your working routine

For writing time, I beg, borrow and steal from any of my other responsibilities whenever and wherever I can. It sometimes pisses off the various people associated to the activities I'm thieving from, but I found it's generally more productive to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

Working Border Collies can run 100 miles a day, subject to weather.  They need something to do.  I don't know if Shetland Border is a different breed.

If you haven't read it, you might want to check out Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men.

I like that! And I understand...

I think I'll adopt the Sir Walter Scott of writing method; write very early in the a.m, then ride at full gallop around the estate on my black stallion, go trout fishing in the afternoon, then attend to the estate business and reviewing after evening tea... kidding.

Being totally retired now (at 72), I can sit down at the computer most any time and do some writing. In my head I do revisions, plot shifts, and all sorts of mental gymnastics. They say that mental acuity is enhanced by writing and I firmly believe that because most of the plot is not written down.  I have a list of characters, a local file that is used to nominally lay down a plot, and sort of diagram with the characters and how they interact with each other. I'm always fiddling with that diagram.  But mostly I keep to my computer room and click away. My granddaughter can't believe how fast I type she hears me late into the night.  But, she's 25 now, and can fend for herself.

~Tom

Dagee, I had a sheltie for 14 years before she died of cancer.  She was the best dog I have ever had.   A total lady.  Give Bear a bit of time and he will end making a great dog.

I've never had a case of writer's block. At the moment, I have 23 directories on my computer with novels in various stages of completion. Every time I get bogged down on one, I work on another. In one case, I worked closely on two novels and intertwined them at the middle and then broke back apart in a sort of parallel life.

You just have to find out what works for you and stick with it - adding and subtracting items as necessary. I carry a small spiral notepad in my pocket so I can jot down ideas as you never know where one will come from. My original idea for my current novel came from a couple of Anime pictures and my own experiences.

~Tom

You are so right, Allen. I work a fulltime job, come home and cook dinner most nights. Meet with one writers group on Tuesday evenings. Meet with my editor Thursday evenings. Meet with another writers group Friday afternoons. Try to spend time with my sweetie at least a couple of nights a week. (BTW, he brings me breakfast to my office almost every week day.) I often read & review late into the night. I sometimes wake at 3 with the next chapter just having to get put on paper. I am really blessed to have a job I love and to be able to often finish my work and have time to write at my desk at work. So long as I have finished my classes and paperwork and am on the premises in case some issue with a disabled client arises, I can write away. I cannot say I have a set schedule, but I do write something, even if it's an edited paragraph, every day.

As others mentioned, I also get up early. Like to write before I start my day. But for me, I would rather write than do anything else. I force myself away from the computer to go to work, or to get things done around the house.

My three children are grown and out of the house, so it is much easier now, than when they were home and younger. Then many times I would stay up till after midnight. I'm one of those lucky ppl that don't need alot of sleep (kinda find it a waste of time...lol) Also as I've mentioned before, for many years my husband and I owned restaurants and clubs, so being up after midnight comes with the territory....Now, life is much quieter, as we own liquor stores, with regular hours, and much less headache.

But writing is my first love, something I need to do. Like Janet mentioned, I too will think of things in bed or while doing something else and either jot them down, or make notes in my phone. I write or revise almost every day.....

Also totally agree with Allen. You don't need a lot of free time to write, you just need the drive. Sometimes too much time is a deficit. Altho living in the NYC area, I am looking forward to a forecasted snowstorm this week and some time at home writing....

Damn, Max. Don't let that bastard win. Neuro illness IS insidious -- I often describe it that way exactly. But it can't win, cuz you're still you. Right? Right.

Sending positive vibes your way, my friend.

(Denisef, I'm in the Hudson Valley - battening down the hatches for tomorrow's blizzard. Make sure everything is fully charged! We oughtta move to Hawaii and hang out with Max!)