Friday, June 19, 2009

I Did It!

I did it. No, not the big IT. I didn’t get an agent or anything. I have to finish my WIP first. I’m not talking about sex either, so get your mind out of the gutter. Although, what I did had something to do with a bed… getting out of it. That’s right, folks. I was up at five this morning so I could write. I can’t believe I was able to get anything out of my brain at that hour. Caffeine helps with little problems like mind fuzz. So, after my cup of French vanilla blend, I wrote a little over two pages. Nothing to brag about, but more than I’ve written the rest of the day so far. Taking care of twins tends to rob a person of any “me” time.

My schedule has changed and instead of improving my writing time, I now have less time than ever. This situation hasn’t gone unnoticed. My psyche picked up on my lack of writing and reacted with a very nice mood swing. I haven’t been a cheery deary the past few days and last night, I basically lost it. My tears were drowning me. I needed a solution. The only way out of the mess was to promise myself I’d sacrifice sleep to get some writing done.

What a difference. I’m back to my normal self again, with the exception of a few bags under the eyes and the need for extra caffeine in my diet. Luckily, tomorrow’s the weekend, so I can catch up on my rest. I’m considering getting up early Monday morning, but we’ll see. I’ll just take one day at a time.

What about you? Have you stayed up late, gotten up in the middle of the night or early in the morning to write?

19 comments:

  1. My husband makes a lot of noise when he gets up in the morning, so sometimes if I can't go back to sleep I'll write. I've had a couple of brainwaves in the wee hours of the morning and can't sleep unless I get them out of my head.

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  2. I like my sleep too much. I've had ideas come in the middle of the night, but can't find the willpower to leave my warm, cozy bed. Luckily, I usually remember them in the morning or I might force myself up.

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  3. I am sad to say that I love my sleep way too much to give it up...even for writing. Working full time, with 3 kids still at home, plus being a minister's wife makes sleep a high priority for me. Some day though....

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  4. I'm so sleep and time deprived, sometimes I write IN my sleep. Keeping pad/pen on bedside table helps. I'm gonna get one of those nurse-write pens too, so I can see to write better in the dark.

    Can you swap off one day a week with a friend with babysitting so you both get uninterrupted hours to do as you want?

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  5. When my kids were babies I'd write at night, generally from 9 to midnight. I tried the 5 a.m. start time but my daughter started getting up at the same time.

    My schedule is chaotic enough I don't try to make a set writing schedule. I write in 15 minute increments and grab it when I can. During the school year I can pull in a couple of hours a day. I'm not so optimistic with summer here.

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  6. I am up early because I start my day job early. So I thought about doing my writing right after I get home from work. Now that we're in summertime, the kids are out of school, and it's really hard for me NOT to spend time with them so that I can write. Someday I'll figure out a way to just do what I really need to be doing. Glad to hear somebody else is writing though :)

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  7. I'm a night person, so it's pretty common for me to be writing late at night, after the household chores are done. But I've been known to "sneak" writing time at work to get my words in for the day (my boss really doesn't care as long as I'm caught up, kind of a "just don't tell" sort of thing).

    Never mornings though. I can barely function enough to get myself and hubby to work on time, much less think coherent sentences.

    Way to go finding your own time! :-)

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  8. I like to write late at night or early in the morning. I'm not a morning person, so it's kind of hard. But once I get going I find it's the time when I'm most productive.

    I can't imagine trying to write while dealing with twins! You are a brave woman!

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  9. Go Lynnette! I usually write in the mornings after everyone is gone and the house is quiet. I got up early to write this morning too. Must be something in the air. And you're right, coffee is mandatory!

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  10. I'm glad you got up early to write, but I get up at 5am every day for work. If I want to write in the morning, I have to get up at 3:30 or 4! You can guess I don't manage that very often.

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  11. I definitely have had to sacrifice sleep. It's super hard to find quiet time else where!

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  12. Nurse pens! I never knew they had them, and I'm assuming they have a light in them? That is such a cool idea. I used to try to write down dreams if they awakened me, but you don't want to turn on lights and make yourself totally wake up.
    Anyway, Lynnette, I think you will be happy when you see the pages adding up, and eventually 5 a.m. may seem completely normal as your body adjusts. Good luck!

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  13. I have occasional fits of insomnia where I get quite a bit done. The sucky part is when I crash after those bouts.....ick. It probably doesn't help that I can't do the caffiene thing (it always gives me bellyaches).

    congrats on the two pages!

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  14. I am impressed! The only thing I do that early in the morning is roll over.

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  15. My best writing time is first thing in the morning. I sometimes hate having to stop to do a little thing like going to work. I enjoy morning writing. Coffee and writing, a win, win for you. Yay.

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  16. I do most of my writing when all is quiet from the wee people. I sometimes catch myself finishing up about the time it is to wake everyone. I try not to stay up until five or six, but do on occasion, especially if I'm on a roll.

    I can only do that if hubby's on the road. When he's home, I go to bed with him. :)

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  17. I'm frequently up late writing. My new name ought to be Hedwig, as we have so much in common. I love Harry too.

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  18. I hear you about needing to write! I'm glad you found something that worked for you. :D With four kidlets, I write when I can. Having a goal helps. :D

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  19. Thanks for all your support, guys. I actually did it again today. The plan is to wake up early tomorrow and Wednesday, too. We'll see if I can do it. Thursday is supposed to be my "all day" writing day, so no need there. Then, Friday, we're going on a day trip.

    Lynnette Labelle

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