A Writer’s Life for Me

As I tap my way into a new week of writing, I thought I’d share the process this author goes through to get a good idea down onto to paper. This is a fool proof method that has worked for many years.

• I arise at the earliest possible hour to start my day. This is usually around 9 am. (I’m retired and am no longer required to wake at the crack of dawn.)
• I meditate (This is while I’m drinking my two cups of coffee scrolling through social media checking on my friends and family.)
• In the summer I go for a brisk swim in the lake. (Who are we kidding… I’m not a swimmer but love to float on my floaty if the sun is out.)
• Lunch and then out the door with my dog for a lovely walk in the woods. (This part is actually true.)
• My creative juices are usually starting to flow by this point in the day.
• I immediately open the notes app on my phone and jot down a few notes or thoughts.
• When I return home, I open my computer and am ready to take those notes or thoughts to the next level and create a sentence.
• Those notes, thoughts and sentences sometimes sit on my computer for a few days, but some wait a few years before they see the light of day.

In reality, I’m not one of those incredible writers who has a room that they lock themselves into for hours at a time pounding and pounding away at a computer. I’m more of a step out the door and live and then if the mood hits me, write it down.

My first book was written in about a half an hour. My second book took me a few hours. I’ve written others that have just come pouring out of my mind in a few minutes and my memoirs of living in the Netherlands has taken me years. I realized a long time ago that I can’t lock myself in a room and force myself to write.  When an idea hits, it hits me hard and just comes tumbling out of my head.

Well, I’m off to tap my way into a new week and remember that maybe one day, I’ll be someone’s favorite author.