Ok it’s been over three weeks since my 'early to bed and early to rise' challenge. For twelve out of the 24 days since setting this task, whilst I have not always managed to get to bed early enough to get my required 7-8 hours of sleep, I have sprang out of bed on time (mostly without an alarm) and spent at least two hours editing my novel. On two occasions, I even woke up at 3.30!
Day one was exciting for me. I sat at my computer and listened to the sounds of whistling frogs, interrupted by the chorus of cocks crowing and not a sound in the house (ahh, bliss). An hour later, the odd car was passing by. And I thought I was an early bird?
One day in my second week, the rain started pelting down on the galvanized roof (this always gives me that 'cosy' feeling). I was sorely tempted to rush back to my bed and snuggle down under the sheet, but I managed to drum up enough self-talk: “It’s 5.30 Steff,” I told myself, “and who's gonna do your writing while you’re sleeping?”
In week three there was so much rain, my house was totally flooded out and I couldn’t even sleep there that night. The recovery process lasted for days. Taking all of this into consideration, I would give myself 7 out of 10 for effort and perseverance.
One thing I would say though is, I’d forgotten just how long the editing process can take and the concentration that’s needed. In particular, I got bogged down with a scene, where I am introducing one of the main characters’ boyfriend to the reader for the first time. That kept not feeling right for me and I wasn’t even sure if it was coming at the right time in the story. Even whilst writing this blog I’m still a little unsure, but part of the fun of editing is the freedom to play around with changes.
Day one was exciting for me. I sat at my computer and listened to the sounds of whistling frogs, interrupted by the chorus of cocks crowing and not a sound in the house (ahh, bliss). An hour later, the odd car was passing by. And I thought I was an early bird?
One day in my second week, the rain started pelting down on the galvanized roof (this always gives me that 'cosy' feeling). I was sorely tempted to rush back to my bed and snuggle down under the sheet, but I managed to drum up enough self-talk: “It’s 5.30 Steff,” I told myself, “and who's gonna do your writing while you’re sleeping?”
In week three there was so much rain, my house was totally flooded out and I couldn’t even sleep there that night. The recovery process lasted for days. Taking all of this into consideration, I would give myself 7 out of 10 for effort and perseverance.
One thing I would say though is, I’d forgotten just how long the editing process can take and the concentration that’s needed. In particular, I got bogged down with a scene, where I am introducing one of the main characters’ boyfriend to the reader for the first time. That kept not feeling right for me and I wasn’t even sure if it was coming at the right time in the story. Even whilst writing this blog I’m still a little unsure, but part of the fun of editing is the freedom to play around with changes.
| Here is a picture of one of the sunrises I had the pleasure of experiencing on one of my writing mornings. |  |
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