tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post5924069060979728047..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Living in a Portable WorldBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11873528422689519722009-02-15T18:57:00.000-05:002009-02-15T18:57:00.000-05:00Church.Unlike Stephanie Meyer, I can't write while...Church.<BR/><BR/>Unlike Stephanie Meyer, I can't write while taking care of my young children. I write at the kitchen table at late at night after everyone goes to sleep, but that's not my most productive time.<BR/><BR/>Two mornings a week, after I drop my youngest off for nursery school a local church, I find a quiet, sun-drenched, internet-and-cell-phone-free spot and just <I>write</I> for 2-1/2 hours. Heaven!Sarahlynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658866017847046987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53369807748671482062009-02-14T22:11:00.000-05:002009-02-14T22:11:00.000-05:00I write everywhere: in a notebook on the bus, on t...I write everywhere: in a notebook on the bus, on the subway, on a plane, in cafés or at the park. I write at my dining-room table, in my bed or on the couch with my laptop on my lap, in the bathroom and the kitchen on Post it notes when I suddenly think of something to add somewhere, in a notebook that I keep by my bed and finally at my desk on my laptop. At times, I use my Dictaphone and later on type what I recorded.<BR/>I like to always have something at hand to write on as soon as I have one of my flashes of inspiration.<BR/><BR/>Like a lot of people I need peace and quiet when writing but sometimes it seems that I can completely leave aside the outside world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65129436093513438352009-02-14T14:59:00.000-05:002009-02-14T14:59:00.000-05:00Hello,How great is all this versatility? I love it...Hello,<BR/>How great is all this versatility? I love it. I'm a Laboratory Technician by day, so most of my writing is done in my head at work, then jotted down on scraps. Like December/Stasia, I too have an office upstairs that I blow off for a laptop and my sofa. I just have to get a kindle, you make it sound so convenient!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86908607104763781422009-02-14T09:29:00.000-05:002009-02-14T09:29:00.000-05:00I take a clipboard and notebook paper almost every...I take a clipboard and notebook paper almost everywhere I go, and write when I can...then when I get home, put it all into the computer.<BR/><BR/>Usually on the couch, with my iPod.<BR/><BR/>I actually have an office, but haven't used it for writing in a long time. Go figure.T. M. Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04315726033990784930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32862584423527684392009-02-14T06:53:00.000-05:002009-02-14T06:53:00.000-05:00I live on a boat and I perch on the v berth bed an...I live on a boat and I perch on the v berth bed and write.<BR/>My laptop sits on a small shelf and my legs hang about near the sail locker (under my bed)<BR/>I have 2 portholes to view the horizon and listen to the occasional slap of fish on the hull in the marina.<BR/>It is just about the best place in the world besides up the mast. The view from there is magic.Kerry Ashwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389931285017964066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-1454120344331677452009-02-14T06:22:00.001-05:002009-02-14T06:22:00.001-05:00I love the variety of responses -- and how many of...I love the variety of responses -- and how many of us have flexible writing places<BR/><BR/>so how about me?<BR/><BR/>well, for ideas I take my dog for long walks -- and record ideas on the voice recorder on my cell phone.<BR/>walking along hte river with loud music in the headphones led to the current WIP where each section is read while a particular peice of music is playing...<BR/><BR/>during the day when I am working, running erroands or stuff I always have with me my moleskine notebooks and nice pen so I can sit down and write thoughts as they come...<BR/><BR/>then afetr dinner, I curl up on the sofa in the snug little room in my old cottage, I have the TV on in the background -- nothing I have to actually pay attention to -- and around 8pm I start typing up the notes -- then start writing scenes -- on the laptop -- <BR/><BR/>I average 3 to 4 thousand words in this stage -- but most of them come between 11pm and 2 am -- so I can't do this every night!<BR/><BR/>I also find that a book has stages: when I start the late night writing, I have notes and thoughts so the actual first draft of my first novel took me 30 days to write...<BR/><BR/>and how about RE writing?<BR/><BR/>CJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25125405929281959622009-02-14T06:22:00.000-05:002009-02-14T06:22:00.000-05:00I love the variety of responses -- and how many of...I love the variety of responses -- and how many of us have flexible writing places<BR/><BR/>so how about me?