📌 What a Writing Day Looks Like (for Me)

Well, at least sometimes. 😂

I’m in an Inked Voices picture book workshop with an editor who kicked things off by asking about our writing process—including the space and mindset we like to be in when we create.

It’s a great question—one which will invariably have as many “right” answers as there are creators. Still, it’s interesting to hear from the other writers there—not on an “I should try that” basis necessarily, but more on a “isn’t the human mind fascinating”? I mean, I’m not one that thinks someone’s process determines their results, exactly; instead, I tend to believe mindset determines results, and process is how you process your mindset? That probably reads like word salad, but I guess what I’m trying to say is: given how little we know about how/when/why our muse strikes, it’s remarkable how much we can coax our synapses to fire up just by making ourselves feel, essentially, comfortable—and obviously being “comfortable” is different for each person!

You might say having and using your process—even if it’s just your best guess at this point—is what’s important. Having one means, by default, that you are determined, committed, and actively working towards something. That is NO SMALL THING. It’s how you are attempting to find a path forward, past the overgrown shrubbery and rotting mile markers.

Whew. Can we take a musical interlude?

Thank you, Friend.

I think my very favorite Nirvana song is actually a cover they did of a Meat Puppets song: Plateau.

I will not pretend to know what was on Kurt’s mind when he selected this for their Unplugged setlist, but I can only assume he connected with it deeply to choose it over so many of his own songs. Anyways, I love the song, too. Who knows what a song “means” in a global sense (being so personal and subjective), but for me, it’s about finding your little place of spiritual satisfaction and making it your own, and it pretty much sums up how I feel about finding your way into your creative process.

As usual, I’ve probably overshared.

Still, I want to be clear; I don’t think MY process is for you. LOL! I share it only because (at least for me!) visualization is such an essential component of goal-setting and follow-through. I find this especially true when the goal is audacious or has a very uncertain outcome (cough, cough, ‘writing,’ cough, cough).

In my case, I write M-F while the kids are at school, with some extra on the evenings and weekends when they are otherwise occupied. I’d say it’s typically about half and half drafting and revising. I also blog once a week, and my blog drafts (many of which won’t ever see the light of day) are my morning pages.

Alas, I can’t listen to music while I write. However, I listen to it before I start my writing day—in the hour while I’m getting breakfast together, doing laundry, etc. I have a cringey but “it me” Spotify writing pump-up playlist. (You will not be surprised to see our old friend Plateau on there.)

I usually ping-pong between projects to keep things fresh for myself, though some days are easier than others for MG (which requires focus for more extended time blocks, at least in my case).

As far as time management goes, I love the scene in The Office where Kelly is interviewing for a promotion and talking about how she manages her department, and then Jim’s like, “Your department’s just you…right?” to which Kelly retorts, “Yes, Jim—but I am *not* easy to manage.” LOL! She’s not wrong—I “feel” her sometimes! I end up signing myself up for a lot of critique groups and workshops so that I always have deadlines and accountability.

I primarily work at my desk in the basement (see glamour shot above), though I also love working at the kitchen table. I guess I’m easily distracted by noise—I can’t seem to write or read well at coffee shops or the library, even though I walk to one or the other most days. So I’ve learned just to grab my books and latte and walk back—but I use the round trip of walking for “thinking” time.

My view while seated. I find having my laptop raised keeps me from getting hand and wrist strain. I keep my revision binder and commonplace book under the laptop stand. I’ve got stacks of TBR (or to be re-read) books everywhere. The strange ceramic headphone-holding guy is my husband’s middle school ceramics project, which his parents graciously gave me. You can see my story ideas index card box, topped by a ceramic donut from my son, right under my second monitor. I keep thank you postcards to my right, to remember to write and send them out! It’s not much, but I kind of love it. 

I’ve probably told you more than any of you wanted to know about how I sit in a chair, think, and type! 😊How do you do what you do? Feel free to post links if this is a topic you’ve written about yourself!

Yours in processing our processes,

Elayne

My posts are always free, but my focus isn't; if you found this post interesting or useful, please consider ♡’ing it so I know. Thank you!