Your latest post arrived just as my wife Susan and I completed The Guardian quick crossword after eating a lunch of Haddock and roasted vegetables In homemade tomato sauce I had prepared. The time is 1.57pm as I post this. Both of us are smiling, with a quiet afternoon of walking off lunch and reading ahead of us.
I always tell writers they can write a book 10 minutes at a time. I expect 5 minutes would also work. A prompt writing group I sometimes attend used to write for 17 minutes when I first joined, now it's down to twelve (due to size of group) and people still turn out complete stories in 12 minutes. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month, and instead of focusing on number of words, I'm simply writing something (adding to) my novel in progress. It's a gift to myself to spend time daily with a WIP because it keeps the work fresh in my mind and always on my mind.
As for books, I'm about to finish 1989 by Val McDermid, am also reading Are you My Mother? by Alison Bechdel. On hold at the library are 8 books, none of which is going to be ready any time soon, so I'll read Barbara Neely's Blanche and the Talented Tenth, and Sandra Scoppettone's My Sweet UnTraceable You.
You've mastered the art of using time well, both in your writing and reading. You've even got books on hand while you wait for your list to come in at the library . I've never written a story in 17 minutes but with all the dog related interruptions lately , I'm going to try to do a few more sentences each day.
While the quote is not exact, I think Ben Franklin provides a pretty good "how to live". If you love life, then you love time because time is what life is made of. Five minutes, almost anytime in the day is enough to center or re-center ourselves. It is worth exploring how to do it in a way that works for you. My son was in the military active-duty and the impact of suicides amongst his peer group was very serious.
Thank you Betsy . I just wish I had your energy. I can write for five minutes at a time but typing stories up and posting to substack is a different thing altogether when you factor in daily routine. Keep up the good work. Robert 🐰
Has my relationship with time changed over the years? Yes, definitely. I have become intimately familiar with the concept of “the days are long, the years are short” as it applies to raising children. On any given day I am amazed by how slowly time passes between dinner and bedtime, but also by how rapidly my newborns have transformed into tweens. I sincerely hope the same principle applies to the process of writing a book :)
Kid time , as in the time spent while they are growing, has properties not found elsewhere but I do like the idea that book time may have its own properties too.
Your latest post arrived just as my wife Susan and I completed The Guardian quick crossword after eating a lunch of Haddock and roasted vegetables In homemade tomato sauce I had prepared. The time is 1.57pm as I post this. Both of us are smiling, with a quiet afternoon of walking off lunch and reading ahead of us.
When I saw this on Saturday I just smiled and thought, "how lovely!"
I always tell writers they can write a book 10 minutes at a time. I expect 5 minutes would also work. A prompt writing group I sometimes attend used to write for 17 minutes when I first joined, now it's down to twelve (due to size of group) and people still turn out complete stories in 12 minutes. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month, and instead of focusing on number of words, I'm simply writing something (adding to) my novel in progress. It's a gift to myself to spend time daily with a WIP because it keeps the work fresh in my mind and always on my mind.
As for books, I'm about to finish 1989 by Val McDermid, am also reading Are you My Mother? by Alison Bechdel. On hold at the library are 8 books, none of which is going to be ready any time soon, so I'll read Barbara Neely's Blanche and the Talented Tenth, and Sandra Scoppettone's My Sweet UnTraceable You.
You've mastered the art of using time well, both in your writing and reading. You've even got books on hand while you wait for your list to come in at the library . I've never written a story in 17 minutes but with all the dog related interruptions lately , I'm going to try to do a few more sentences each day.
A sentence or a few a day is an excellent goal!
While the quote is not exact, I think Ben Franklin provides a pretty good "how to live". If you love life, then you love time because time is what life is made of. Five minutes, almost anytime in the day is enough to center or re-center ourselves. It is worth exploring how to do it in a way that works for you. My son was in the military active-duty and the impact of suicides amongst his peer group was very serious.
Thank you Betsy . I just wish I had your energy. I can write for five minutes at a time but typing stories up and posting to substack is a different thing altogether when you factor in daily routine. Keep up the good work. Robert 🐰
Has my relationship with time changed over the years? Yes, definitely. I have become intimately familiar with the concept of “the days are long, the years are short” as it applies to raising children. On any given day I am amazed by how slowly time passes between dinner and bedtime, but also by how rapidly my newborns have transformed into tweens. I sincerely hope the same principle applies to the process of writing a book :)
Kid time , as in the time spent while they are growing, has properties not found elsewhere but I do like the idea that book time may have its own properties too.
yes, time and using it well, is all about breaking it down into tiny pieces and moving ahead, resting, or getting things done, one baby step at a time
One of your best newsletters ever, B, a tour de force! I'm spellbound by what topics you weave together! And the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j00JKIIjcK4
Thank you, PJ! Glad you liked the music too. It's not always clear what will resonate with others so I'm glad to know this one landed for you.
Wow! You got me on this one big time! 5 more minutes it is!!