Aug 30, 2012

Night Writer's Night

By Susan Knight

Outline of a Night Writer’s evening:
5:30 p.m.
-Get home from work.
-Plan to write all night.
6:30 p.m.
-Sit down at computer.
-I should check my email first. . .
     -ANWA meeting; forward.
     -New ANWA person interested in my chapter; reply; forward.
     -ANWA business emails; reply; reply; forward.
     -Email mother, sisters, friends.
     -Delete 100 emails.
-I should check my banking.
     -Look at checking account.    
     -Check credit card spending.
          -Yikes! Pay credit card bill.
     -Add money to checking account to cover credit card bill.
7:40 p.m.
-I should post on Facebook about my Sugar Shutout success.
     -Wow, look at all the people who notified me.
     -I am definitely not confirming him as a friend.
          -Ignore
     - Should I change my profile picture?
          -Search for picture.
    -My cousin’s grandson is so cute.—LIKE
    -Look at those twins. They’re getting so big.—LIKE
    -37 Likes
    -14 Comments 
    -What’s this YouTube about?
           -Watch 12:42-minuteYouTube—LIKE
           -Share YouTube.
     -Post—30 days without sugar! Yay!
8:35 p.m.
-Did my phone just ring? . . . Oh, it's on vibrate. I don’t recognize that number. . .
     -Let it go to voicemail.
     -Listen to 3 new voicemails.
     -Call ____ back.
 -Oh, look, I’ve got some texts, too.
     -Read 6 texts.         
     -Answer texts.
-Turn phone volume all the way up.
     -Wait. I don't want to be disturbed. I'm trying to write.
-Turn phone on vibrate again.         
9:15 p.m.
-Look at pile on desk.
     -Where's that last critique I got?
          -Search through pile.   
-File away a stack of papers.
-Create some new file folders.
-Find overdue bill.
     -Write check for overdue bill
     -Look for envelope.
     -Find stamps in pile.
-Find critique
10:25 p.m.
-I’m thirsty. I’m just going to get a glass of water.
     -Drink water.
-A snack would be nice if I’m going to be up for awhile.
     -Make snack.
     -Eat snack.
     -Drink more water.
10:45 p.m.
-Bathroom break.
11:00 p.m.
-Open up My Documents.
-Open up My Book.
-Check over a few chapters.
     -This is atrocious. I can’t present this to my critique group on Thursday.
     -Spend time correcting grammar and getting rid of adverbs and passive voice.
-Decide to add a soliloquy for main character.
-In the Zone-
12:00 a.m.
-Midnight already? I’m just getting started!
-In the Zone-
1:10 a.m.
-Ohmygosh. It seems like it’s only been 15 minutes! I’ve got to go to bed. I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow.
-In the Zone-
1:50 a.m.
-Brush teeth.
-Say prayers.
-Get in bed.
2:20 a.m.
-When am I going to fall asleep?
 ***
Next day
5:30 p.m.
-Come home from work.
-Plan to write all night.

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Night writers we are! Glad it got a laugh but it's so true. . . HELP!

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  2. I can relate, when I sit down to write I can think of all sorts of things that I really should do first! I usually finish those right when the kiddos find me.

    Jodi

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment, Jodi. But what are your kiddos doing up so late? haha!

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  3. And that is the problem with the world wide web. Maybe we should go back to pen and pad!
    Great blog, Susan!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cindy. I love being able to type on a keyboard. Pen and pad would slow me down considerably, but I get where you're coming from :)

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  4. Thanks for this walk through. SOOOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!!! You had me laughing and nodding my head. It is great to see a mirror image of a true Night Writer. I vow to mend my own writing ways!

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    Replies
    1. Whew! I thought I was the only one! Glad to know I'm in good company :-) I should make that vow, too, but I only vow when I know I can commit. :-]

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    2. Too funny! Obviously, we can all relate! Don't forget about feeding the cat so she quits walking across the keyboard and all the tangents that are so fun to read when doing research! Thanks for the smile. hugs~

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    3. Thanks for your post, Kari. While I don't have a cat, I just happen to be dogsitting for my friend this week. I'm not used to the interruptions to rub tummies, but I'm happy to do it. Thanks for the hugs <3

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  5. When I need to meet a deadline I get so many things done... clean out a closet, plan menus, make a shopping list, make calls I've been avoiding, etc...whatever I can do to avoid the obvious. But when I'm in the zone, it's total focus.

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