Blog Post No. 523
I’m closing in on the current draft of the Invasion Novel—which sounds good except for the fact that I had hoped to be done by now. There are all kinds of reasons why I’m behind, but that’s not what this post is about. This week, I’m looking into the methods I come up with to try and keep my productivity up. I’ve been coming up with different methods since high school (when I first got it into my head to be a writer). Clearly, what I came up with back then didn’t work or I wouldn’t be trying to finish my first novel many (many) years later. Oddly enough, though, the basic ideas I had back then aren’t all that dissimilar with the methods that have made the most impact over the years. Continue reading “Writing Methods Old and New”
There are a lot of little time sinks in my life and most of them are my own doing. Back when I was in university and had a laptop capable of some decent multi-media, I would often download and watch movies on it. There were many Sundays with a test or paper due on Monday where I would tell myself that I could watch just one movie before I got started. Now that I’m a writer and spend most days sitting at a desk, there are even more distractions at my fingertips. Like Youtube. I’ll watch a video to settle in, but some videos are an hour and some are ten minutes, so maybe a I’ll watch couple. It’s a slippery slope, but nothing seems to steal my time more than incremental games. Simple, browser based games where something counts up and everything gets more complicated the longer you play. Something that you can leave running in the background and check in on once in a while. 
It’s odd to think that in the future, today may be part of the good old days. While I was working on last week’s blog post, I started to think about when I first started this blog, some eight years ago. I had tried and failed to start several blogs and I had some friends in similar boats. Eventually something clicked and this took hold. I had hoped it would be part of a little network of blogs with my friends with guest posts and posts linking across multiple sites, like webrings of the early internet, but it didn’t happen. Even though some of my friends have websites and blogs, I’m the only one who does regular posts. 
Here we are again, dear reader. It’s a new week and if I’ve been able to continue as well as I started, I’ll be feeling good about my progress (remember I write these on Tuesday even now that I’m at home and really I have all the time in the world to write posts on Thursday or even Wednesday night, but I don’t want to break my habit). Not just with the writing, either. After a less than productive weekend, I had a bit of a reset. It happens from time to time. I’ll do well, keeping on top of things, then I’ll hit a wall or get worn out and then things fall apart for a few days. Then I pick myself back up and try again. Sometimes it’s a matter of days and weeks, sometimes months. It’s the same kind of thing I’ve been struggling with over the years with the summer slump. 
As you know, I’ve been trying to suss out some of the reasons as to why my writing productivity plummets in the summer. I think I was on the right track with the chaos that the Day Job brings this time of year and with the usual uptick in events (that hasn’t happened this year). There’s also the serious issue that the people who I go write with become unavailable (kids and stuff) so it becomes much easier to just put off writing or even cut my sessions short (where I’m about finished but the other person is still going so I managed a little more). There’s this other thing, though, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the season. 
I’m not alone in saying that my favourite season is autumn. Anecdotally, I’d say it’s probably the season liked most, by the most amount of people. I’ve written about September and how it stands out to me probably every year I’ve had this blog, but I’m going to do it again, because it stands out to me. I like it. It means something. I’m still not totally sure why, but if I keep writing about it, maybe I’ll figure it all out. Don’t worry, though. I’ll talk about other things. The next ChiSeries Windsor event is totally scheduled and work has even started on the November ChiSeries Fundraiser (Spectacular!). Not to mention, the Kitchener Tri-City Con, A possible trip to Peterborough, writing, more writing, my new room, new bed. There are all kinds of things happening, but I’m looking at them all through the lens of the new month (and the season on the horizon). Lets see how that all works out for me. 
For two weeks in a row, I’ve missed my days off from work. Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes you have to be a pirate and be all about the money. When you are trying to get a book out before the end of the month (and write another one) the extra shifts (especially last minute) can be disastrous. Most of my days off are not days off. I don’t always pull a nine hour shift, but I spend a good six or more working on writing, editing, layout, podcasting, and planning for all all the events I go to as a guest, or host myself. Those days off are crucial work days. I just don’t get paid. 
Ben Van Dongen 