"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." - Walt Disney

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

IWSG: Times of Productivity

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive.Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.


DECEMBER QUESTION - 
Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?

MY ANSWER - I don't know if there are times of the year (maybe a bit more during school breaks), but I do seem to be a more productive writer in the evenings, or late at night. I suppose there are too many distractions during the day. I just seem more focused and free with my writing late at night.

How about you? Are there times when you seem to be more productive?

46 comments:

Lynn La Vita said...

Like you, my productive time is not dependent on the season. For me it's early in the morning. Words seem to flow when it's nice and quiet lubricated with a delicious cup of coffee.

I wonder what changes Covid has imposed on you and teaching. I have a sense your students enjoy your classes very much. I bet you add a fresh approach to writing. For example you describe the Scribbler box. I could never imagine fabric thumbtacks. What fun!

Thank you for co-hosting the December IWSG blog-hop
Cheers
Lynn La Vita blog: Writers Supporting Writers

Liza said...

It's definitely morning writing for me. I set an alarm and write for an hour before I have to go to work.

Nancy Gideon said...

I've always worked around the path of least family resistance which was while they were sleeping or at school when my boys were younger. I still keep to that early morning schedule. A quiet house (after feeding cats!) is a productive house! Thanks for co-hosting this month, Sylvia!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I'm a morning writer. I'm too tired at night to concentrate. I had some good progress in writing my current novel this fall, but have hit a road bump!
Thanks for co-hosting this month!

J Lenni Dorner said...

November and April are my biggest writing months. Thanks for co-hosting!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I always write in the evenings.
Thanks for co-hosting today!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

It's a whole different world when you have children. Thanks for co-hosting. I'm on so set schedule. Writing is part of everyday life now.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
So am I with my writing. I write better when I have no distractions.
I need to be alone when I write. My characters take up my time when I'm in the office.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe passage into 2021.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Chrys Fey said...

Evenings used to be my productive time. I've since transitioned to afternoons. But that may change again. lol

Emma L Gill said...

Thanks for co-hosting! :)

I find evenings most productive, but that’s because no matter how early I rise, my kids rise earlier!

Leigh Caron said...

I am an A.M. writing girl. No distractions, well...except for my cat, but unlike humans I can give him a dish of tuna and he goes away, and doesn't want to talk.

Sadira Stone said...

I'm most productive from mid-morning to mid-day. Unfortunately, that's peak time for interruptions.

J.Q. Rose said...

I'm glad you shared when you write daily. I write after lunch. I decided if I ever wanted to actually finish a novel, I had to set a time to work on it. Now, if I don't get to write after lunch, I resent whatever has ruined my time, kind of. Thanks for co-hosting!!
JQ Rose

cleemckenzie said...

I'm always amazed that writers produce a body of work with all that they have to do--work, family, life in general. Having taught English for many years, I know the "homework" involved at night and on weekends. Thanks for co-hosting!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for co-hosting with me this year. That's awesome that you can write late at night. I'm too tired then to write. But we all need to find what works best for us.

Computer Tutor said...

I can definitely relate to that late at night. I get lost in my writing and ignore even the most aggressive sort of interference. My husband thinks I'm ignoring him but I'm just concentrating.

Thevagabond said...

I guess my productivity is not related to time of day. If I have the right idea I can sit admit chaos and write it.

Ruchi Nasa https://thevagabond.me

diedre Knight said...

Hi Sylvia,

I'm a morning person, though it seems I'm more productive in the afternoon. I like to have everything else - as much as possible - off of my mind when I write. I don't even answer the phone ;-)
Thanks for co-hosting, and Merry Christmas!

Loni Townsend said...

I tend to do my best after I've done a bit of exercise and gotten something in my stomach, that way I'm not feeling antsy or munchy.

Thanks for co-hosting!

Adrienne Reiter said...

I feel I'm most productive with creative projects in the morning when I'm still in a semi-conscious state. I use evening for more technical projects. Happy IWSG Day. Thank you for co-hosting!

Samantha Bryant said...

