Day in the Life
Ever wondered what I do all day as a full time writer? Well, it’s not all writing (though sometimes I wish it could be).
Here’s how I manage writing books and running this indie publishing stuff as a business.
4:10am - Wake up
Yes, I’m insane.
4:30am - Writing
One thing I’ve noticed about myself is that my days are 3x more productive when I get up and do something for myself first thing in the morning. Since switching to a morning writing session (instead of taking care of the animals immediately), I’ve doubled my word counts during the day (not including the material I write first thing), I can manage my stress better, and I get a lot of other business things done so I can spend time with my husband at the end of the day.
I drop in on the #5amwritersclub on Twitter, sip my caffeine, and get to work. This morning routine also forces me to get my material prepped and planned the night before so I can sit down and get to work on the words.
6:00am - Break, finish morning routine
The dog’s internal clock goes off some time between 5:30 and 6am. I’ll gear him up for a walk, get him fed, get myself fed/showered/ready, and then read a little bit.
I’ve discovered that while I am a morning person, I’m not a ‘handle others well’ type of morning person. Having that bonus time to wake up and do my thing makes me less of a grump when my husband finally wakes up.
8:00am - Admin
With the hubs out the door and the animals ready for their morning naps, I sit down and get to business… literally. My first tasks on mornings usually involves business matters like checking sales, working on marketing material, and writing things such as blog posts, newsletters, social media posts, and handling emails. I try to stick to the more writing side of the admin work.
10:00am - Writing
If there’s less admin stuff to do, writing happens a little sooner. I typically try to do a quick edit during this time but make a point to add words to whatever project I’m working on at the time. Depending on the project, that might look like a scene, a chapter, or sometimes even more.
12:00pm - Lunch
There’s no need to sit at my computer all day. The dog gets to go out and run in the backyard, get a sunbathe in, and then flop on the tile to cool off. I use this time to shut off from work. Sometimes I’ll watch a quick 30 minute show but more often I’ll read a few chapters of whatever book I’ve got downloaded at the time. It’s a good creative break and perfect for resetting the mind.
1:00pm - Writing
I know that I’ve got about two hours of really good brainpower after lunch. That’s just how I work. This is when I really shut off the notifications and buckle down. No distractions, just writing. I do my best to avoid editing during these hours because I know this is my prime time to get the most words out.
3:00pm - Editing / Graphics / Marketing
When that first lull hits, I am prepared with some back up work. If the writing is going slow or I need a break (sometimes I get on a roll and don’t need to switch tasks), I’ll pick up some graphics work, marketing design, or some light editing. Sometimes I’ll create social media graphics, sometimes I’ll just interact on Instagram or Twitter for a bit, and other times I’ll pull out my iPad and do some artwork.
5:00pm - Read
About now, it’s time for me to shut down. After plotting out my morning session, I’ll wind down with some reading. Sometimes, I go over my own work and do some light editing, other times I’m picking up whatever book is in my library. If possible, I’ll leave the office… otherwise I’m tempted to keep working!
Once the hubs is home, he and I have an evening routine that involves working out, chilling and watching some show, or just chatting.
8:00pm - Wind down
Yes, I prefer to be in bed before 8, but I try to be social a little longer. Most people know that once 7:30 hits, my notifications turn off and I won’t get back to them until the morning. It’s nice to have a shut down time where the phone goes silent. I try my best to avoid screens and stick to something relaxing before I crawl into bed.
What does your day look like?
