I primarily work as a freelance writer, podcaster, and aspiring novelist. But if I’m to be honest, I spend most of my days being distracted by bright and shiny objects. Something tells me I’m not alone in this. Consider what an average day looks like for me.
Wake up anywhere between 7 and 8 a.m. Get my coffee, catch up on the national news (most of the time I regret this), drink a glass of water, and make breakfast.
From there, I get dressed and walk my two dogs. One is an elderly dachshund who is not too keen on walking, the other is a feisty chihuahua terrier who will NOT have her walk cut short unless it is raining, or she hears thunder in the distance.
Once we return from this walk, I try to get in a quick strength training workout. Then I consult my to-do list for the day. This usually includes about an hour of planning or research before I break for lunch, if I don’t have a podcast interview scheduled.
After lunch is my most productive time of day. I work on research for the podcast, write scripts, and if I’m caught up on that, tinker around with essays and any fiction I’m working on. Unfortunately, I’ve become discouraged with my fiction writing as of late, so I’ve spent more time working on creative nonfiction and podcast content. However, I’m prone to falling down rabbit holes during this period of time.
Take yesterday, for example. I was reading a back issue of a newspaper, specifically an article about a missing woman’s body being found in 1989, when another headline caught my eye. It read, “Young Man’s Success Ends with Bizarre Death.” A college-student created a lucrative business selling balloons and other celebratory items and then is shot to death when he tried to enter a random home in town? I had to learn more. I took out my true crime notebook to write down the headline and publication information for a future podcast episode. This happens frequently, as does me posting a reel on Instagram and then getting distracted because my favorite store is having a sale. But I digress.
Thursdays I reserve afternoons for recording or editing my podcast. Throughout the week, if I feel I’ve been less productive during the day, I’ll carve out an hour or two at night to catch up on work. I try to read a few chapters of a book before I go to sleep, as it helps for a restful night of sleep (unless you’re reading a book like “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix. I'll never make that mistake again. Talk about some vivid dreams).
Somehow, even with all these distractions and stops to take in food, drink, walks, and other exercise, I manage to be productive on the projects I most care about. I’d love to hear when you do your best writing!
Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. She’s currently seeking representation for a novel about, what else? A podcaster trying to solve a mystery. Learn more at www.FinishedPages.com and www.MissingintheCarolinas.
1 comments:
I have to say, my day plays out pretty much like yours...except no coffee, podcasts or dogs. Ok, maybe not exactly. But I usually block out mornings for contacting sources, pitching, researching etc. and afternoons for writing.
But I have to say, I think my best writing is after a down period when I get to mull over what I'm writing. When I'm on the elliptical, in the shower or doing mindless chores(laundry, dishes) if I start planning out my writing I often have to plunge right into writing because I'm terrified that the perfect paragraph I constructed in my head will disappear if I wait. Sometimes I even have to head back to the office in the middle of the night if insomnia has me writing in my head instead of sleeping.
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