 |
| We're all little busy bees :) |
Okay, I want you to think about your typical day. I'll share mine because I always share things from experience, but think about yours as we go through this post...
Wake up.
Go pee.
Brush teeth.
Change diaper.
Feed children.
Feed self (if lucky)
Dress children.
Dress self (again, if lucky)
Clean kitchen.
Clean living room.
Go pee.
Start laundry.
Sit down.
Check email.
Check blogs.
Check Facebook/Twitter
Feed children.
Change diaper.
NAP TIME!
Feed self.
Clean kitchen.
Fold laundry.
LISTEN TO MUSIC/READ/WATCH EPISODES OF THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.
Pull out WiP.
Write till kids wake up.
Change diaper.
Feed children.
Get dinner ready for hubs.
Clean kitchen.
Clean living room.
Go pee.
Feed family.
Clean kitchen.
RELAX/NETWORK/TRIP TO LIBRARY/TIME WITH HUBS AND KIDS
Bathe children.
Clothe children. (Diaper, yes)
Bed time for children.
Go pee.
TAKE A SHOWER.
Snuggle with hubs till he goes to bed.
WRITE, WRITE, WRITE.
Go pee.
Go to bed.
Everything I've done in ALL CAPS are my ME moments.
#1: NAP TIME. Yes, I am in love with nap time. Thank heavens one of my kids still naps. The other doesn't bother me too much while it's nap time. He plays quietly or takes a snoozer himself. This is my time for me to get things done on the computer. Blog posts, critiquing, returning emails, and writing.
#2: LISTEN TO MUSIC/READ/WATCH EPISODES OF THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. When the muse hasn't decided to wake up for the day and I sit and watch a blank cursor forever, I do these things to break my mind open.
#3: RELAX/NETWORK/TRIP TO LIBRARY/TIME WITH HUBS AND KIDS. Taking a drive with the family helps a lot with inspiration. Just writing in my head while we listen to the radio, or tell jokes, or just spend time with each other can really help.
#4: TAKE A SHOWER. Some of my best ideas come to me in the bathtub. And really, this is a time for me to be alone. (Unless the hubs wants to... um, ya, nevermind.) A shower can totally drown out the world and let you be in another one.
#5: WRITE, WRITE, WRITE. For me, writing comes at night. You can see why if you look at my day, but right after the shower and snuggle time with the hubs, my mind will not shut down, and this is when my best work comes out.
So, what I propose is to use the ME time to do things to help your writing. To not get too busy to recognize that inspiration happens all around us.
What are your ME times? Are you a morning writer? What gives you the best inspiration?
Hey Cassie. I didn't think you would have this amount of spare time at your disposal (tongue firmly in cheek) - I think sleep may be a luxury you're going to have to forego - either that or reduce the number of bathroom breaks each day.
ReplyDeleteLike many things in life - I think writing can be influenced by the life ages/stages factors. Although, I have been amazed by how incredibly busy people still find the time to be prolific writers.
I think it's really exciting to be able to write when the words are flowing - and it can be a bit frustrating when this occurs at a time when writing for pleasure is not a viable/appropriate option. Quick notes are the order of the day - just as a prompt for later - however you know that the moment may well have passed.
As far as inspiration goes - it's all around us; inside us; and just begging to be tapped into. Since joining the blogsphere, I have been inspired by so many of the writers here - and this is now another avenue which can assist with prompting the creative juices.
ME times are critical - whether we use them for writing or any other activity. Cheers.
This schedule could be mine. But instead of diapers, it's homeschooling. And though I don't think I've watched a TV show in like 3 years, I revere naptime as well. (It has morphed into "quiet time" at my house as my kids grow too old for naps) I am a late night writer too. Unfortunately, I need absolute silence to write, and it doesn't happen until everyone is out. And inspiration is everywhere (even the shower).
ReplyDeleteNap time! I miss it so much! My kids get up at the crack of dawn, start screaming, and don't stop until they are tucked into bed that night. I've found headphones to be very useful, and sometimes fantasize about duct tape...
ReplyDeleteMy best writing times are in the afternoon after the lil banshees have been fed and are happily playing for the moment, and after my chores are done, because I can not write with a dirty house. It's a schedule I have worked hard to create and the kids have come to realize that's Mom's quiet time.
My me time usually comes in the car or an airplane or while lying in bed. Many times i can get some writing in over lunch but usually I choose to spend that one hour Critiquing if I have something i want to get done.
ReplyDeleteAh man. If only there was more time...and I don't even have kids yet! :)
Man, i can't believe how much cleaning you do!
ReplyDeleteCome on, don't you know, no writer ever had a clean house? ;)
Since my daughter gave up naps, my me time is when she and my husband go to bed and I can write in peace. Also, when she's at school. Every other time, I'm with her or cleaning. (Much like you!)
ReplyDeleteI make sure I wake up 10-15 minutes earlier every morning, just to sit and have a cup of coffee, even in the dark, just by myself. And, I usually leave the cleaning for the hubby, because he's a clean freak and I know I can get away with it and write instead (there's no way he'll ever read this comment). But, I do appreciate it in my heat <3
ReplyDeleteLOL! Fun post, Cassie. I especially loved your last line about how inspiration is all around us.
ReplyDeleteI love going to the movies; I almost always find inspiration there. But even looking out my window, sometimes. Like last week I watched (hey, don't judge!) my seventeen year old neighbor kiss her boyfriend in her car before they went into her house. It was inspiring to me. (I would only admit that to you guys!)
I do my writing every morning before I check email and stuff. I take a quick peek at my blog(s) just to make sure everything posted all right, and a quick look at my email just to make sure there aren't any fires. But THEN, I write. And I'm not "allowed" to check email and such until after I've met my goal for that day.
Thanks for the great post, Cassie!
I did the me time this weekend. I watched like 9 episodes of Dr. Who and a cute movie. It's hard to get me time with work. But my hubby and I try to give each other that time.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Cassie.