So since July 4th I’ve been a full-time writer, and shall be until the end of the year. Putting my money where my mouth is, I’ve cashed in all my long service leave, and taken the rest of the year off from my job to work on a number of projects. Chief amongst these is the novel “Papa Lucy and the Boneman”, which has landed me a Project Grant from the good folks at Arts SA. So, I’m basically a scruffy house-bound bum until 2012, supported by you, the tax-payer 🙂
In many ways I’ve been well-behaved, and have treated this chance at doing my dream job as, well, a job. I’ve steered clear of blogs and blogging (though admittedly I continue to dabble in the short sugar-hit aspects of social networking). I’m working through a list of goals, in order of time sensitivity, and putting down solid word-counts on a regular basis (average word-count is 1500-3000 words/day). So far, so good!
The List is as follows:
After the World: Army Corpse (1st draft now completed)
Embargoed Project
Papa Lucy and the Boneman (novel)
Embargoed Project
Both of the embargoed projects are super-cool, and rest assured I’ll be dishing out some more details when I can. Here’s some hints for the wise, *cough* elephants *cough* computer game *cough hack wheeze* 🙂 So this writing full-time thing is going very well, and if I keep this momentum, I’ll have no trouble meeting these goals, with oodles of time to polish everything up, and work on a few other bits and pieces that need doing, such as the story fragments kicking around on the backburner, the composition of new pieces for my upcoming collection (Everything is a Graveyard, from Ticonderoga Publications), and whatever else needs doing.
The first challenge with writing full-time was finding the rhythm of things, the sweet spot where I park my arse and unpack a bunch of words from my head. Clocking in a 8am with a cuppa and a smile just doesn’t seem to work for me, and I’ve had to try a few different methods before finding the one that works. The best method, the one that often gets that awesome absentee writer thing (where you vague out and come back hours later with something that you’re only partially responsible for) works for me as follows:
Mornings are for chores, correspondence, pottering, research, wool-gathering. An early lunch is held at the computer, going over the previous day’s work. Then the rest of the day is given to writing like buggery, until the family are all home, and then there’s tea and family time, and then another solid stretch of writing in the evening, through to 10-12 o’clock. And just like that, I’m pulling in 3000 word days, and it doesn’t even feel like I’m working. Am truly grateful for the opportunity to work like this, fitting writing in with family and full-time work was a bit of a bugger and this sojourn makes me very happy indeed 🙂
Some days the rhythm just doesn’t work, or other things come up. The wheels sometimes fall off for a day or two, but everything is mostly ticking along and I’m hopefully justifying the faith that has been put into my mad enterprise.
Will also try and update this blog/website more often while I’m on the public dollar. Speaking of which, when next I swing by I hope to talk about arts patronage, and some of my experiences in the last few years. I figure if I’m going to have an Official Website, I should use it to do Highminded Things.
Cheerio!
Fisch.
Well, it has been said that Centrelink is the greatest patron of the arts since the days of the de Medicis!
Best of luck with all the projects, Jason, especially the elephants.
Cheers Satima! (and sorry for the delayed response) Haha, at least Centrelink have got something right 🙂
My routine is actually similar. On a good day I’ll get in another good spell before lunch and sometimes, if I have the time and space, after dinner when I should be in bed.
Some days not much happens, but, if I’m writing prose, I should be able to crank 2 or 3000 words a day most days. And I’ll work 7 days a week, if I can.
I do like to have a few things ont he boil at once. If I get stuck somewhere I jump onto something I have on the b-track. I also like to mix up editing and new writing: new writing is the most fun, but sometimes you can’t force it. I can usually force a few hours of good editing/polishing, regardless of mood.
Keep those bones a rollin’!
— JF
Wow, I’ve let the weeds grow on this blog! Sorry for delay in responding 🙂
I reckon that’s the best routine, I’ve never quite gelled with working first thing in the day, I think the ole brain needs a few hours to get into gear. I reckon you’ve got some great productivity there, if you can keep that up you’re ahead of the game 🙂
(also, brilliant to have a few things cooking along at once, in fact I’m doing that right now as well)
Great ork on the grants. As far as I am concerned the money spent on the arts doesn’t go anywhere near that spent on shaping misogynist footballers, you go right a head and use my tax payer dollars( mind you you’ll have to lift the quality of your puns since I am paying top dollar).
I attended the Fiona McIntosh workshop in Auburn on the week end. Have made a contract with myself to write a fantasy pot-boiler of 150,000 words. Do most of my writing at night 8.30 till 11. It’s been easier than I thought.
Hey dude, sorry for the lateness of this reply! Have neglected the blog/website of late. I can’t agree more, but sadly the sports dollar will always trump arts dollar in this country. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for this opportunity and am making the most of it. I…I can’t speak for puns, or the quality thereof, but I’ve noticed the volume has decreased significantly, now that I’m working for myself and I’m on the clock 🙂
Fiona McIntosh is AWESOME, such a lovely person and very insightful about writing, the industry etc. I was lucky enough to have her as my lecturer at TAFE for an entire term, where she taught a Writing Fantasy subject. Good luck with your book mate, keep us posted as to how you go! 🙂
Hi Jason..great to see you doing well..admire your frankness in getting organised with your writing time.. I have been thinking for a few years now about trying my hand with a bit of writing too…can’t seem to get past once a upon a time…going to give it a whirl though…no soppy stories though..maybe along mysteries of disappearances and murders….Julie
Hi Auntie Julie! Thanks for popping by the olde blog 🙂 hope you folks are well. And good luck with the writing stuff, sing out if you need any help. I highly recommend joining up with the SA Writers Centre, they’re a great resource for beginning writers and can connect you with others doing the same sort of thing. There’s also some great courses from the WEA and Adelaide TAFE, some of which can be done via correspondence for those of you in the boonies 🙂