During my promo for my latest prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature. one of my wonderful hosts posted this article I wrote about how I break up my day with a timeline. In case you missed it, here’s a revisit:
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I thought this was a good time to share how my writing day has changed my teaching day. Some of you read my post about the busy-ness that was my teaching when I went to a school rather than taught remotely. Truly, I don’t know how I did it! Now, my days are more likely to be structured around my writing. Here’s how that works:
Much of my day is spent writing, either freelance articles, client reviews, guest posts, or working on one of my many fiction and nonfiction WIP. Any leftover time goes to marketing what I’ve written–trying to get the word out to as many people as possible. That includes outreach, responding to inquiries, interactions with fellow writers, and exploring new marketing channels.
Since I work out of my house, I like to break my day into three parts:
morning
afternoon
evening
I consign tasks to each portion of the day, stopping for lunch and dinner and a few breaks to pet the dog. Because I’m not writing to a deadline (as is required by agents or publishers), I don’t count words like some writing efriends. I count what I get done.
Here’s a rough list of tasks that I sprinkle throughout my writing week:
- review for edtech websites I work with
- updates on existing edtech manuscripts, books
- a monthly article for #IWSG–the Insecure Writer’s Support Group
- ongoing work on the next Man vs. Nature book
- research for a future book
- write about eight posts a week on my three blogs, WordDreams, Ask a Tech Teacher, and USNA or Bust
- reviews of books I get from NetGalley and much less often Amazon Vine
Here’s what a typical day breaks out as:
5 am–wake up
5:30–read for fun, caffeinate myself, catch up on news with husband
6:30–answer emails and SM
9:00–take a walk; Miriam Hurdle (over at The Showers of Blessings) and I cheer each other on with an app she introduced me to called Strava
9:30–work on my next book
11–lunch
Noon–3:30–work on current ms, reviews for edtech websites or writing outlets
1 pm–coffee break–to perk me up!
3:30-5:00–reading for fun and research
5:00–dinner
5:30-7–Posts, marketing
Every 15-30 minutes, I take a break to walk around the house, check the yards, visit husband, or anything to get me out of my chair and moving.
If you’re curious about the daily schedules of other writers, here’s an article on the daily routines of twelve famous writers, one by a NYT best-selling author, and an interesting personal narrative by a cooperative writer.
#writingday #writingroutine #amwriting
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, In the Shadows of Giants, Winter 2022.
You are busy, Jacqu! That is some schedule. Thank you for sharing. One day I hope to be writing more and teaching less!
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Well, my classes are online and flexible. I didn’t even bother to add those! And my writing gigs are almost always done on my schedule. It helps a lot.
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Hi Jacqui – fascinating to read … I knew you’d be organised – really interesting. Thanks for setting it out for us … cheers Hilary
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It’s the only way I get through. Otherwise, nothing seems to get done!
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading your writing routine, Jacqui. Your days sound very organised, and it’s very sensible to take frequent breaks to care for yourself physically and also mentally. Is that your set up, three screens? If so, wow. Thanks for sharing the writing schedules of other writers. I’ll have to check them out as I’ve always been curious about how other writers write and keep up their writing and life routines 🙂
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Thanks, Mabel. I love my three screens. Even my Army son who works with satellites is jealous!
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You really got a good set up there with three screens. Props to you for getting organised with the right set up for you 🙂
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The time you use on a new book: is that usually the groundwork stuff, while what you write in the afternoon is usually the actual writing of the manuscript? Just curious.
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Usually, it’s working on the same book. Especially these days! I am desperate to finish this book. It goes a lot better when I track well what’s going on in the plot.
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Counting the total words you got done for the is a good idea. I’ve been debating myself if I should aim for a daily word count but right now that’s hard to do when most of your work is revising a book.
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Yes, I agree. I tried that with NaNo and didn’t find a word count with editing very gratifying.
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I admire your discipline Jacqui. And thanks for sharing that list of famous writers 🙂
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I love reading how some of these wildly successful authors got there. Not what I usually expect.