<BR/><BR/>well, for ideas I take my dog for long walks -- and record ideas on the voice recorder on my cell phone.<BR/>walking along hte river with loud music in the headphones led to the current WIP where each section is read while a particular peice of music is playing...<BR/><BR/>during the day when I am working, running erroands or stuff I always have with me my moleskine notebooks and nice pen so I can sit down and write thoughts as they come...<BR/><BR/>then afetr dinner, I curl up on the sofa in the snug little room in my old cottage, I have the TV on in the background -- nothing I have to actually pay attention to -- and around 8pm I start typing up the notes -- then start writing scenes -- on the laptop -- <BR/><BR/>I average 3 to 4 thousand words in this stage -- but most of them come between 11pm and 2 am -- so I can't do this every night!<BR/><BR/>I also find that a book has stages: when I start the late night writing, I have notes and thoughts so the actual first draft of my first novel took me 30 days to write...<BR/><BR/>and how about RE writing?<BR/><BR/>CJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34028751135902166422009-02-13T23:31:00.000-05:002009-02-13T23:31:00.000-05:00Panera is a great place to hang out w/ a laptop an...Panera is a great place to hang out w/ a laptop and you can get free drink refills and lunch to boot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-52204200294635660302009-02-13T20:57:00.000-05:002009-02-13T20:57:00.000-05:00I have a wonderful home office but most of my writ...I have a wonderful home office but most of my writing is done at Starbuck's. I love the atmosphere of the place.Jill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427195661910894382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9421222731484516332009-02-13T19:57:00.000-05:002009-02-13T19:57:00.000-05:00I write on the bus to and from work. Sometimes, I...I write on the bus to and from work. Sometimes, I write at home when the rest of the family has gone to sleep early. These are the only times I ever have to myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6144583513318867962009-02-13T18:41:00.000-05:002009-02-13T18:41:00.000-05:00Hi Jessica,There is only one place I do my writing...Hi Jessica,<BR/>There is only one place I do my writing --- outside in my screened-in patio--- regardless of how rainy, cool (I live in Florida which means it’s cold when the temperature dips below 50 degrees), or dark it is. I have a writer’s ritual that follows these steps: 1) Put laptop on table. 2) Plug power cord into outdoor power source. 3) Attach to laptop and turn on. 4) Get cup of coffee while powering up and carefully place to the left of laptop. 5) Move orchid from center of table. 6) Place outline, pencil, cell phone, house phone to left of coffee cup (and hope it doesn’t spill). 7) Sit in chair positioned at six o’clock. 8) Write spontaneously!<BR/>AmyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10173699120333170252009-02-13T17:26:00.000-05:002009-02-13T17:26:00.000-05:00Hi Jessica:Though I have a decently equipped home ...Hi Jessica:<BR/><BR/>Though I have a decently equipped home office and a comfy couch -- and am fine working from both -- at heart I'm a cafe writer. I work best when I'm sitting with a cup of something next to me, my headphones on, and my legs tucked on the chair beside me.<BR/><BR/>Phone calls, though, are pretty much exclusively made from home.Allison Landahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17495894702405839968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71635980282491777802009-02-13T16:55:00.000-05:002009-02-13T16:55:00.000-05:00I write on my laptop, sitting on the couch. I read...I write on my laptop, sitting on the couch. I read everywhere, even if there are a hundred people around me talking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-80637081902164823612009-02-13T16:03:00.000-05:002009-02-13T16:03:00.000-05:00Four years ago, I went to a local coffee pub to br...Four years ago, I went to a local coffee pub to bribe myself into writing with a piece of chocolate cake. I've been going there dailyish ever since (but not having cake every day, obviously). I go during their slow hours, sprawl out in a booth, and always make sure I have my laptop headphones for my own music. The regular staff all know that I'm Heidi the novelist and I take my coffee double-double, it's downright heartwarming.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46309477723240626662009-02-13T15:19:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:19:00.000-05:00I do almost all of my writing in my bedroom. It's ...I do almost all of my writing in my bedroom. It's my sanctuary. I either sit up in bed with my laptop in my lap, my fake fireplace on, and my kitties surrounding me, or at my desk in the sitting area looking out at the beautiful (or cloudy, rainy, snowy, etc.) day. Yesterday, I worked all day at my dining room table just to change things up. That was an interesting experiment, but my bedroom still wins out! I'm lucky I'm able to write full-time, usually 8-12 hours a day.