Hi, Another busy week. I've been trying to increase my writing output, not on the blog....but my novel. During the A-Z Challenge I read an interesting post on Stephen King's writing schedule and was favorably impressed. He writes 4 hours a day, which means he writes only 28 hours a week. I have since read variations of this schedule, but the idea stuck. Four hours a day......Can I do it?As it turns out, I can to some degree. I wrote 21 hours and 30 minutes last week, up from my average 11 hours. However, the plan failed over the weekend. I admit that weekends are precious to my husband and me. It is our playtime, catch-up time, church time, relax time, shopping time, and occasional 4-day travel weekend. I try to do bills, housework, gardening and other activities during the week. (It helps that I no longer need to work outside the home).
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| Top: train that derailed and crashed on a track parallel to ours! Bottom: Vince and me.....safe and sound in Bangkok (1995) |
We also saw the new Star Trek movie over the weekend, Star Trek into Darkness. This movie is mostly for younger viewers, with lots of ear-popping loud action in 3-D, but we are hard core Star Trek fans. We accept any bone Hollywood is willing to give us, and the actors they have picked for young Kirk and Spock are well suited for the roles.We watched the original Star Trek in the 1970s. I still remember being concerned with my two young children watching this series. I issued a ban on all Star Trek viewing, which was then nixed by the family over time. Ha! The original series seems so innocent now. We also watch Star Trek (Next Generation) on Netflix during the week. Yep, we're hard core.
So, how about you? How was your week?
Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl
Sharon M. Himsl
Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011.
Published with Evernight Teen:
~~The Shells of Mersing
Busy, after a whirlwind 3-day weekend trip to Auburn, Seattle and Anacortes. Was home for one day, exhausted, when we took on taking care of a couple of our grandkids, from Wednesday thru Saturday evening.
ReplyDeleteI still managed to exercise enough to win my trophy (on my Polar fitness watch) and have won it now for about 8 straight weeks. Set a new jogging record (for 2013) of running four miles in one hour, no minutes. Coming along, coming along. But to beat my all-time record, I need to clip three minutes' time off of each of the four miles!
As to the book, I got through most of the first 50 pages doing what I'd said I planned to do (on my blog), but instead of pitching forward this week, I've decided I'm going to work up a new synopsis and scope out contests I could enter, prior to completing the rest of the revision, instead.
Also, woo-hoo! I spent 15 hours scrapbooking; am now making the Disneyland scrapbook.
Do I write four hours each day? Better believe it. Probably more like six.
Whoa! Very impressed with your writing and exercise output, and you watched grandchildren too. Glad you squeezed in scrap booking. I know how much you love that:) Yay!
ReplyDeleteThai food, travel, Star Trek and writing. And family. What a lovely post! Now I'm thinking about ways to stretch my writing time.
ReplyDeleteI liked the original Star Trek. When Next Generation came out I thought 'Bah!' Then I encountered the episode where Picard was singlehandedly recapturing the Enterprise with the help of an arbalest. What a fabulous character! I was hooked. And I'm blathering all over your comment page. Enough, already! Off to write!
Diana at About myself, by myself…
I just saw the Liebster award that you gave me (not sure why I didn't see it on my blog, but I suspect it is housing Charybdis, which swallows things. At any rate, I did respond - better late than never - and I thank you for the lovely compliment!
ReplyDeleteNeat, another Star Trek fan!
DeleteGlad you saw the Liebster Award post, Diana. Like you, not everyone responded, but I assumed they were busy....and most didn't know me then. No hurt feelings at all. Just glad you finally saw the post. You have a lovely blog :)
I do my best writing under binge conditions. A writing retreat, a scheduled home retreat, or NaNoWriMo...they're the opportunity to put everything else out of my mind and focus. It's hard to find the right balance, no matter what your life demands are. We just need to keep trying.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to a writer's retreat or done the NaNo...but I can see how having a deadline would help. I never like writer's workshops where they hand me a pencil and tell me to write something on the spot. I clam up...and never contribute much, but a retreat sounds different.
DeleteBusy week. Right now, I would take a nap, but it's so close to bedtime I might just make it an early night.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good rest, Liz! When were busy it's easy to forget we need to sleep now and then :)
DeleteI could write 4 hours a day, but it would mean using my entire evening after getting home from work to write, and sometimes I have other things I need to do as well ;)
ReplyDeleteI can make up for it on weekends though, as mine are all my own. :)
Oh, and I LOVE Thai food. It's the best! Well, Vietnamese is pretty good as well.
It takes a lot of mental stamina to work full-time during the day and come home and write in the evening. I've tried it, but life tends to take over. Neat though that you have the weekends!
DeleteSharon, I love Star Trek. Wish we lived close. No one will go see with me. I am the only trekkie here in my household. I am so busy blogging right now. I hope to get back to writing other things soon. :) It is a balance you know. Please visit my blog today if you get a chance. I have a suprise for you:
ReplyDeletehttp://mary-anderingcreatively.blogspot.com/
Oh, wouldn't that be fun? Hard to imagine being the only trekkie in your household. Neat surprise at your blog today. Thanks!!
DeleteFour hours a day, huh? Sounds like a plan to me...mmmaaayyybbbeee :)
ReplyDeleteYou go girl. Happy writing!
DeleteHmmmm. I think I might manage 4 hours a day. I shall start on that plan tomorrow. I'll also keep my internet off to avoid the distraction of wanting to put something out into the blogosphere... :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Fe. We'll have to follow up on each other's progress! I know what you mean by the distraction. It is so much fun getting to know other bloggers. I'm still learning how to balance.
DeleteI'm spending far too much time on social media. Working on a book four hours a day sounds like a wonderful plan! Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
It truly is a balance but I sure have enjoyed getting to know you, Mary!
DeleteThai food and Star Trek? Now you are pressing my buttons! I loved the new Star Trek film. Loved the nod to Spock's death in Wrath of Khan, and the introduction of Kirk's great love, Carol, with whom he goes on to have a child. As much as I love Kirk and co, I prefer the Next Gen crew. Data is my fave sci-fi character of all time. Thanks for your words of encouragement re The Last Hard Sell.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool, DA. Love finding other fans. I don't remember Kirk's love, Carol, so that's a new one for me. I sometimes think I should be writing Sci-fi. I certainly read and see enough!
ReplyDeleteKeep the momentum up on your books. You'll get there!
Four hours a day for writing. That's a great goal. I wish I didn't have so many other distractions!
ReplyDeleteYou have some really interesting distractions...music, gardening, being a mom, and more!
DeleteOhhhhh, STAR TREK!!! I'm dying to see Benedict Cumberbatch in action! I love all things Star Trek and have such great memories of watching it with my dad.
ReplyDeleteFour hours a day sounds pretty doable for writing! This coming from someone who has never done it. :) I'd like to increase my writing time, too. I find that if I have a really great writing day one day, then chances are that I'll have a really terrible one the next day. I'd like to find a way to make my writing more "even"--or at least my writing experience! If you have any pointers, I'm all ears.
I've got a great Thai recipe to share with you, Sharon, that we had earlier this week. I'll shoot you an email with the link.
Oh, I do hope you get to see it, and what a sweet memory of you and your dad. Saw your email with the recipe--thanks!!
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