As a morning person, I like to start writing early in the day, before reading the newspaper, turning on the TV, or answering phone calls. Coffee heightens mental alertness, so after downing a mug, I’m ready to enter my fictional world.

Slipping inside the Zone isn’t easy. A writer has to block all interference, including mental To Do lists, traffic and lawnmower noises, concerns about the economy, etc. If you get me going about grocery prices, I’ll veer away from the clear mind I need to join my characters in their adventure. So it’s best for a writer not to read or watch the news at the start of the day. It is better to practice BICHOK: Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard. It’s even more inspiring if you can resist checking email first thing, and definitely don’t go on Facebook or any other social networking site until the writing quota for the day is done. Set yourself a daily or weekly goal and stick to it, rewarding yourself as you meet small milestones.

My WIP is zipping along. I have only 25 pages remaining to hit my target word count, although I’ll likely spill over. My hero and heroine have had their dark moment and gone their separate ways. I’m using Bait and Switch tactics to move between them, leaving each one at a suspenseful point until the scene returns to them. Then I have to get them together for the final battle and romantic resolution. That’s going to take more than 25 pages. The story is in my head, just waiting to come out. It’s what I think about when I wake up and when I lay in bed at night. This is the most joyous part of writing, putting down on paper a story that’s already there, waiting for the writer to snatch it from the Zone.

How I admire your discipline, enthusiasm, and writing! I'm going to print BICHOK in huge letters and display it prominently. Hopefully, it'll make a difference, and I'll get my head into my book!

Good for you, Stephanie! Have you set a goal for next week? For Monday? When do you write? Just remember to make the goals easily attainable so you don't feel frustrated. You can always increase the page count quota or add a half hour to your session.

Thanks, Nancy, for the great suggestions. I'm going to set my goals for the week,hoping to complete three to five pages a day. I write from about 8:30 to ten in the morning, whenever I can, but I'm aiming to make this a daily requirement, or six days out of seven. You're a real inspiration, and thank you so much for taking the time to give me your suggestions. I'll either let you know how successfuol I am at keeping my schedule, or wordlessly hang my head in shame when next we meet;)

I love/hate it when the story's laid out in my head. When I know what's going to happen, it's sometimes a frustrating session finding the best words to use. The scene is laid out, but then you have to write it for a reader who doesn't have it in her head the way you do.

And then there's the 'I know what's happening at point C, but I'm stuck in point A and have no clue what point B should be.

Steph, you'll never hang your head in shame. It's enough that you're trying! Do the best you can and reward yourself for your effort.

Terry, I like to get the story down on paper first and then fix my word choices, add emotional content, cut repetitions, etc. In other words, I need more than one pass through the story but I don't want to stop myself during the passion of creation. If the story's there, out it comes, even if the writing is crap. Crap can be fixed.

As for how to get from point A to point C, that's the subject for another post.

Hi Nancy,
First time here, just popping over to say hi. Love your cover. Wish I was on the breezy downswing of my WIP. Take care!:)

Thanks for dropping by, L.A. Hope your own WIP moves along without any hitches.

I like to work late at night. It's quiet, and I tend to get my second wind at about 8:00 and then type on till about midnight. It takes me awhile to wind down though.
Plus I know the zone thing. If my daughter is up and about I tell her I am going to write and not to bother me unless the house is on fire or she is dying and needs to go to the ER. If someone interupts me then it is hard for me to refocus. I also like to write with music on and depending on the scene..like if it is tragic or very romantic I like to put on really sad music..like Art Garfunkles Second Ave or Richard Haris. It does something to my muse and it turns on the 'sap'. LOL. One person told me after reading my book 'wow..you have some intense feelings 'and I thought, that must have been when I was listening to the Watermark album..no no..it was A Tramp Shining! (Richard Harris)

You're the opposite of me, Barbara. I'm early to bed and early to rise. And I need total silence when I work. To each their own.

I enjoyed reading your blog. I have the same way of working out what the characters say at night and perfecting it during the day. Keep up the good work
Johnny Ray

Thanks, Johnny. I'm out of that phase now and into plotting the next story. This stage is harder; it feels like knots twisting in my head until the plot questions are resolved.