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I don’t know how you manage 8 posts a week, Jacqui. Other than that, your day sounds a lot like mine – a writer’s day. I’m less organized, but much of it is the same stuff. Happy Writing!
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Five are for my education blog. Some of those are tips which don’t take too long. It’s actually not as hard as it sounds. Thanks, Diana!
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I like your disciplined approach, broken down into segments. I do as well, although as you know, I’ve had to pivot quite a bit due to babysitting Ellie.
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This schedule didn’t start until my kids were grown and out of the house. I’m still involved in their lives, but no grandkids. That leaves lots more time for me.
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Muy interesante, te mando un beso.
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Thank you! Crazy days, aren’t they?
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Wow, you get up early. Now I know how you get so much done each day! 🙂 I didn’t see “walk the dog” in your daily schedule. Maybe he goes with you on your half-an-hour morning walk?
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I wish I could take him! He’s have control issues. My puppy needs some time.
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Sorry to read that, Jacqui. Puppies are a lot of work! Hugs to all of you.
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He’s big for his age. Maybe that has something to do with it. I have a trainer coming to help me. Sigh.
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Hi Jacqui, do you only eat two meals a day? 5pm to 11am seems a very long time to go without food. You have a well structured and disciplined lifestyle.
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I do–only 2 meals a day. I’m not as hungry as I used to be.
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Gosh, I could do without lunch much more easily than breakfast. I’m always hungry by 9am.
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Wait’ll you’re older. Things change.
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Your dedication is quite inspiring, Jacqui. It makes me happy to see anyone throw themself into their passions, whatever they may be. I appreciate learning about your typical day.
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I was the same way teaching–and I bet you were, too! I’d love to see your teaching schedule!
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That’s a government secret.🤣 I worked an insane number of hours.
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Reading your book, you must have to get so much done.
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Wow, Jacqui – you are truly dedicated to your calling, making the most of each day. Toni x
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I do love writing and I hate boredom. Between those two, the schedule makes sense!
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You start at 5:00? Blink. Blink.
🙂
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I do! But I’m lights out at 9 pm. One of those morning people. Does that mean you and I can’t travel together?
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We’ll figure out something. I’m packing now;)
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You have an incredibly structured routine! Mine is as well, but I have to be ready for all sorts of interruptions and changes (and they happen, more frequently than I would like … ) Cheers.
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And I hate interruptions. I don’t handle them well. Kudos to you, Lynette.
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Your structured routine made me feel calm for some reason 😀 I like that you’ve included breaks as well, very important! 🙂
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You are so right, Damyanti. The structure is calming–I forget that at times.
I just finished The Blue Bar. I loved your first book, but this one is even better. The characterizations are amazing. The plot never stops, but I don’t get lost. Such a good read. I’ll have more to say in a few weeks!
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I love that you have your day set up and get lots of walking in, Jacqui 🙂
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I have fallen in love with walking. I was never that way before I started working out of the house. Now, I hate missing a day.
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I try to walk everyday
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I have often wondered what the life of writers such as yourself looks like, so I loved this inside peek into your ordered and scheduled day. 🙂
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I like being home and thankfully, with good internet, I can do most of what I need right here. It’s lovely.
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I thought you might be interested in this, Jacqui.
https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2022/07/11/its-time-for-a-july-self-promotion-party/
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That looks good, GP. I don’t check in on Charles French often enough. Thanks!
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Sounds like a very good routine for getting things done. I know I always feel better when I’m accomplishing something worthwhile.
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And my plan doesn’t always work. Right now, I’m supposed to be writing and I’m walking the dog! Sigh.
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You have to have your priorities, so that’s okay.
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I’m just starting to function around your lunch break, lol. You’re much more organized than I am, as well. I feel so lazy now 🙂
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I am definitely slowing, though. I want to finish this book and then see where I go. There is a lot of other stuff in the world.
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Your schedule is very doable.
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It is. Yes, of course, there are breaks in the blocks, but I’m guided by the outline. Thanks, Darlene.
