Tomorrow

[vaneramos]

I could hardly have chosen a busier time to start the new writing practice. The Rainbow Chorus will hold its 15th anniversary concert on Jan. 23 and Out On The Shelf is revving up for the second annual knit-a-thon on Jan. 30. I just got in the door from a three-hour rehearsal, an hour longer than usual.

The whole point of this "Focus daily on creative writing" is to do it regardless of external pressures, so I'll give it my best shot. Here's the plan for tomorrow morning:

1. The alarm goes off at 5:55, same as most days.
2. I listen to a few minutes of music, then the news.
3. I get up at 6:05 and pull on something comfy, leave the radio playing while I fix a little breakfast.
4. Light box, knitting and breakfast, 20 minutes.
5. Make a pot of tea.
6. Write a daily post for 100 Words.
7. Open WordPerfect and write 200 words for the novel.
8. Get dressed.
9. I should still have time to spare before I leave for work at 8:00, possibly time to check email or post here how my plan succeeded.

This is not much different from my usual routine, except the points in red. I'm going to skip lying in bed and listening to music for another 45 minutes to an hour so I have time for number 7. Nothing too drastic.

I also have a backup plan: if the morning doesn't work out, I can write immediately after work because Thursday is a free evening. Later on I'm meeting Sarah at the Cornerstone, but I can write then, too, so it is virtually impossible for me to not write 200 words tomorrow. But ideally it will happen in the morning, which is when I want to make a habit of it.

Now I have to wind down quickly enough to get to bed by 11:30 at the latest.

Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted.

Comments

too regimented

[(Anonymous)]

how about getting up at 5:05. radio on in background
prepare breakfast/tea
write post while sitting at light box
write 200 words
when this is complete you'll have lots of leisurely time to knit a square and get ready for work.
if you're feeling creative, write the 200 words immediately.

Re: too regimented

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I do not normally unscreen anonymous comments, but I am grateful for your thoughtful feedback. Unfortunately it would not work for me. Getting up at 5 is not an option. I have a difficult time getting up at 6. I am not a morning person, and evening activities during the week do not allow me to get to bed on time to rise that early.

Even at 6:10 my brain is not ready to write. That's why I knit while I'm sitting at the light box. The combination helps get my brain in gear, and often puts me in a better mood.

[artricia.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if you have a forgiveness clause for when outside events are just too much. I've heard of the 80/20 rule -- if you hit it 80% of the time, you can forgive the other 20%. I also know that when you're trying to establish new habits, if you're anything like me, you have to hit it 100% of the time for a while before you can accommodate that 20%.

Just some thoughts.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Agreed and agreed.

Since I started using the light box in October I don't think I've missed using it a single morning, except a handful of times when I slept away from home. I don't imagine the writing practice will be as easy to maintain, but I'm going to try to hit 100% for at least the first two weeks. It will be acceptable to write the 200 words at a different time of day if I run into trouble with the morning routine.