tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post4128970885581396546..comments2024-03-10T04:29:20.044-04:00Comments on Mad Genius Club: Writing on the RunSarah A. Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-90209468107380924842010-07-09T21:22:26.749-04:002010-07-09T21:22:26.749-04:00Hi, Amanda. Even doing a little bit like that can ...Hi, Amanda. Even doing a little bit like that can make a big difference. Particularly being able to do a little bit each day - it just seems to keep the flow going. If things are flowing then you can really be very productive in small pockets of time - quite amazing really. Good luck with the deadline! <br /><br />PS: If I find the secret to fitting writing in amidst a crazy life I will let you know:)Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-42834404544488107312010-07-09T20:34:38.697-04:002010-07-09T20:34:38.697-04:00Chris, that seems to be the one question all of us...Chris, that seems to be the one question all of us need answered. Or maybe it's just me these last few weeks. With a major deadline looming over me for a project that has to be done by mid-week next week, finding time to write has been difficult at best. But what I've discovered is I have to take time, even if just a few minutes a day, or I'll go absolutely crazy. What's I've started doing is taking ten to fifteen minutes mid-morning and mid-afternoon to write. Then, in the evenings after the rest of the house is in bed, I do some more. It's not as much as I'd like, but at least it is some and it is on a daily basis.Amanda Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927312739323222344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-6097972501375923202010-07-09T18:53:31.110-04:002010-07-09T18:53:31.110-04:00Hi, matapam. Sounds like you have got pretty effic...Hi, matapam. Sounds like you have got pretty efficient at using your time. Its getting the long stretch of time to get that first draft down that is difficult. Maybe we should find out where Sarah's hotel room is and go and write there:)<br /><br />Your exercises on the dialogue sounds interesting. I have rarely been deliberate about how I contruct dialogue. It would be a good exercise for me to think in these terms. <br /><br />Just make sure you don't have an accident while driving! I can picture it. 'I'm sorry officer. I saw the truck, but just had to solve a character dilemma before I could swerve. But don't worry, I've got that character down now.' :)Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-70567634829928399692010-07-09T18:45:35.432-04:002010-07-09T18:45:35.432-04:00Hi, Daniel. I'll put on my Dr Chris hat and sa...Hi, Daniel. I'll put on my Dr Chris hat and say 3 hours of sleep a night is not healthy! Get more, please. <br /><br />I can seem to funciton on five and half hours, but not long term. I would power for two or three months, then crash and burn. Coming back from that is really tough. Lately I have been trying to sleep 7-8 hours (after a period of poor health). Its worth trying for, although I cannot say I'm happy with the compromises this forces on me. <br /><br />I also have three kids, so I know what you mean about extras at home. Ours are in the weekend sports as well, so there is a lot of transportation going on.<br /><br />Can you write on public transport to your work at all? Lunchtimes?Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-55796806537761058372010-07-09T18:38:58.291-04:002010-07-09T18:38:58.291-04:00Hi, Chris. Sounds like great fun. There is nothing...Hi, Chris. Sounds like great fun. There is nothing better than trying to home in on a storyline. I am pretty plot-driven, so trying to 'solve' the plot really pushes me on - its like a sore tooth - until I am happy with all the elements. <br /><br />Four days, eh? That's impressive. Usually my plots take a deal longer than that to gel. There will be a few elements, or character names that just will not pop out of the ether at first.<br /><br />It is amazing how things can really come together sometimes. Best of luck with the story.Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-36627000921336121962010-07-09T11:30:18.040-04:002010-07-09T11:30:18.040-04:00I like to use driving time to work out scenes in m...I like to use driving time to work out scenes in my head. I give myself assignments, when I know I'll be traveling. Then there's still the problem of finding the time to put it down on paper. But if I have already worked the scene out in my head, interruptions don't seem to matter as much.<br /><br />You can use driblets of time to form a coherent story line. Have a political discussion with a character. Try to think how your current suite of characters talk. Is that one long winded? The other is frequently sarcastic? The smart girl probably uses long words and drifts into technical terms? That one is a sports fan and uses lots of sports analogies? Who uses military terms? Who is shy and quiet? This is useful for editing purposes. I tend to write all my characters' speech about the same, so this is something I concentrate on with a second draft.<br /><br />But somehow, you have to have enough time to get the first draft done, before you have something that can be worked on in bits and pieces. And a final long stretch to read the whole and see how it flows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-53630636884743153152010-07-09T10:29:58.550-04:002010-07-09T10:29:58.550-04:00Writing on the run. Yep. Full time career (with ...Writing on the run. Yep. Full time career (with extra hours at home when needed) three kids, complete home rebuild, working hobby farm.<br /><br />Writing? Other's always ask "don't you have something productive to be doing?" So yep. Sleep is usually the sacrificial lamb here. <br />Having occasionally gone on a sprint where 3 hours sleep in a day was normal, I do have to point out that one hit's burnout rather faster than otherwise. Granted, there's lots of time to consider the points to write, characters, motivations, etc, etc. but the actual getting words down in sequence for the furthering of the storyline, that takes time.<br /><br />I'd have to second Jonathan's comment that when they find a healthy way for humans to go without sleep, then I will also be a happy bunny... <br /><br />Odd.. Never thought of myself as a bunny before... hmm....<br /><br /><br />DanielDaniel Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02087685109092478482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-71366410512619627632010-07-09T09:08:57.323-04:002010-07-09T09:08:57.323-04:00I've been lucky in the last couple of weeks. ...I've been lucky in the last couple of weeks. Holidays and what nots have combined to give me a lot of time to write. Normally it takes me quite a while to get a rough draft done. Last weekend, I did one in four days of researching and writing. Not many times like that, but I made the best of this one.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-1379445561682509442010-07-09T07:45:24.643-04:002010-07-09T07:45:24.643-04:00Hi, Jonathan. It always seems to be the sleep that...Hi, Jonathan. It always seems to be the sleep that suffers. I know what you mean about not writing at work - bit hard to be creative in that atmosphere. Keep pushing on!Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-38965529812436882952010-07-09T06:18:00.792-04:002010-07-09T06:18:00.792-04:00When I have the answer to that question, I'll ...When I have the answer to that question, I'll let you know!<br /><br />In all seriousness, it does seem to just be a case of powering through. I am lucky enough to have a job which (at the moment) is pretty quiet, allowing for surreptitious plotting and character work. I don't like doing actual writing at work as there are too many distractions and stop-start moments - can't work like that.<br /><br />Other than that... yeah, when they invent a way for humans to go without sleep I will be a happy bunny.Jonathan D. Beerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525346572076892536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-1442175155219621782010-07-09T01:57:16.828-04:002010-07-09T01:57:16.828-04:00Hi, Rowena. It sounds like you are powering throug...Hi, Rowena. It sounds like you are powering through it all, despite the frenzy. All the best.Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-12024281844004832162010-07-09T00:51:36.114-04:002010-07-09T00:51:36.114-04:00Chris, I'm really struggling.
I started a new...Chris, I'm really struggling.<br /><br />I started a new job less than a year ago. We're renovating the house. I had to do 3 edits of my 3 KRK books in the first few months of this year. And I'm madly trying to do an edit of a new book to put into ROR.<br /><br />Snatch the moments when you can.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.com