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wow! Impressive. I not that disciplined. My schedule is more like: Wake up, do stuff, go to bed.
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Hehee. That ‘stuff’ would be woodwork, building, quilting, and a whole lot more!
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You have amazing discipline. I like the idea of blocks of days instead of exact time. It is also important never to set too long, but to get up and move.
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That moving–I try to do that. Luckily, with a puppy, he does force me to get out of myself!
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Another early riser. Isn’t dark-o’clock a lovely time of day? The birds are starting to twitter, and Twitter is not yet chirping!
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I love how you say that. So true! I actually read Twitter a lot less than I used to because it’s too depressing.
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You are a pro!
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I do like my schedule!
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Head down butt up…work, hard work. Go Jacqui. Feel the burn. Look forward to your next book. Now breathe.
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Working hard feels good, doesn’t it? Lots of people don’t get that.
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You’re very disciplined! I had to make schedules like the one you’ve posted when I studied for final exam week in college.
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I am pretty disciplined, but I also like working that way. It drives my husband nuts. “Dinner’s at 5, not 4:40!!!”
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🙂
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I enjoyed hearing about the way you approach the days!
I am going to click the link about the famous writers and their schedule –
And right now – my approach is what I call the semi truck-
Where I get a lot done at once – and maybe pour 20+ hours into a project in a couple days /
So the truck is cruising – I let it roll at 55mph as opposed to the stop and go with a city drive…. even tho it is not always possible to work like a semi! Ha
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What a clever analogy. I have never once thought of that but I see how it works.
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Well I am
Not sure the analogy is mine / because I glean so much everywhere I go
But I learned it in grad school because I was trying to write papers a little each day – one hour here and two hours there.
But it didn’t work – so Dedicated Saturday and Sunday to all writing and it worked!
The analogy really came back to me when we were coming home from the airport and it was 3 am
We were on this road and there was a semi truck carrying a huge concrete pipe
Why was it out at that time? No clue
And as we were in our lane coming up to jt – my spouse said “hey – watch this / he is not going to be able to stop for that red light
And sure enough – he tried and rolled right through it!
Why? Semi trucks don’t stop on a dime
Similarly – and this is really what helped me see I write like a semi
They don’t start fast- but once they get rolling it is power
And so we all know if you have a choice to not get behind a truck at a light – it is better to move over because they take so long to get going –
And when I had papers due A suddenly all the dreaded or non-urgent matters became urgent
I’d be cleaning the garage cupboards and spouse would ask “have a paper due?”
Hahah
Maybe it is different with personal books and passion projects
—
Thanks again for sharing what you do!
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I break my day up into morning, afternoon and evening too, but my schedule is different from yours and I don’t achieve nearly as much as you. Eight posts a week! That’s four times what I do!
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I do most of them Saturdays and then schedule them (too). The ones on the schedule are from clients in a hurry to get their articles out. And the 8 posts–that’s for three blogs, very different blogs. I do try to streamline them.
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You are very organised. 🙂
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You’re very organized, which I’m sure helps you get so much done. Like you, I have my own routine. But work and taking care of my mom takes a chunk of my time during the day.
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I got very little writing done when I had those two activities. My life is pretty settled which means little interferes with my schedule. Well, the electricity goes out at times!
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Thanks for your many posts, reviews and feedback, Jacqui! Your routine sounds like a wonderful way to keep the little gray cells peculating as we continue on life’s journey. My wife still questions why I rise early and hit the keys even though I don’t have to do anything except read and relax. For my routine, piecing together the puzzle of storytelling still excites me, and sharing with others is the frosting on the cake.
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What you said, Grant. I couldn’t sit and relax all day. There aren’t even enough binge-worthy Netflix shows. You have a kindred soul in me.
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I love that you have such a detailed schedule, Jacqui. Like you, I need my routine. I need to add more read for fun into my schedule!
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I created it when I had to squeeze too much in too little time. Now, it’s so I don’t forget something!
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