Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Do you have a writing routine? What’s a writing routine, you ask? During 1932-1933 Henry Miller was working on what was to become his first published novel, Tropic of Cancer. In his subsequent book, “Henry Miller on Writing,” he details his eleven commandments and a stringent daily routine set. He used the guidelines to ensure he accomplished his writing goal.

The Daily Program, or his daily routine, outlined the following:

MORNINGS:

If groggy, type notes and allocate, as stimulus.

If in fine fettle, write.

AFTERNOONS:

Work of section in hand, following plan of section scrupulously.

No intrusions, no diversions.

Write to finish one section at a time, for good and all.

EVENINGS:

See friends.

Read in cafés.

Explore unfamiliar sections — on foot if wet, on bicycle if dry.

Write, if in mood, but only on Minor program.

Paint if empty or tired. Make Notes. Make Charts, Plans. Make corrections of MS.

Note: Allow sufficient time during daylight to make an occasional visit to museums or an occasional sketch or an occasional bike ride. Sketch in cafés and trains and streets. Cut the movies! Library for references once a week.

I am toying with the idea of using his list as inspiration for drafting my own set of writing commandments. I figure I have nothing to lose and a completed manuscript to gain.

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often. — Leonard Cohen

Do you have a playlist for your writing time, or do you prefer silence while you create? I never know which scenario will help me most. Sometimes the world is noisy, chaotic, and filled with distractions. On those days, peaceful quiet is only a dream. Far too often, the distractions are in my mind. A voice in my head plagues me. It alternately urges me to pick something fun or engage in a “more responsible and productive” activity. The exact project is less important than escaping from the chore of confronting a blank page, developing a logical premise, and seeing the story through to a satisfying conclusion.

My best tactic for crushing the alluring temptation to follow the seductive voice is to drown it with music. But then I face the tricky prospect of finding the right tunes. An otherwise simple task can end with me flipping from one channel to the next in a continuous loop. Other days, it is all too much, and silence reigns supreme.

Whatever the correct answer for the day might be, when I get it right, time ceases to exist, and the words flow, and problems I feared before my writing session magically resolved themselves as I type each successive word, sentence, and paragraph. When I reread my words, I don’t recognize them. The person who wrote them couldn’t have been me.

Do you gravitate towards music or silence when you write? If you listen to music—what do you listen to?

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Most of my writing happens in my newly converted office. My desk is an old oak dining/library table I’ve positioned across from a large window. A bird feeder, which attacks a stunning array of wildlife, dominates my view outside, while the occasional sighting of a neighborhood walker, runner, or an aimless rambler punctuates the background. There are also trees and the allure of the ever-changing weather. I enjoy the moments when I look up from my work to discover the inspiration that eluded me when I concentrated on my screen lying outside.

Lately, I began craving a change of venue. Long gone are the days when we could pop into our favorite coffee shop, hoping for a 15-minute binge, only to end up spending hours with torrents of words streaming from our fingers. I miss those forays that never failed to boost my word count.

So, I started looking for options. Who knew there was a particular spot in my kitchen that allowed me to refill my cup of Joe without leaving my seat? I also discovered a comfortable chair with a warm throw and good lighting that is perfect for dreaming up sticky situations for my main character to overcome. A forgotten and secluded corner became a welcome solution when I needed a few moments of solitude to record my latest epiphany. These overlooked sites provide a breath of fresh air.

Where are your favorite writing spaces?

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

There is nothing permanent except change. — Heraclitus

This quote may qualify as the Understatement of All Human Existence.

I like to believe I am a creature of habit, and mostly, it is true — until it isn’t. For years, my most productive writing time occurred between 9 pm and midnight. It was magical. At the stroke of 9, I sat at my desk, opened a blank document, and words spewed onto the page. Some sessions were brief, while others lasted longer than the three-hour window. My word counts ranged from a mere 50 words to the rare occasions when they reached an astounding 3-5,000 mark.

Then it happened. My late evening sessions became dismal and racked up stellar goose eggs night after night. I figured it was a phase that would soon pass, and I didn’t give it much thought. But the trend persisted, and another anomaly arose. Ideas, phrases, and an intense urge to write began upsetting my usual course of business in the late afternoon.

My muse kicked into high gear as my co-workers hit their 2 -3 pm slump. And while I’m not complaining (much), she has chosen a difficult time slot, as my 9-5 grind expects my productivity to focus on other areas. Still, at least my dear muse has not abandoned me. My challenge is to create a schedule that accommodates She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.

When do you write—Morning/Afternoon/Evening?

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, I didn’t want to get out of bed. On my phone, the temperature registered a bracing 7F (-14C) when my feet finally touched the floor. My lack of enthusiasm stemmed from the prior evening’s image of the streetlight illuminating falling snow outside my window. That meant I needed to shovel the driveway. Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast for six more weeks of winter seemed accurate. After exhausting my list of excuses, my phone displayed a balmy 12F (-11C). There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and I set to work.

Shoveling snow demands physical exertion and almost no brain power, so I allowed my mind to wander. I had almost finished my task when a bird call caught my attention. I didn’t believe my ears and dismissed it in favor of completing my job and getting inside where it was warmer. The bird called again. “It can’t be,” I thought as I continued with my mission. But the third call got my attention. I stopped my work and began searching for the singer. High in my neighbor’s locust tree sat a harbinger of Spring—a robin.

“What are you doing here? You’re too early. Spring isn’t here yet.” I told the robin, and he cocked his head in my direction. He chirped, flitted among the branches, and sang to me again as if to say he knew what he was doing, and Spring was close upon his tail.

“Are you saying Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t know what he is talking about?”

He titled his head, sang his lovely song, and then he flew north. I think I will trust my new friend’s opinion.

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The XXIV Olympic Winter Games start today in Beijing, China. The Games will debut seven new Olympic events: Women’s Monobob, Men’s and Women’s Big Air (Freestyle Skiing), Mixed Team Snowboard Cross, Mixed Team Aerials, Mixed Team Short Track Relay, and Mixed Team Ski Jumping.

In total, there are 109 medal events across 15 sports. My favorite on the list is hockey (both men’s and women’s), followed by any event that involves ice and snow. Yeah, pretty much any winter event is interesting, and I’ve already scheduled my event viewings. Don’t worry. I don’t intend to let my writing suffer since I won’t indulge in the games until I have completed my writing for the day.

Will you watch the Olympics, and if so, what is your favorite event?

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Happy Groundhog Day.

It is official. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means we are in for six more weeks of winter. It is snowing today, and the forecast calls for total accumulations ranging from 5 inches to over 20 inches of snow, depending on the specific area and the dreaded lake effect. Yes, winter is here. I’ll take it as one more reason to stay inside, snuggle beneath my blanket with a warm cup of coffee, and write.

Did you write yesterday? Are you writing today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer