Last week, I said I'd try something new: wake up at 5 a.m. to write. Getting up at 6 to run has worked great for getting my runs in, so I thought, Why not writing?
I tried it.
Getting up was (fairly) easy. So was sitting at my computer and opening the .TXT file I'd made for the experiment.
Right away, I realized I hadn't chosen a scene to write. Loathe to open my scene list and wake myself further with choosing, I decided to write stream-of-consciousness thoughts, like the morning pages exercise Julia Cameron promotes.
So I typed and typed. But it didn't empty my head (I seemed instead to be reaching for things to write) and it didn't bring me closer to writing on my book. Time slowed. Sleep crept close. My interest sank.
After twenty minutes, I jumped online to reconcile my bank accounts.*
FAIL.
I had two problems with this experiment. Maybe three. OK, four:
I only did it once. (Not good science.)
I don't want to have a different schedule than Dave has, but I chose to do something that puts me on a different schedule. (Duh.)
And I'd have to go to bed by 9:30. (No thanks.)
The biggest problem, though: I'm not excited about writing the book I tried the exercise for.
My head's been filled with revision ideas for the book that's on submission. For a while, this was counterproductive, but late last week I learned I may have an opportunity to do such a revision (on spec). I got some meaty editorial feedback, which I discussed with Super Agent Chris. My job this week is to decide if the suggestions will work for the story.
Which I'm very excited to discover.
And which I don't have to do at 5 in the freaking morning.
WOOT.
How about you? Had any writing experiments blow up in your face? Do tell!
*I do this every day. NERD.
9 ate pie:
I know people who do the 5am writing routine, but I can't make it work either. I tried, but couldn't get myself to bed early enough to feel awake at 5am. I think even if I went to bed at 7:30, I'd still be toast at 5am. I also failed at those Julia Cameron morning pages. I love her books, but the morning pages just turned into stream-of-consciousness whining which, instead of clearing my head, made me crabby. And I don't like to be crabby in the morning. :)
Yes! I kept saying things like "It's freaking 5 in the morning" and "what's that sound? right...EVERYONE ELSE SLEEPING." Definitely had my crabby pants on.
but they made your butt look good (dave)
Haha - so you want me to wear my crabby pants more often? Answer carefully... :D
I love the title of this post.
I also find it hard to write soon after waking up.
If I write at 5 in the morning it's because I've been awake for a while, or because I'm staying up super late with a plan to sleep until noon.
Re: Last week, I said I'd try something new: wake up at 5 a.m. to write.
I tell myself that every night before I go to bed. I set my alarm for five, and I roll out of bed at eight.
Medeia - yes! If I've been up all night, no problem. Then it's just an extension of the all-night craziness.
Missed - that's some snooze you have - gotta get me one of those. ;)
GREAT PIC!!!!!
Laura - I 'bout fell out of my chair when I saw it. :D
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