I do. All I can say is that it works for me.

I do remember back when I was working, the only time I had to write was before and after work and on the weekends. Of course, all manner of everyday life was in there too, so I had to grab my moments. I began a practice of waking up early and using that time. I was fresh and had a lot of writing energy at that time of day. In fact, this morning I awakened at 5 am and got up only to go back to bed a couple of hours later. I thought I could always have a nap later if I wanted one.

Also, it’s not like I am forcing myself to do something I don’t want to do. I love to write. I’m at a stage where a blank computer screen is a welcome sight, not something to be afraid of. That took me years to sort out.

And, the best of all? Here are the monthly totals going back a ways:

I'm retired now, so you'd think I could sit here all day and write. But that is bad practice. Not only is your butt sore, but you can get a crick in your neck.

Thanks for reading. When I get a book published, I'll let you know where to go to get it.

🌺 Pauline Evanosky

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