I’ve done the work a full-time job and write every other minute of my life thing. Then I did the write full-time, bartend part-time. Then it was write all the time– which is more than full-time. 😉 Now I’m working full-time outside the home again, and attempting to be a Weekend Writer.
The thing is, in theory I’d love to come home form work and then write fro a couple hours each night, but I just can;t do that. Not yet anyway. Right now the day job is very physical, and normally that would juice me up, but after being so unphysical for the past couple years my body really needs an adjustment period. I thought it would be okay because hey, my body can rest while I sit and write at night, but uhmm, it’s not really working out that way. For the last week I’ve come home form work and pretty much collapsed onto the chair and either read, or watched T.V for a couple short hours then crawled into bed. So, with my two days off in a row right now, I’m turning myself into a Weekend Writer. I actually think this might be perfect (if the day job continues to give me my days off in a row)
It’s work time, and relax during the week. (reading at night is awesome!) Then now, I catch up on all my writing stuff. So…this is the plan, I will let you know how it goes, but I’m thinking positive because some fabulous opportunities have already come my way, and hopefully I’ll be able to share more later.
For now, I’m gonna leave you with a cool quote I found:
Boy meets girl; girl gets boy into a pickle;boy gets pickle into girl.”
Jack Woodford on fiction plots.
Keep us posted. Finding the right balance is always trial and error. This sounds like a good one: you get to interact with people so you don’t become a solitary creature, have me time doing an enjoyable activity and then let your creative juices flow when nothing else is on your plate. This may just be the schedule to get you in a rhythm. Keep the faith and remember, slow and steady.
Thanks Shawna, I’m looking froward to this schedule, and getting my shit together. 😉
I found it hard to work around a standard FT job. PT was easier; work half the day, write the other half. Or work full time in 4 days, have 1 day off and 2 to write. Hope you find the schedule that works for you! Many FT workers get the writing in by doing it first.
Typically, I don’t do well with a set schedule. However, I do use lists. That is, I can get everything done; simply not the same way on any given day.
Finding balance with so many changes can be very difficult. Hopefully you will find yours SOON.
Also, have you thought about writing in different manners? Maybe dictation (even if it is to yourself) – record in the big chair and then word process and edit later. Or, using Dragon?
Some thoughts.
Charlene, I’ve never really had a regular schedule before, so I’m not sure how it’llwork for me. In theory, I love it. I’ll let you know if I love it in reality too. LOL
Sonya, I’ve always enjoyed having an irregular schedule in the past as well, so this will be new for me. But there seems to be so much changing in my life right now that I’m willing to try pretty much anything to keep all the balls I want in this game. I do have the Dragon app on my phone and iPad, so I just might give them a try. I tried it on my computer once a few years ago and found that it didn’t work for me, but I think the app will help me get things done in bits and peices when life gets a bit too crazy. I’ll let you know for sure, and I’m always willing to try new things if you have other suggestions. 🙂