Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Guest Post with author Courtney Rene

What are your Writing Habits?

By Courtney Rene


One of the hardest parts of being a writer for me is finding the time to sit down and just write. My life is very busy. In my real life, I hold a job. That means from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I am on the clock for someone else. However, I use my lunch hour very well. I do most of my administrative work (and surprisingly writing has a TON of admin work) during my lunch hour. I return emails, I research, I work on promotion, I blog hop. I get a lot of stuff done in that one measly little hour. The more I can get done during my lunch, the less I have to do when I want to, and can actually be…writing. Some days it’s hard, as I want to go for a walk in the park, or stop over at Kohl’s and browse around, or best of all, hit the shoe store for the spring sale, but I have to really buckle down some times and can’t do those things. Yes, there are days that I NEED to get out and I take those days. But, on the other hand if I have deadlines or something, I have to suck it up and deal with it.


After work, I get to deal with my life of being a wife and mother. The things like dinner, laundry, homework, boy drama, girl drama, and all that comes with being a wife and mother, take precedent over my writing. There are a few little writer moments now and then, such as dance class. I spend a lot of time, and I mean a LOT, at dance studios. Yes, there was an ‘S’ on studio. Seren, my youngest, takes Ballet, Jazz, and now Ballroom and Salsa. Each class is about an hour, so that’s a lot of hours waiting. I do editing and revision work during these times. Not always, I admit it, sometimes I can’t concentrate with the loud music going on, but if I have work to do, I bring it along and do what I can.


During the summer (which means right now) I also spend a lot of time at the softball field for my girls. Can’t do much in the way of writing at the pitch, but again, I can do revision work and edit work, and research now and then while sitting in the hot sun. Not during games though. I get too excited and worked up that there is no work going on at all.



I also spend time at the barn and at fairs for my oldest daughter, Sidney. She is a fair horse rider that now barrel races on the weekends. So, I don’t get much writing done on the weekends either.


Well then, when do I actually write? At 10:00 p.m. both my girls are in bed and quite. My husband is sitting in his chair watching the news or whatever, and me? I am sitting in front of my computer, ipod plugged in and loud, and I am writing. Some days just long enough to finish a chapter. Some days until my eyes are dry and gritty. I write in the dark of the night, when the world is finally quite. When no one needs me for anything, when there are no more chores to be accomplished, I write.


Being a writer is not an easy job. You have to make time, and find time, and will time for it. EVERY SINGLE DAY. You have to make writing into a habit, just like brushing your teeth. Find a schedule that works for you and set it. Do it. Accomplish it. You have to have a strong determination or you will fail, especially if your life is as busy as mine. It is possible though. It is do’able. Trust me on this one. I know.

Courtney will be awarding $5 Amazon GCs to two randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/06/virtual-book-tour-howl-in-night-by.html 


About the Author:

Courtney Rene lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. She is a graduate and member of the Institute of Children’s Literature. Her writings include magazine articles, short fiction stories, several anthologies, and her Shadow Dancer series, published through Rogue Phoenix Press. For a complete listing, visit www.ctnyrene.blogspot com. Feel free to contact her at ctnyrene@aol.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Ctnyrene
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9 comments:

  1. The blog looks great! Thanks for having me today.

    ctny

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  2. Courtney, I envy those who can write at night. I'm a morning person and when things go awry--well, sometimes I don't finish what I set out to do. Great tour.

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  3. I also envy those that can write at night. I simply can't because my mind will never shut down then. Instead that's when I do alot of my reading. That calms my rolling brain down and helps me fall right to sleep.

    You have such a busy life though I don't see how your mind EVER shuts down!

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  4. I'm naturally a night writer. I need to get back in that groove. I've been writing on my cell in the dark since I've been trying to go to bed at a reasonable hour.

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  5. Just popping in to say HI and sorry I missed visiting with you on party day! Hope you all had a good time!

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  6. Christine - I wish I could do more in the mornings but I am so fuzzyheaded then, its not ever going to happen.

    ctny

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  7. Allyn - Trust me, when I am tired enough there is nothing holding me back from shut down. My brain may still be going but the rest of me just says "ENOUGH".

    Ctny

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  8. Angelia - I had to laugh out loud with the picture of you glowing lightly in the dark, tapping away at your phone. Kinda defeats the purpose of going to bed early though doesn't it? :)

    ctny

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