Writing routine ? I wake up every day and feel guilty that I didn’t write enough the day before - does that count ? It’s definitely a routine.
I wake up, make a cup of coffee , and head for my desk. Walking the path from bed to kitchen to desk is pure muscle memory and I feel off kilter if something sidetracks me . It’s a short enough commute , but packed with so many possible distractions. The dog insisting on a game of fetch, a fawn and momma deer grazing in the back yard, birds at the feeder, sunshine, nature, etc. You get it , I’m easily distracted. But more days than not, I make it to the chair, click on the lamp, and start writing in my journal. I have a commitment to it, it’s where I feel comfortable and safe. As my writing has grown I use the journal to spark ideas and clear my mind. My journal is my steady date, it’s my strongest bond to creative mental space (and some days my sanity).There’s a quote that goes something like ‘being a writer means it’s harder to not write than it is to write’ or something like that. If I go without writing, self loathing starts to seep in. Guilt and self loathing are great motivators, nobody wants to feel like that.
I try not to get too judgy with myself - I try to be patient with the process and keep showing up. Some weeks are better than others, life always interjects, but one way or another, I always come back to the writing.
Journalling is definitely a good way to get going – maybe I'll start doing that again too. I agree that it's hard not to write – I feel terrible when I'm avoiding it, so I don't know why I avoid it. I will try to take a leaf out of your book and be patient/less judgy.
Journaling is a good spring board for me. I usually get to a point when I’m journaling where I say ‘there it is - that’s would I should be wiring about’ and I’ll start an essay - or story or whatever.
Oh Hattie, I really hope you feel better soon, but Paris has to be the perfect place to recuperate!
I really loved todays newsletter, but that’s probably because I am a very ordered and structured person, and so my writing gets done because I do exactly what Curtis suggests. I am SO sad, that I even have a laminated version of my daily routine (I can’t believe I just confessed that) 😂
Hi Hattie! I’m writing here in Oregon, in the foothills of Mt. Hood. When I first jumped on to Substack, I found an article by you written on June 1st that helped with my writing routine. You referred to the hourglass hack someone else shared with you, but I took my candle clock and applied it the same way. One inch equals about a half hour so I set it for an hour and treat it like a writing ritual. It felt even more significant at the time since I was starting to write about fire. So, thank you for that suggestion. It works great when I’m really stuck. Most of the time though, I just need to schedule it or treat it like a date, as you suggest above. Have fun writing in Paris!
I used to be very ad hoc about writing, but since getting on Substack that’s changed. Instead of setting a specific time to write I have a specific time I publish (once every two weeks.)
It’s gives me more flexibility with my time but not enough that I stop writing all together—a controlled chaos.
Yes, that's a great way to do it. I have a schedule on Substack too and I don't find it difficult to stick to. It's my creative writing – the stuff I'm not ready to publish – that I struggle to commit to... I definitely find it hard to get things done without external accountability.
Brilliant advice! Thank you for sharing. A yoga teacher of mine once advised, just get on your yoga mat for a set period of time & stay on it, even if you just lie down & do nothing. (And odds are, you’ll soon start moving). I found this so helpful & now use it with writing too, similar to how CS suggests, and with a timer set, pomodoro style.
Enjoy your rest in Paris. Who knows what inspiration you’ll come back with. 😀
My writing routine is from 9am to around 2pm when my rumbling stomach can no longer be ignored.
After eating, I will usually sit down to plot (a new and exciting thing for me) until evening.
From Friday to Sunday there are family things, an aging parent needs more help, granddaughter stays over for ‘freedo-Friday’, so I have less time to write. But I’m usually still thinking up ideas or filling plot holes in my mind, the notebook ever at the ready!
While I write this, I am sitting with my eighty two year old father who has ill. He is desperately avoiding going back into hospital, so we are monitoring blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc. He’s a stubborn old bugger but it’s his life. He’ll give it up when he’s ready!
But, I still brought my notebook, just in case. 😂
Hope you feel better soon, so you can enjoy the Parisian energy.
