Writing habits

I’ve come to realize something. My writing habits are not really habits at all. They’re… progression in several directions.

I write when no one is home or after the men are asleep. It’s hard to write a good kiss, or something even hotter when the 6 yo ace reader is haunting my office. It’s really impossible from 6p until 9 or 10, which is when the man is watching television. Tonight’s movie choice: The Great Santini. He pulled me out of the office to watch some bit of the movie no less than five times. Some would call this a lack of respect for my writing time. It’s more his way to share the things he likes, because I’m really not a sit still and watch tv kind of person.
I write on more than one story at a time usually, and I read while I write. Literally. I’ll stop, save, and pick up the book on my desk just to switch gears. I don’t even restrict the genre. If I’m writing a vamp paranormal ( I am ) I let myself read one if that’s what I want. I’ve been lucky in that I haven’t mingled storylines or voice… yet. It’ll happen, but not tonight.

I also tend to have an IM going with someone I can buzz and ask a symantics question, or a plot plausibility question. I surf, I read blogs, and today I was comparing prices on readers. Something I’ve been doing for a while, hoping to find one at a really good deal. It hasn’t happened yet.

What does this mean?

These are some really bad “habits” considering. It almost sounds like ADD, except this cycle is repeated on an almost daily basis. Crazy as it sounds with no direction, it works. When I’m in a groove, I can get anywhere from 1-5K in a day. Even with this process. On days when I really work (ha!) I can do 5-10K. But I’m typically toast for a day or two after that kind of output.

So while this sounds helter-skelter and improbable to be productive, most days it can be for me. It’s really just the way the routine has fallen for me to do my writing.

I guess I’m stuck for the time being with some really bad writing habits.

Do you have bad writing habits or are they just the way the works for you? What kind of things do you do during your day that could be seen as a bad habit? Would changing it improve your productivity?

I can honestly say there isn’t much that I could change that would have a profound impact, simply because the entire cycle of my day revolves around other’s schedules. I think that alone has had the greatest impact on my habits and how they work for me.

Feel free to leave your pennies in the jar by the door.