Wicked Wednesday-Back to Basics

Jessie: Enjoying the crisp air and perusing knitting patterns!

This month we are exploring the theme of going back in some way or other. Today I am wondering about the basics in your writing lives. Do you have a routine that provides the basis for your work? What about recurring themes that can be spotted in most of what you write? Do you have some basic supplies you have to have on had to do your best work? What about snacks?

Edith: I definitely have a basic work routine. Being a lifelong morning person, I’m always awake before seven and usually before six. I make my coffee and hit the upstairs home office. I need about an hour of catching up on the internet (email, blogs, facebook, and saying good morning to Dru Ann Love). No matter what time I got up, without fail at a few minutes before seven I check in on Ramona DeFelice Long‘s Facebook sprint post and report for duty. She has a group of loyal writing champions (her term) who also check in. We then turn off all distractions and write for an hour, whether first draft or revisions. It’s a great start to my workday and a lovely support network. Thanks, Ramona!

Liz: I definitely have basic snacks…potato chips to get me to and through a deadline. As for routine, I try to write at least something in the morning before work so I feel like I’ve jumpstarted the day. Otherwise, I wind up feeling behind and then it’s feels harder to catch up later on. And at least five days a week, I do either yoga or a class at the gym. It definitely helps keep my creativity and energy levels up!

Barb: I have been thinking about basics a lot lately. There were things I did early on, using brainstorming techniques, building character bios, analyzing the text from one revision to the next, that I don’t do anymore. Were these activities–

1. Scaffolding techniques that I needed when I was teaching myself to write a book that I don’t need anymore?
2. Forms of active procrastination because I didn’t know what to do next? OR
3. Thinkwork that improved and deepened my writing?

I honestly don’t know the answer, but I have vowed to make time with my next book to revisit some of these old activities and see if they add to my stories.

Julie: I am in the process of re-imagining my life and working from home, so this is a topic I’m thinking a lot about. So far I have been a failure at balance, working 15 hours a day. That has to stop. Also, I’m considering how I reconnect, realign, with my purpose rather than creating work to find a purpose. What can I do to make that work? Habits I’m trying to reinforce include meditating 15 minutes a day, writing 2 scenes (at least) a day, moving 30 minutes, spending an hour on my writing business life. I’m working on getting my new business off the ground, so the rest of the day (and a lot of the night) are spent on that. Hopefully once the school launches I can create more space,and work on balance. In that phase, I want to think about my writing, and my next creative challenges.

Sherry: As much as I’d love to settle into a routine, I’m not very good at them. However, since I’m adding the new series to my writing this year. I’m trying to settle into two writing periods each day. One in the morning starting at ten and one in the afternoon starting at two. I like writing in the afternoon best. As for snacks — I have to have popcorn!

Readers, what are basic staples, routines and pleasures you see in your own lives?