To be fair, part of the difference may have occurred because I'm doing something new and different and would have happened no matter when I worked. But I really don't think so. I feel different while I'm working.
I'm energized when I finish. The whole day is ahead, and I've already accomplished my major goal of the day. Wow. I'm really loving it.
Right now I'm on the last round of inputting line edits. I have lots of suggestions to consider. I completed more than 100 pages last week. I wrote on six mornings, and I worked anywhere from two to four hours a day. I can hardly wait until I start writing new words next month. I'm hoping it goes equally well.
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I stopped when reaching 15-ish pages so I would have extra time to work on catching up with everything I let slide over the holidays. I was behind on everything - email, reading, projects, you name it. I have about one more day of back email to catch up on - maybe two - but several projects that need attention..
I'd planned to push for the full four hours every day, as soon as I was caught up; but at the rate I'm going, I may be finished with the edit before I finish all the projects. We'll see.
Anyway, my point - and yes, I do have one - is that if something isn't really broken, but it's not working as well as it should, don't be afraid to try something new.
It may not work, but you won't know until you try.
You may surprise yourself.
I did.
40 comments:
Kudos to you for making the time change. Sometimes when the writing is put off to later in the day, even though I don't physically feel the fatigue, it's there and slows me down. I like mornings too.
Congratulations on discovering mornings....and on your word output.
Good for your for having the courage to try something different. I am much more productive in the morning.
Yay! I'm glad you're seeing results. I may need to shake things up like that myself. I'm way jealous of your page count!!
I need to shake up my routine. I'm often too tired to write much at night. Of course, there's this pesky day job that prevents writing right now.
Congratulations on the change and the fact that it's working so well. Change of any sort is hard for me. But you're right, changing usually does make things work better. Wishing you continued success.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I'm constantly tinkering with my work, adding this, changing that, editing stuff out then putting it back in later in a different place. This is what works for me so I just go with it. Kind of like a mad scienttst.
So cool! Especially since you aren't a morning person as you say. I wonder if there's something to the idea of writing outside the comfort hours? I'm a morning person but seem to write better at night. Strange.
Wow, 15 pages a day is amazing. Good for you.
I'm enjoying the morning work too. Def. getting more done than before. I also like starting the "real" day knowing I've already done something for the writing.
I am changing and increasing my writing goals this year. I didn't write enough last year and I want to remedy that this year.
I can do eeeet!
Fantastic!
I so hear you on the mornings. I do my best work - and most of my work - in the mornings. It's definitely my most productive time.
Good point about being flexible and trying new things!
A change can definitely stimulate the mind. Congrats on churning out those edits! I do better in the mornings just because my mind is clear of the day's clutter (and I'm not so exhausted).
Yay. Glad it's going so well!
I do most of my work in the mornings too and I'm allergic to mornings. ;)
Carol, glad that's working for you and I do agree that there's nothing wrong with trying something different.
I'm finding a lot of writers are working on the goals they have set for themselves and are succeeding at it. Congrats.
I love my mornings for accomplishing things. Now the baby is back in school, I've been moving right along back to 2k a day. I find now, too, even at night I can either edit the pages from the morning, or catch up on mail and other things. It's great to shake things up once in awhile. Go YOU!
Yay, you! :)
What's that old saying? "A change is as good as a rest," or something like that. It's true, I think. Just mixing things up every now and then is energizing.
I change my routine from time to time. I've had good things come from that.
You've made great progress, Carol. Congrats.
Congrats on your progress hope it continues,
Yvonne.
That's wonderful, Carol! Congrats on finding a new routine. :)
I'm so glad you found a time that's working for you. I used to write whenever I found the time, which was often later. But I write cleaner in the morning--especially with a cup of coffee.
For some reason, I work well in the morning and late at night. It's the meat in the sandwich time that kills my writing.
Joanne - I think you're onto something.
Delores - Thanks.
Slamdunk - It appears I may be, too.
Luanne - I'm glad, too. If I can do it, so can you.
Alex - Yeah, what's a little food on the table, LOL.
Mason - Thanks. Take a deep breath and plunge in.
Stephen - Is your middle name Einstein :)
Karen - Maybe that's it - the opposite thing.
LR - I feel that same way about the real day knowing I've already done what I wanted to do. It's like eating dessert first.
Hannah - Yes, you can do it. Good for you.
Talli - Appears it may be my most productive time, too.
Elizabeth - It's the way I am. No fear!
Rula - I wake right up, which is something I just don't ever do. It's strange.
Shirley - Seems a lot of us are like that.
J.L. - I agree!
Clarissa - I'm seeing that, too. Such a grand thing.
Anne - I'm still using evenings to catch up.
Linda - Yes to all that!
Medeia - Good to know.
Yvonne - Thanks.
Congrats on getting so much writing done. I've made some similar changes this month, although I am still writing late in the day. Maybe I will try it the other way around for a while.
Haven't visted in a while, and I really like the new look of your blog, especially the Tiki Hut Club. So cool.
Jennifer - Thanks!
Theresa - I'm glad it's working, too. Gotta have the coffee.
Lydia - I've been writing in the meat, so I'm seeing a dramatic difference.
Maryann - Welcome back! My sister gave me the wall hanging for Christmas.
Way to go, Carol. Wonderful progress!
Donna
Hot dog! So glad the morning writing is working so well for you, Carol. Isn't it wonderful when things actually go well for a change! Sounds like you're all charged up. And that's so cool because it's contagious! Keep going, Carol. We love hearing good news!
what a great thing! I am not a morning person either, but my mind is clearer in the morning.
T
Donna - I'm trying!
LynNerdKelley - Yes, absolutely wonderful when things go well :)
Teresa - I'm guessing mine is much clearer than I thought, too.
Carol, this is such good advice. My life is always changing because I have little kids, so I'm constantly adjusting my writing schedule. I, too, have found that the morning is a great time to write. I feel refreshed and ready to hit the keyboard the moment I wake up. It's a good way to start the day.
Emily - I totally agree about early writing being a great way to start the day!
It's great when something gets you so motivated that you want to write about it! Keep it going! happy writing in 2012.
This is wonderful and inspiring, Carol. Congratulations on your successful change!
That is awesome! It reminds me of when I used to work out in the morning...it just made the day better and I was done with it so wasn't thinking about it all day. Very good reminder that sometimes we need to mix things up. Congrats on your progress!
Pat - I hope to keep it going. Welcome to the Tiki Hut!
Julie - Thanks.
Tracy Jo - Working out is another story all together. Sigh.
I'm glad its working for you and you are getting a lot accomplished. I probably should have one, but I really don't have a routine. It would be nice if we had a few more hours in the day.
I am also not a morning person, and I know this change couldn't have been easy. I admire you for leaving your comfort zone and trying something new! Sounds like it's really working out for you! Julie
Janet - I've lobbied for extra hours, but my efforts failed. So I have to figure out how to organize myself better and speed up my writing.
Julie - Not easy, but the hardest part was making up my mind to do it. It's Saturday now, and I'm playing hooky :) Feels weird to be blogging in the morning.
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