As a teacher and a writer, there's a BIG difference between writing on a school day and a non-school day. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act

emaginette said...

Mornings before the day begins is my best time to write. I'm not cluttered with what I must do or what everyone needs or wants. Me time. :-)


Anna from elements of emaginette

Olga Godim said...

Strangely enough, I write best under pressure, when I have a deadline looming. Seasons have nothing to do with it.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

As busy as you are during the daytime, that leaves mostly evenings for you to write. As a former teacher, I understand. Best wishes for you and your stories. Thanks for co-hosting.

Anne Higa said...

I'm more of a morning person myself it seems. Hope you have a good December.

Anne from annehiga.com

Gwen Gardner said...

I wish I could write at night, but by then I'm too tired. Mornings are better for me. :D

Pat Hatt said...

More focused and free is the way to be! Even if you may avoid sleeping lol

Diane Burton said...

I'm glad you've found times when you can be productive. Utilize that. Thanks for cohosting this month.

Chemist Ken said...

As far as times of the day when I'm most productive, it's in the early morning before everyone else gets up. Unfortunately, I like sleeping late, so that alone time is kind of limited :( I'm glad you found your productive times.

Beth Camp said...

I can't imagine writing with music playing. I do love the quiet of morning, sitting in my office, well before other distractions and commitments. For some reason, I've never been able to write late at night. Once past 11pm, my body simply shuts down. As you are a night owl, it's good to know your best writing time. Write on!

Fundy Blue said...

Lately I've been writing best after supper is out of the way. That's unusual because I typically write best in the morning. Whatever works is my motto. Have a Happy Christmas, Sylvia!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm definitely able to write more at night, but I'm a night person, so it's not a surprise.

Doreen McGettigan said...

I used to love writing at night when my kids were young and I worked out of the house. Now that I write full time, I try to get as much done early in the day as possible.
Happy Holidays!

Jemima Pett said...

Good point about it being time of day rather than year. I'm always better writing in the morning, but sometimes an idea takes all day to stew, so then I'll write it when it's ready!

S.E. White Books said...

It's been so fascinating to see the wide variety of productive times through our IWSG group! We're really all over the map. Thanks so much for co-hosting this month :)

Toi Thomas said...

Thanks for co-hosting this month and for stopping by my blog. In terms of writing, I'm only productive when I'm not working, and I'm always working, but I still squeeze in a short story here and there.

Melissa said...

Thanks for co-hosting.

Debra Renée Byrd said...

The same for me, too! Thanks for co-hosting.

Arlee Bird said...

Times and seasons for writing meant more to me in my younger days--especially during high school and college, but not so much now that I'm older and retired. Days flow one to the next and when the urge hits me I'll write. It could be any time.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

James Pailly said...

I feel like I do my best writing when it's bright and sunny outside. That makes winter a little tough for me.

Tamara Narayan said...

I'm brain dead by 8:30, 9:00 p.m. tops. My best time of day for writing is 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. when the kids are at school. Of course, these days, the house is full just about every day. Maybe I'll write more next fall.

Toi Thomas said...

Thanks for co-hosting. I work nights so when I get off work, I'm too tired to write. I like to write in the mornings but that usually has to wait until after I've entered in all my case notes. It's hard for me to find the time to write, but I do what I can.

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Dear Sylvia, thank you for your info on Dancing Lemur’s offer and for co-hosting the IWSG post this month. Keep writing. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

I am a night owl turned early bird. LOL. It is quite the extreme considering I used to go to bed about 2 to 3 am and switched over to getting up at 4am. The kids are slower to get up that early compared to going to bed late. It's funny because they all switched along with me (but get up at later times).

I tell you, being a mom is being the household trendsetter.

Nick Wilford said...

I'm definitely an early morning rather than late night writer. My brain has just slowed down too much after a day at work, but I'm envious of writers like you because I would definitely have more time in the evening than what I get in the morning!

Lidy said...

Thanks for co-hosting! I'm the same, I seem to be more productive writing at night as well. Of course, by then the kids are in bed and finally have quiet time to myself then.