Jun
17

A Writing Day

At my desk by nine

 

cuppa in hand

checked:

my blog

email

Facebook

horoscope

bank account

 

Fresh cuppa

Read blogs/commented on blogs

opened manuscript

changed “On board” to “Aboard”

took out a comma

stared out window

rechecked email

 

Made cuppa

plucked eyebrows

recharged mobile phone

doodled new story titles

paper shuffled my desk

reread yesterday’s writing

 

Lunch

checked email

Facebook

blog

wrote some blog topic ideas

crossed out some blog topic ideas

checked ink levels in gel pens

booked VWC event

replied emails

tangled in mental dialogue with my characters

stared out window

 

Cuppa 3 p.m.

closed all computer windows except Word

reread yesterday’s writing a second time

Forced my fingers to type next sentence onto the screen

and ———————————— she’s AWAY

clock ticking – oblivious

phone ringing – ignored

words grow and grow and grow

tension building, characters fighting, “Noooooooo.”

Two hours = 2197 words = one complete chapter – Phew!

read over – Check

Thinking/staring/doodling = working = writing = pages X 200 =

A NOVEL

A very, very good writing day

 

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Comments

alison reynolds" alt="alison reynolds">

alison reynolds

Fabulous effort, Chris.
I giggled when I read your day’s diary.
At first I thought it could have been mine!
I had a couple of eyebrow hairs that had to be tidied.
Are neat eyebrows the sign of a procrastinating writer?
Sometimes I think you need to go through hours of fiddle to be able to let go.
Hope you’re still powering along today.
Alison

June 17, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Reply
    christinemareebell" alt="christinemareebell">

    christinemareebell

    Hi Alison

    I don’t think I ever quite got the connection between the tweezing and productivity. I wonder how it would work if I plucked first thing in the morning. Would I buckle down and write faster. I’ll keep you posted.

    [I deeply suspect a teeny weeny bit of procrastination occurring, but let’s keep it our little secret.] 🙂

    Chris

    June 17, 2011 at 3:27 pm
    Reply
Elizabeth Jane" alt="Elizabeth Jane">

Elizabeth Jane

Eyebrow plucking is the key. If this vital part of procrastination is missed, then you may as well give up! I keep a set of tweezers by my desk. 

June 17, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Reply
Corinne Fenton" alt="Corinne Fenton">

Corinne Fenton

Understand totally. A good day and fun to read.

June 17, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Reply
deescribewriting" alt="deescribewriting">

deescribewriting

Loved this post, Chris,

Could so relate to the procrastination techniques and I really liked the way you built the suspense to a surprising but very positive outcome.

Congratulations on a good day’s work. I think we all have days like that where it’s really hard to get into it, but once you do, there’s no stopping you.

Very inspirational:)

June 17, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Reply
    christinemareebell" alt="christinemareebell">

    christinemareebell

    Hi Dee

    Glad you enjoyed and it inspired. Some days I seem to find anything to do rather than start to write – but when it all starts pouring out onto the page, thank goodness I can justify it as thinking time. And it’s always worth the wait. Often such pieces can sing quite well in first draft, or have really strong outcomes to go on with. Fun, but, sometimes, oh so frustratating.

    Chris

    June 18, 2011 at 1:24 pm
    Reply

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Categories: Musing on writerly topics My writing journey The Writing Life

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