tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post2305212345411153677..comments2023-10-31T07:49:59.631-04:00Comments on Edited to Within an Inch of my Life: Pre-Write ChecklistHeather Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-83299336612824808692010-01-13T17:51:32.910-05:002010-01-13T17:51:32.910-05:00Nathalie--No, I didn't work out. I have a rul...Nathalie--No, I didn't work out. I have a rule, that when the kids are out of the house, then I only do things that I can't possibly do when they are around (since it is only a few hours each week). When there isn't snow and ice on the ground, this always includes a run. When I am exercising inside each winter day, I can do it (kind-of) with kids around. So, I decided to forgo the workout in favor of writing.<br /><br />Your list made me chuckle, too. Thanks for checking in! And--I'm enjoying your blog.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-18166089841159357102010-01-13T17:20:28.596-05:002010-01-13T17:20:28.596-05:00Heather, you had me laugh so hard with your list! ...Heather, you had me laugh so hard with your list! :D <br />I relate to the delight of a silent home (i.e. children at school, though I don't have children. But I'm in a habit of temporarily adopting them).<br />Also, I need to ask: did you simply wonder if you would be more productive if you exercised first, or did you actually exercise? That puzzled me. :)<br /><br />My pre-writing list? In short: <br />-an internal dialog in my head with my muse kicking me out of bed<br />-eyes half-closed and hands ahead I walk to the chicken and make coffee.<br />-Drink a sip. My mind becomes suddenly clear (worried: is that a sign of addiction?)<br />-Then off the desk, making sure I have a glass of water, a huuuuge French-English dictionary on my side, THE drink (tea or coffee, it varies)<br />-Reading blogs and commenting generally comes before the actual writing... :)<br /><br />Thank you for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-14965811980791467502010-01-13T14:03:48.317-05:002010-01-13T14:03:48.317-05:00Laura--Sounds like a nice balanced checklist.Laura--Sounds like a nice balanced checklist.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-20936688837069025522010-01-13T14:03:18.677-05:002010-01-13T14:03:18.677-05:00Tina--:)Tina--:)Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-42231500543881301082010-01-13T12:37:50.254-05:002010-01-13T12:37:50.254-05:00Get the kids sent off to school.
Quick clean.
Run...Get the kids sent off to school.<br />Quick clean. <br />Run. Shower.<br />warm um some coffee because by this time it has gone cold.<br />Write. Or I should say, right now, revise.Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-28039628240563770702010-01-12T17:36:54.800-05:002010-01-12T17:36:54.800-05:00Sounds good to me!Sounds good to me!Tina Laurel Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04482757085942311091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-59097789299632310712010-01-12T14:58:55.868-05:002010-01-12T14:58:55.868-05:00The only times in my life that I was able to get u...The only times in my life that I was able to get up earlier than I had to for the morning rush were always when someone else was involved--I made plans to walk or run with a friend, or in college, when there were eight other people counting on me to get my butt into a boat to row. <br /><br />Tina--maybe one day we should plan on checking in with each other and make sure that we actually got up when we planned to write... ;)Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-27360570493919623022010-01-12T14:24:07.026-05:002010-01-12T14:24:07.026-05:00I like Paul's plan. I love the idea of rolling...I like Paul's plan. I love the idea of rolling right out of bed and straight to my computer to writing no other thoughts/interruptions. And I should be able to. My husband gets up to exercise at 5:45 and I wake up then. But at 5:45 in the morning the idea of staying in bed for another hour sounds pretty fantastic. And then the time is lost. At 7, I have to get up and make lunches and breakfast and corral the little folk. So when I do sit down to start it is a lot like your list.Tina Laurel Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04482757085942311091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-48224378515785633352010-01-12T12:56:11.304-05:002010-01-12T12:56:11.304-05:00Sarah--Have fun at work. I can't wait to read...Sarah--Have fun at work. I can't wait to read the excerpt.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-25438980258146065062010-01-12T12:55:21.568-05:002010-01-12T12:55:21.568-05:00Amy--I did that today to actually make sure that I...Amy--I did that today to actually make sure that I got into writing--I have been having trouble getting back into it after the holidays. But it worked, and I had a nice hour or two of re-acclimation to my writing this morning. I'm hoping for a round two this afternoon!<br /><br />Good luck with your writing this week!Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-24959652715917107872010-01-12T12:52:20.950-05:002010-01-12T12:52:20.950-05:00Paul--What a great way to start the day. I am not...Paul--What a great way to start the day. I am not a morning person--which is why I do my blogging first. My mind just isn't focused enough in the morning. And, if I get an hour a day to write total, I'm doing well. I'm glad you get so much time to focus on your writing!Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-50085377487662107642010-01-12T12:10:53.262-05:002010-01-12T12:10:53.262-05:00Oh and thanks for the shout out!!!Oh and thanks for the shout out!!!Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-90345686930775737752010-01-12T12:10:30.560-05:002010-01-12T12:10:30.560-05:00You seem much better at avoiding distractions than...You seem much better at avoiding distractions than I am. Or at least at getting yourself to let go of them.<br /><br />I'm currently avoiding getting my butt out of here and to work. So bye!Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-75295830922771677482010-01-12T12:08:39.676-05:002010-01-12T12:08:39.676-05:00OK. You've inspired me to get organized. Must ...OK. You've inspired me to get organized. Must create pre-writing checklist. Happy writing to you!Amy Nicholshttp://amyknichols.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-25419275750593639732010-01-12T12:04:43.249-05:002010-01-12T12:04:43.249-05:00My pre-write checklist is to wake up and get out o...My pre-write checklist is to wake up and get out of bed. I try to write for at least an hour before stopping for a breakfast break. Then the distractions start, blogs, emails,reading the news, another cup of tea. Then I get back to it. In fact, that's where I'm going now:)Paul Grecihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340974339238587138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-69420029250769546132010-01-12T11:26:46.271-05:002010-01-12T11:26:46.271-05:00Anna-- Me too. But that's what revision is li...Anna-- Me too. But that's what revision is like for me. Drafting makes me lose myself, but revising makes me think in little pieces. So, it's easier (and maybe okay) to use little distractions to let my mind work on the pieces.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-107549197335146922010-01-12T11:24:52.158-05:002010-01-12T11:24:52.158-05:00Julia--I had the same problem--Where are my notes?...Julia--I had the same problem--Where are my notes? Where is my outline? What's my most current draft? And your reference to holiday flare reminds me of the Dar Williams song,February:<br /><br />"You know I think Christmas was a long red flare, <br />Shot up like a warning, we gave presents without cards, <br />And then the snow, <br />And then the snow came, we were always out shoveling, <br />And we'd drop to sleep exhausted, <br />Then we'd wake up, and it's snowing."<br /><br />I hope things soon return to normal for you so you can return to writing...Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-63104382572200179652010-01-12T11:24:13.914-05:002010-01-12T11:24:13.914-05:00My check list is pretty similar to yours in that I...My check list is pretty similar to yours in that I have to go through a bunch of distractions before I can actually get to work. Unfortunately, I seem to be stuck in constant procrastination mode these days. :-)Anna Staniszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316883819771607655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-4752481625796141072010-01-12T11:24:07.439-05:002010-01-12T11:24:07.439-05:00(Above comment @ Lily)(Above comment @ Lily)Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-64440534110463168582010-01-12T11:13:45.103-05:002010-01-12T11:13:45.103-05:00I like your pre-writing checklist--most days that ...I like your pre-writing checklist--most days that is mine as well. I am very glad that school's back--it gives me time to breathe into my writing, instead of trying to make every moment in the evening count (as I grow too tired to work).<br /><br />I'm glad you'll have some moments for you again once preschool is back in session!<br /><br />Ah--coffee. I already had my cup for the day, so I'll make some tea and get back into my revision-in-progress.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-78972336265921342382010-01-12T11:13:21.063-05:002010-01-12T11:13:21.063-05:00Ummmmm- can't remember what my pre-writing che...Ummmmm- can't remember what my pre-writing checkllist is- got lost in the holiday flare- item one- find my desk- and my outline- quote from Scralett- "tomorrow is another day!" #2- get Art- my day job- under control and then I might be able to think about writing!Julia Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03577906856043143102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-24453304012212028042010-01-12T10:31:20.739-05:002010-01-12T10:31:20.739-05:00Ha! Until school starts again for my preschooler (...Ha! Until school starts again for my preschooler (next week!) my pre-writing checklist is pretty much the whole day. <br /><br />Otherwise, it's "get a cup of coffee".Lily Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17732112345439595471noreply@blogger.com