I vacillate wildly when it comes to the idea of routine with writing. In some ways, I’m thinking about what I’m writing all the time, and when the pressure of thoughts and ideas build up, which is more and more often as a project crystallizes, I sit down and get on with it.
In the early days, things like a particular tea or pen or notebook mattered more- I think gathering those props bolstered confidence that I would actually get some writing done. Now that I feel more certain it will happen, the ritual of it matters much less.
That sounds great. Obviously different things work for different people. I also have the build-up of thoughts and ideas, but for some reason I resist sitting down and actually doing the writing, even though the resistance itself makes me miserable.
I find an image of draining the pressure of all those ideas in my brain onto a page- digital or analog - helps writing feel like some kind of archaic medical treatment and this appeals to me, twisted creature that I am. 😂 But then again, I like to fling myself on the couch like Anaïs Nin in despair when the writing goes badly, so take my suggestions with caution.
Follow up : I woke up this morning, ready to journal and there was a mama and baby moose in my front yard (they’ve been showing up a lot lately). As I was sneaking out the door with my cell phone/ camera in hand and binoculars around my neck I paused and thought ‘SEE! Here I am - completely distracted!’ But how could I pass that up ?😜
I wish you could share a photo with us! How lovely to have moose (mooses? Moice?) in the yard. Not something that happens in London, or Paris – the most interesting creatures I see from my window in London are foxes and parakeets.
I would LOVE to see more fox!!! We always want what we don't have I suppose. I've seen a fox twice in my life, very mystic little creature. I found you on IG Hattie, if you want to follow me there are moose photos. My handle is 'chilljill....'
Writing routine ? I wake up every day and feel guilty that I didn’t write enough the day before - does that count ? It’s definitely a routine.
I wake up, make a cup of coffee , and head for my desk. Walking the path from bed to kitchen to desk is pure muscle memory and I feel off kilter if something sidetracks me . It’s a short enough commute , but packed with so many possible distractions. The dog insisting on a game of fetch, a fawn and momma deer grazing in the back yard, birds at the feeder, sunshine, nature, etc. You get it , I’m easily distracted. But more days than not, I make it to the chair, click on the lamp, and start writing in my journal. I have a commitment to it, it’s where I feel comfortable and safe. As my writing has grown I use the journal to spark ideas and clear my mind. My journal is my steady date, it’s my strongest bond to creative mental space (and some days my sanity).There’s a quote that goes something like ‘being a writer means it’s harder to not write than it is to write’ or something like that. If I go without writing, self loathing starts to seep in. Guilt and self loathing are great motivators, nobody wants to feel like that.
I try not to get too judgy with myself - I try to be patient with the process and keep showing up. Some weeks are better than others, life always interjects, but one way or another, I always come back to the writing.
Journalling is definitely a good way to get going – maybe I'll start doing that again too. I agree that it's hard not to write – I feel terrible when I'm avoiding it, so I don't know why I avoid it. I will try to take a leaf out of your book and be patient/less judgy.
Journaling is a good spring board for me. I usually get to a point when I’m journaling where I say ‘there it is - that’s would I should be wiring about’ and I’ll start an essay - or story or whatever.
Wow - I need to read more before I send 😐
Haha – don't worry, the gist was clear!
Oh Hattie, I really hope you feel better soon, but Paris has to be the perfect place to recuperate!
I really loved todays newsletter, but that’s probably because I am a very ordered and structured person, and so my writing gets done because I do exactly what Curtis suggests. I am SO sad, that I even have a laminated version of my daily routine (I can’t believe I just confessed that) 😂
I LOVE this. Why did you decide to laminate it (and what's on it?!)?
Hi Hattie! I’m writing here in Oregon, in the foothills of Mt. Hood. When I first jumped on to Substack, I found an article by you written on June 1st that helped with my writing routine. You referred to the hourglass hack someone else shared with you, but I took my candle clock and applied it the same way. One inch equals about a half hour so I set it for an hour and treat it like a writing ritual. It felt even more significant at the time since I was starting to write about fire. So, thank you for that suggestion. It works great when I’m really stuck. Most of the time though, I just need to schedule it or treat it like a date, as you suggest above. Have fun writing in Paris!
