July 24th, 2010

Binge Writing vs. Daily Writing

Work’s work and it all sucks. The sad fact is that many professional writers have a day or “rent” job. I knew a very successful illustrator whose work appeared on the cover of The New Yorker. He was paid $5,000 for the work and had contracts for more. So, I asked him why he still waited tables at a touristy Florida seafood restaurant.

“For the rent,” he said. “I’ve had years where I could’ve lived on my art, but they’re followed by two years of nothing.”

I asked him about his work habits. “Like I drink. I binge. Sometimes I work 20 hours straight. I work double shifts so I have about three days of just painting.”

Every creative has a work ethic, for better or worse. Vonnegut wrote one, well-crafted page a day. Issac Asimov could write for 12 hours straight. Some only write when inspired or have a daily routine they stick to even on holidays and funerals.

It took me a decade to commit to a writing routine. Since my day jobs have often changed in this schizoid economy, I’ve had to be flexible. I used to have a daily routine of writing at least 1000 words in the morning, six days a week. With the “job” done, I then moved onto my web design work.

I got a full-time, 8-5 job and I had to change to a 8pm-10pm schedule with a one hour session on Saturday morning. When the recession caught up with my company, my salary and hours were gutted. I survived on short term, contractual gigs.

During the slow periods, one would think I could’ve written Ulysses. However, these were my least productive periods. I spent most of my time watching Lost reruns to figure out what the hysterics were about. The truth is, the busier I am, the more productive I am.

I got more writing done when I had a full-time job and a bi-monthly podcast to produce. Without a surplus of time, I took advantage of mites and specs of time where I can get things done. I could bang out 250 words in 15 minutes. Give me an hour, I could do 1000 words.

When you’re busy, you have an enhanced sense of urgency. Stress and caffeine adds a bit of nitro to your engine. Sure, you might eventually burn out, but then you can take a weekend off and feel justified having a Star Trek DS9 marathon.

Nowadays, with the slow summer work cycle making cash precious, I have gotten better at using the time to get the book done. A majority of the writing gets done from Thurdsay – Saturday. However, most days getting 500 words done is like moving gravestones. So I experimented.

The results: music! I created iTunes and YouTube music playlists. Music makes the passage of time seem effortless. I cue up an 80′s playlist and soon I’m lost in my writing. When I resurface (usually when the coffee is near empty), I am amazed at what I’ve done.

Binge or routine. Sister’s of Mercy megadoses. Whatever works.