Writing over the Holidays--do you guys take a break?!

[carole gill]

Do you?!
Or do you feel guilty if you do?
This is excluding deadlines, a deadline is a deadline!
But just in the course of a wip or something of that nature, do you feel okay to "give it (and yourself) a bit of a rest?"

[carole gill]

thank you for that. you're so disciplined. I'm learning...

[Jude Hardin]

Congrats on finishing the first draft, Carole!

If I'm working on something, I try to stay focused regardless of what the calendar says.

[carole gill]

thanks, Jude
I need to be so disciplined me thinks!

[Jana Oliver]

I took a break over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, only writing about ten pages. Usually I do a lot more, but I was right in the middle of unknotting a bunch of plot knots and so I took some time off to "noodle". Which means, of course, that I will have to serious crank words beginning tomorrow.

[carole gill]

to noodle! I love that. Keep those noodles from getting into a twist, girl!
I guess you go by what's totally current. and you do that. thanks.

[Jana Oliver]

Noodling or running the plot around the dough hook works for me rather well. Whole scenes get resolved and I put them on the page, though they are never as brilliant as what I thought of in my noggin'. That's what editing is for. I used to work 365 unless someone forced me to take a take off. No more. There is time to work and a time to unwind. Unwinding feeds the gray cells which helps the story. In my world, if it helps the story I'm all over it.

[carole gill]

terrific point. I found myself working on my first draft like a lunatic. In a frenzy! I would write for 9 to 10 hours a day. It nearly killed me. My nerves kicked up and everything. People said I was over doing it. so now I have a limit of 4-5 writing hours only. Unwinding is sooo important, because I think it gives your gray cells a rest--which is beneficial in the end. both for you and what you're writing.
but I do love the noodling angle. as you express it.

[Jana Oliver]

When I first started writing was an life-consuming obsession. 14-15 hours per day for two to three weeks until the first draft was out. I can't do that anymore. My body rebels. So I write tighter and spend more time thinking than banging junk out on the keyboard. It requires less rewrites and doesn't turn me into a pretzel. The first draft takes longer, but as long as I make the due date, it works.

[carole gill]

i'M sure. You know that's so true. It's obsessive--I mean it was the second book I've written (hated the first--never did anything with it) and it is obsessive, but not the way to go. work hard yes, but not as a looney tune! so right.

[Douglas Quinn]

I write 5 hours a day, Monday through Friday, usually about 9-2pm or 10-3pm. After that I spend some time promoting my books. Sometimes I'll write on Saturday, depending on the chore list. Sunday I do as little as possible--read, crossword puzzles, personal projects and business. My, my. I just realized what a dull life I lead. LoL.

[carole gill]

no it's far from dull! but you made me smile.
The highpoint of my day is taking the dogs out and then I write approx 4 hours--each day, weekends too (if possible). I read (research and make notes until I have to put up dinner. see how exciting my day is?!
Of course I'm just writing seriously now for the first time so it's new trail blazing!

[Dana King]

I allow myself one day a week off; the holiday will serve for that week. I'm not a slave to it, though. My parents came for a visit over Thanksgiving weekend, and they took priority. I'll get back to it today. I don't have a deadline, and I don't want to get obsessive about it.