FoxyLenz's picture
FoxyLenz from Shangri -L.I is reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell June 30, 2012 - 2:30am

I'm in the middle of a major project. I quit my job at the government to pursue this, so I try to bang out about 5-12,000 words a week, or atleast that much time worth of reworking/organizing/researching stuff.

Weekend routine:

I generally take my aderall (legally perscribed to me by my dr., without it I can barely get a paragraph out of my head)

Go grab starbucks

Sit for 8-18 hours writing/rewriting/lolcats/more writing

Remembering to do things like shower, eat or sleep is optional. It helps to have a spouse/fiance/life partner/ super intelligent monkey butler who will bring you burritos and flan

 

Weekdays:

meds

starbucks

edit, rewrite while my work sleeps (Im a nanny)

 

Constant Reader's picture
Constant Reader from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life June 30, 2012 - 3:00am

'I generally take my aderall (legally perscribed to me by my dr., without it I can barely get a paragraph out of my head)'

So, how do you test this hypothesis? Do you stop taking it for ___ hours, and then write for ____ hours to compare output? Upon what empirical data do you base this comparison? 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Lexington, Ky. is reading Strangers in the Land by Stant Litore. June 30, 2012 - 5:02am

Jeff don't be that guy.

Michael J. Riser's picture
Michael J. Riser from El Cerrito, CA (originally), now Fort Worth, TX is reading Heat Wave - Richard Castle (shut up), The Shape of the Dog - Hampton Fancher, Maps and Legends - Michael Chabon June 30, 2012 - 5:24am

Foxy, I did the same thing. Sort of. Not for a specific project, but just to write. What shitty government misstep did you work for?

RoaringJen's picture
RoaringJen from PDX is reading The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March June 30, 2012 - 5:28am

Remembering to do things like shower, eat or sleep is optional. It helps to have a spouse/fiance/life partner/ super intelligent monkey butler who will bring you burritos and flan

It does help.

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that June 30, 2012 - 8:16am

I took a year off work one time (back in 2000). Best stress-free year I ever had. I'd do again in a heartbeat if the money was available. I wrote nearly every day. And really recharged my work battery so that when the year was up, I didn't detest my new job so much. That battery died about two years ago. Ready for a year (or several decades) free from a day job. 

FoxyLenz's picture
FoxyLenz from Shangri -L.I is reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell June 30, 2012 - 9:41am

@Jeff: It's more about being able to organize my thoughts enough to put them on paper. Off it, it's like my brain tries to shove 100 fat people through a narrow door at the same time. On it, they go through single file.

@Michael- I worked for the state senate in NY. Mostly I was an operative for the GOP working on campaigns and stuff. It was fun for awhile, but then I got bored of it. 

@Gary- I agree, I am a ft nanny making more than I did at the gov't and couldn't be happier. Most of my family is supportive, but some don't get it and it's frustrating. 

RoaringJen's picture
RoaringJen from PDX is reading The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March June 30, 2012 - 10:48am

@Gary- I agree, I am a ft nanny making more than I did at the gov't and couldn't be happier. Most of my family is supportive, but some don't get it and it's frustrating.

Are you able to find more inspiration with the change of your job situation? Sometimes I think being a nanny would be more difficult than anything else in the world. I envy those that can handle kids 24/7.

Syaihan 'Shandye' Syafiq's picture
Syaihan 'Shandy... from Malaysia is reading 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami August 13, 2012 - 4:28am

I don' really have a routine per se. But usually when I managed to finish the first chapter of this potential book project, eventually I will start writing (and researching as I write) on it during the night time, after most of my family members had gone to bed. Usually its around 1 am onwards. Its amazing how I can get in the zone without realizing it and I can almost regularly write for about two to three hours straight when I am really really inspired.

 

Coffee and cigarettes do help. IDK, maybe the caffeine and nocotine mix helped create the creative buzz in my head.

 

BISIK, my debut novel is out now and can be purchased via Amazon. Thank you.

W. Jordan's picture
W. Jordan from Texas is reading Women by Charles Bukowski September 7, 2012 - 3:04am

WING IT, DUDE! JUST WING IT!

However, that may be why I have so many problems writing.... I think I need to start planning more shit out. I don't take medication, so that's out. I'd love to quit work! However, I'll probably just try the Starbucks thing, but that's where all the cool people go, so I don't know. Ha ha!

Just wing it. I don't know....

Maybe listen to the Bee Gees and write, get a little vibe going. Listen to Crosby, Stills & Nash! Write a memoir about your life so far. I've been trying to do that.... Watch some Woody Allen movies, then write! Ha ha!

 

W. Jordan

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading Comic books and motorcycle riding guides September 7, 2012 - 12:16pm

I put on sexy lingerie and a vibrating cockring and then ask everyone to leave the room.  A cup of coffee, half filled with whiskey.  I drink half the cup and then refill it with whiskey.  I repeat this while chanting "Everyone hates you, everyone hates you".  I chain smoke three cigarettes.  I open up the laptop and vomit.  I clean up the vomit by using my cat as a rag.

Then I pass out for a few hours.  I usually awake with a story in my head.  I write it on the walls in my own feces and blood.  I have mason jars filled with each for just this purpose.

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman September 7, 2012 - 4:47pm

I don't have a routine. I am either writing, or I'm not.

rmatthewsimmons's picture
rmatthewsimmons from Salt Lake City, UT is reading All The Pretty Horses with The Tortilla Curtain lying in wait. September 8, 2012 - 12:30pm

I find myself constantly running to a note pad I have lying around, jotting down notes. However, it's rare that I ever go back and read them. I figure that even though I may not ever use them, I'm glad my mind is still subconsciously working on my piece.

I usually write better when it's dark out and often it can take a couple of hours to 'get into character' before I dare to sit down in front of the computer. I'll put on certain music or a movie, which can seem repetitive after a few months, and just let it work itself until my mind tells me it's ok to sit down. Otherwise, the voice of the character will come across as something I've just seen, heard or the like.

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that September 8, 2012 - 1:41pm

Howie, I like that you put the cockring on before you ask people to leave the coffee house room.