Being a bit of a flibbertigibbet when it comes to
structuring my own writing day, I am fascinated by the way other writers work.
With that in mind, I decided to ask romcom novelist, Julie Shackman, what her
typical writing day is like.
Over to you, Julie.
Over to you, Julie.
Is there such a thing as a “typical” writing day for most
authors? I would guess not but I generally make an attempt at it!
We have two sons aged 14 and 11, so once I’ve got them off
to school, I gather together my notebook and other writing materials and head
off to a local coffee shop. I’m one of those authors who finds it really
difficult to write at home. There are just too many distractions and I find
myself procrastinating like crazy. A coffee shop atmosphere, for me at least,
seems to help me be more productive. Other people sitting around me, reading
and working, helps me to focus.
I’ll normally sit there with a pot of tea (and sometimes a
tasty treat!) for around a couple of hours and write as much as I possibly can
in my notebook. Then I’ll head home and type it up on my PC – if I can decipher
my hand-writing! In between times, I’ll have a look at Twitter (!) but I’ll
make every effort to get as much writing done as I can before the boys get home
from school.
I like to try and leave myself a note for the next day,
about where I am with my latest novel. If I have a greetings card brief to
write and a close deadline for that, I’ll aim to finish that off.
I focus on the boys when they get home from school so once
they’re in bed, I like to relax with some reading. I do believe that if you’re
not an avid reader, then you can’t be a good writer.
My TBR pile is ever expanding – but that’s another story….!
Thanks for telling us about your writing day, Julie. How would you describe your typical writing day? Let me know in the comments.
Julie is married with two sons and lives in Scotland . She trained
as a journalist but writing romance has always been a dream of hers. When
she’s not got her head in a book, or drafting one, she writes verses and
captions for greetings card companies. Her second romcom, "Hero
or Zero" is out now. Julie’s debut novel, is called, “Rock My World” and she’s
currently polishing her third romcom, which features a well-known historical
figure...!
When single mum Chloe Jones wins a magazine competition to have TV
heartthrob Ethan Blake live with her for a month, she thinks her dreams have
come true. And the presence of the handsome star in her home and small Scottish
town certainly causes a stir. But when Chloe begins to see his true colours,
will she find the courage to face him, and admit where her heart truly
lies?