I'm so glad it works for you! And lovely to hear from you all the way over in Oregon.
Thanks for sharing!
I used to be very ad hoc about writing, but since getting on Substack that’s changed. Instead of setting a specific time to write I have a specific time I publish (once every two weeks.)
It’s gives me more flexibility with my time but not enough that I stop writing all together—a controlled chaos.
Yes, that's a great way to do it. I have a schedule on Substack too and I don't find it difficult to stick to. It's my creative writing – the stuff I'm not ready to publish – that I struggle to commit to... I definitely find it hard to get things done without external accountability.
That’s a good point. It’s frighteningly easy to talk yourself out of it when there’s no one else to hold you accountable.
I need to start this - a set time to post - I linger too long in ‘I could write this or I could write that’ - I need to just do it !
Brilliant advice! Thank you for sharing. A yoga teacher of mine once advised, just get on your yoga mat for a set period of time & stay on it, even if you just lie down & do nothing. (And odds are, you’ll soon start moving). I found this so helpful & now use it with writing too, similar to how CS suggests, and with a timer set, pomodoro style.
Very wise!
Enjoy your rest in Paris. Who knows what inspiration you’ll come back with. 😀
My writing routine is from 9am to around 2pm when my rumbling stomach can no longer be ignored.
After eating, I will usually sit down to plot (a new and exciting thing for me) until evening.
From Friday to Sunday there are family things, an aging parent needs more help, granddaughter stays over for ‘freedo-Friday’, so I have less time to write. But I’m usually still thinking up ideas or filling plot holes in my mind, the notebook ever at the ready!
While I write this, I am sitting with my eighty two year old father who has ill. He is desperately avoiding going back into hospital, so we are monitoring blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc. He’s a stubborn old bugger but it’s his life. He’ll give it up when he’s ready!
But, I still brought my notebook, just in case. 😂
Hope you feel better soon, so you can enjoy the Parisian energy.
Thanks Ann and I'm sorry to hear your father is ill. I hope a little better this week.
I vacillate wildly when it comes to the idea of routine with writing. In some ways, I’m thinking about what I’m writing all the time, and when the pressure of thoughts and ideas build up, which is more and more often as a project crystallizes, I sit down and get on with it.
In the early days, things like a particular tea or pen or notebook mattered more- I think gathering those props bolstered confidence that I would actually get some writing done. Now that I feel more certain it will happen, the ritual of it matters much less.
That sounds great. Obviously different things work for different people. I also have the build-up of thoughts and ideas, but for some reason I resist sitting down and actually doing the writing, even though the resistance itself makes me miserable.
I have so been there. The WORST.
I find an image of draining the pressure of all those ideas in my brain onto a page- digital or analog - helps writing feel like some kind of archaic medical treatment and this appeals to me, twisted creature that I am. 😂 But then again, I like to fling myself on the couch like Anaïs Nin in despair when the writing goes badly, so take my suggestions with caution.
Flinging oneself on a couch is an essential part of the writing process
#facts
Follow up : I woke up this morning, ready to journal and there was a mama and baby moose in my front yard (they’ve been showing up a lot lately). As I was sneaking out the door with my cell phone/ camera in hand and binoculars around my neck I paused and thought ‘SEE! Here I am - completely distracted!’ But how could I pass that up ?😜
I wish you could share a photo with us! How lovely to have moose (mooses? Moice?) in the yard. Not something that happens in London, or Paris – the most interesting creatures I see from my window in London are foxes and parakeets.
I would LOVE to see more fox!!! We always want what we don't have I suppose. I've seen a fox twice in my life, very mystic little creature. I found you on IG Hattie, if you want to follow me there are moose photos. My handle is 'chilljill....'
That is a worthy distraction!!! 😃
Great advice, needed to hear that this morning :)
That’s such good advice
Thanks so much for this Leonard, and bienvenue à la communauté! I'm so glad you've been enjoying the newsletters and finding them motivating.
I agree that if you can just get yourself to start, flow will usually take over. But here I am answering comments instead of starting...