Last month I started doing morning writing sessions.
These occur much earlier than I would normally like to get up. Early enough that it is still dark out.
I have always known that in my middle-aged reality, if I was going to write consistently it was going to have to be in the early mornings.
Plus, early mornings have a kind of Zen quality to them, don’t they?
For years I’ve tried to get up early to write, for all of the above reasons.
The problem is that it’s still dark out.
My body rebels at being forced to rise this early. My muscles won’t contract enough to sit up, so I flop myself out of bed like a fish until my feet are touching the floor and I’m face down in the pillow, bent over the edge of the mattress at the waist, which forces me to push myself up so that I can breathe and by then I’m basically out of bed.
My mind follows suit. Turning off my alarm, I’m instantly crabby. I want to punch the person whose idea it was to get up when IT’S STILL DARK OUT. Punch them straight in the solar plexus. (Remembering it was my idea doesn’t make much difference. I’d punch myself if I could get the angle right.)
All of this to say that, when I’ve tried writing in the wee hours before, I’d make it one, maybe two days before quitting.
Or not at all.
But check this out…
I’m on week five of getting up Monday through Friday morning - yes, when it’s still dark out - and writing for a little over an hour.
What’s changed?
(To be honest, I’m trying not to think about it too hard lest the part of me that loves my bed realizes what’s happening.)
Here are two practical things that seem to be making the difference this time:
🌞 I write in community with other writers on Zoom. Sure, we all have Zoom fatigue, but there is something special about knowing that you are sharing quiet moments with other creatives working toward similar goals.
🌞 I’ve developed a ritual to start my writing session. There are four things that I do before I start writing. They involve a candle, tea, paper, and an oracle card.
Does it make for a perfect writing session? No. See my weekly writing report.
Do I fall asleep in the chair? Maybe once, allegedly. But every day I make a little bit of progress.
And that progress is all that matters.
In the spirit of creating writing habits that stick, here’s this week’s Pep Talk!
In other news...
It’s May! That means I just announced the new pick for the Reading Like Writers Book Club. And it’s a good one! Available for all paid subscribers to join.
I heard on NPR last week that libraries have to pay about three times as much as what an individual would pay for an audiobook or e-book. This makes sense, I guess, given that they share them widely, but wow! That’s a lot to charge an underfunded government institution. If you are waiting impatiently because you’re 34th on a waiting list, now you know why!
How’s my writing going? I’m so glad you asked! Here’s my weekly writing report.
📖 What I'm reading: I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
📺 What I'm watching: Top Chef (Bravo), Fargo (Hulu), Ripley (Apple TV)
🎧 What I'm listening to: Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer
Happenings Around Writing Town:
My friend Monica created this Revision Road Map Mini-Course!
My friend Suzy wrote a great post for Jane Friedman’s blog on using text-to-speech technology to revise your writing! Such a cool idea.
Here’s to doing the hard things this week, my friends!
Warmly, Stephanie
P.S. I'll be here when you're ready.
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