Question:
Repitition for writers?
ive got a friend who swears its best for writers to find a specific time and place to do their writing. same time, same place, every day. this seems like the repition would get boring to me, and one would be less inclined to write. any input?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
People who write professionally schedule their writing time.
You are confusing issues here. Ideas come when they come.
You can scribble down the ideas whenever they happen, then
put them in your laundry list of things to do. In fact, when
driving, I used to carry a recorder so I could save the ideas
that occurred when my hands weren't free.
For people who do not write professionally, it is fine to write
whenever you feel like it. When you're writing in your diary,
or typing random stuff into your computer, you don't have an
editor staring at his watch, tapping his foot. You don't have
to worry about deadlines.
There is much merit to be had in scheduling writing time. Not
all of it is directed at the writer. It can also be directed at people
who know the writer. If they know that the writer's working time
is a specific interval in the day (or night) they are less likely
to barge in and interrupt, to talk about going out for fast food,
or shopping, or carpooling. One of the problems of being
a writer is that--if you are working at home--no one takes
your office time seriously.
Some writers prefer to work in one place; some writers
prefer to work in coffeeshops, or libraries, or other
alternate places. Some writers find that for certain projects
certain locations are better (or worse.)
I think the main criteria is for the writer to find out for him/
herself the best time and place to write. But this means
giving alternative approaches a fighting chance. This
means actually attempting to write according to different
recipes, and then evaluating what works best (for the
individual.)
For myself, scheduling writing time is essential. It is incredible
how productive a day can be when one sets out a list of
items to be accomplished; and then fills the scheduled
writing time working down a "punch out" list. Setting aside
a time and place does NOT inhibit creativity. In fact, it
enables you to train yourself toward a work ethic--even if
the business end of writing "work" is more like a cross
between playing and the most grueling Gestalt therapy.
If you only dabble--only write a little when you feel like it,
you're not taking it seriously. Scheduling writing time means
you're getting serious about your craft.
imhop. And I am a writer.