The Job of Writing

One best-selling author stated that writing needs to be treated as a job. That is, carve out a specific time, uninterrupted, and write even when not inspired. Just like going to work or, more commonly these days, working from home. That being said, mine is very much a part-time job and the schedule is Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from about 5 a.m. until 8 a.m.

However I put in overtime, which is writing when inspired. While finishing the second draft of my novel, inspiration hit, and I spent an hour each evening and much of a weekend working on the last four chapters.

Having started the third draft, inspiration once again struck, and I’ve learned never to discount inspiration. I’ve put my novel on hold in order to draft one or two chapters of this new novel.

I don’t outline my stories, rather, I let the story lead me where it wants to go and by drafting a chapter or two, the concept is there when I return to it months or even years later. Even if I forget that original concept, there is enough of the story to take me down a new path.