Writing 9 AM to 5 PM

Hello Writers!

I hope you are making today a great writing day. I have a new challenge for you (and, well, myself). Treat writing like a job, working 9 AM to 5 PM. Writing is work. Anyone who says differently isn’t being completely honest. But, can creativity, be treated like a day job?

The answer: Yes and No.

I learned a few things writing all day…

1. My dog is a distraction. I love him, but it’s true. Working from home with a pet is not always the best option. He requires time, attention, and affection.
2. Having tea nearby is important and necessary. Caffeine. Caffeine. Caffeine.
3. It is important to have boundaries. It is very easy to end up on Twitter or Instagram. There is no boss looming over your shoulder. You are your own boss.
4. Pre-made music playlists are lifesavers when you need a change.
5. Your muse/inspiration/your spark of creativity. I wrote on a day I was feeling *really* inspired. Writing isn’t always this easy (i.e. productive in regards to word counts). I can’t imagine writing every day 9 AM to 5 PM. I think I would get burned out very quickly. Once a week might be a possibility.
6. When writing, I need to stretch because sitting down all day can be a lot. I know this is true for most day jobs, but trying to be witty, fun, and dramatic, while balancing word counts, can be draining.

This challenge made me aware of the work day breakdown. 9 AM: Start the day. 12 PM: Lunch. 3 PM: Probably tired and time for a small break. 5 PM: The day is over. This schedule, however, doesn’t lend itself well to writing. Firstly, I needed a break a little earlier than 12PM. I opted for an early lunch (11 AM) to keep my energy up. Secondly, I needed multiple breaks to get up and walk around. Lastly, I wanted to work longer than the 5 PM end time. A few hours after hitting the stop button on my camera, I got a second wind. Around 8 PM, I added some notes to my story, plotting my next novel. In the real world, I doubt I would be able to get back in the office after closing.

Writing is unique and varies from person to person. I try to write as often and as much as I can. I don’t write every day, but that is a personal preference. Some days are simply not writing days for me.

I may try this experiment again in the future. But this time around, I am calling it a successful writing day.

If you decide to attempt this challenge, please let me know. I’d love to know about your writing projects.

Best of luck with your writing journeys!

Angela