Yesterday didn’t quite go in the direction I wanted it to after I’d written the previous post. I struggled with trying to move my WIP forward and then I thought I got a little stir crazy, but I think it was my subconscious telling me to get out of the house and away from the distractions. I went into town and went to Costa, got myself a hot beverage, sat down and fired up my laptop. It took about ten minutes for me to settle into doing some work but once I got into a little brainstorming for future works I found I got rolling somewhat. I added about 700 words to two different treatments in about an hour and when I got home I managed to knock out a nice 600(ish) and got my protagonist on a path that I think not only makes sense but will be easier to write than what I was trying to do with him.

I’m trying to find what helps me when I’m writing, some of the things like where I’m writing and what my surroundings are like; and how to recognise that I’m not happy with how something is going sooner than I currently do.

I know I definitely need to buy a new desk and a new chair. At the moment I’ve got a high-backed leather chair with sturdy armrests and it tilts back nicely, but I think it’s a little too comfy, but also just not appropriate for the desk I’ve got (and those I’m looking at replacing it with) and it’s not that comfy for when I’m writing intensely. The desk I’ve got, I’ve had for about a decade (its lasted well, as has the chair which is older) but its not suitable for how I like to sit when I write. I’ve found when I’ve written at work, or when I’ve been out at a Costa Coffee, I like to sit with my legs under the table or desk, and my desk has a solid base to it. It used to have one of those rolling shelves for keyboards, but the cat managed to break it (don’t ask!). I might have a look later on today to see if I can fix it, but even if I can I think it’s time for a new desk and chair. I’m blessed that I can write anywhere, but when I’m at my desk I want to be doing some serious work and at the moment I don’t feel comfortable there.

I’ve also been trying to get up earlier than I normally do to write in the mornings. Normally I’d get up at 6:30am but the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to get up at 5:30am and write. I’ve had mixed results so far, and I think it’s going to take a little time and a little tinkering while I work out how best to do this. It’s not just a case of going to bed an hour earlier than I normally do. If I’ve been out the night before, and I don’t mean out drinking or clubbing, then I know I shouldn’t get up earlier. If I don’t get to bed before 10:30pm then its not a good idea for me to get up earlier because I’m just going to hit that snooze button. Last Friday I managed to turn of two alarms without even waking up enough to remember doing so. So it’s still a little trial and error at the moment.

Regardless of all of these little things I’m trying I’m still writing. I’m still getting words down, and as long as I’m doing that I’m happy.