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-41286007579915010292009-02-13T14:41:00.001-05:002009-02-13T14:41:00.001-05:00Jessica, I feel as if I am one of the shrinking mi...Jessica, <BR/><BR/>I feel as if I am one of the shrinking minority of writers who still put pen to paper while writing. I use five subject spiral bound notebooks and write my text only on the right side. I reserve the left for notes, and ideas that pop into my head while writing. Before I start writing for the day, I will scan through the left side notes to try and incorporate those ideas. I also read at least the last two pages to get back into the writing "flow". <BR/><BR/>Since I have a day job, I write usually at lunch, or take a break mid-afternoon. I don't write in the office, there are too many distractions. I walk to a neighboring Carls Jr. restaurant, put on some headphones, and listen to wordless music, such as jazz, classical, ballet, opera, techno, trance, or ambient. I tend to pick different music depending on the scene that I am writing that day. If it is a high action scene, I may choose the techno. If it is a more feeling scene, I will tend toward the light classical. <BR/><BR/>Once I get a few notebooks filled up, I start typing it in. This is by far the part I hate the most. I wish there was a way for my handwritten text to appear in the computer, but I haven't found anything that works well yet. <BR/><BR/>When I am typing the text in, I tend to edit it, so that by the time I get done with typing everything in, I actually have a second draft.<BR/><BR/>Then, I put the entire book away for a couple of months, and think about the next one. It gives me a chance to get it out of my head so that when I come back to it, I can see it from a reader's point of view. This to me is the most fun part. I really enjoy discovering the story again, the parts that work well, and the ones that don't. <BR/><BR/>When I finish doing the revision a couple of times. I send it out. <BR/><BR/>I am curious to see how many other writers are still using a pen. <BR/><BR/>twitter.com/thenextwriterDouglas L. Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464336475343873739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-42539282909805670912009-02-13T14:41:00.000-05:002009-02-13T14:41:00.000-05:00I also just LOVE hearing from other writers about ...I also just LOVE hearing from other writers about their writing processes.<BR/><BR/>For me, I love to tinker on my laptop in our living room. I can catch a glimpse of the Santa Cruz Mountains from the large window in this room.<BR/><BR/>Oh, how I envy you for having a Kindle. Just can't justify it right now, but I imagine it is a godsend for those in publishing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09271864194625919704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-41387029099519188002009-02-13T13:44:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:44:00.000-05:00I write on my keyboard in my loft, but I meet my c...I write on my keyboard in my loft, but I meet my characters and see them in scenes while driving tractor.Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53937038898555222772009-02-13T13:33:00.001-05:002009-02-13T13:33:00.001-05:00I can write anywhere. I've written on trains, pla...I can write anywhere. I've written on trains, planes, at the beach, backstage with only a bite light gripped between my teeth -- wherever I need to in order to get it done.<BR/><BR/>I prefer to work at home. I need huge swaths of uninterrupted work time. As I'm house hunting, I'm looking for space where I can set it up like an English country house library.<BR/><BR/>What's important is WHEN I write. I write my first 1K of fiction in the morning, after yoga, but BEFORE anything else. Then, I start my day, and switch back and forth between deadlined projects as needed.<BR/><BR/>But in order to really have a productive day, I need to do my first 1K before I'm "tainted by the day".<BR/><BR/>My best writing is done early in the morning or very late at night -- but usually, I can get more done between 6-10 AM than all the other hours of the day. And that first 1K usually takes 45 min. - 1 hour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65079656330760616762009-02-13T13:33:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:33:00.000-05:00Until a few months ago, I did most of my writing o...Until a few months ago, I did most of my writing on my desktop computer. However, since I also read a lot on the internet, and work a full-time job where I'm usually at a computer, I began to find my desk stifling and isolating, and grew to dread having to sit there for several more hours after a long day of work.<BR/><BR/>I bought a little notebook computer a few months ago, and it made everything better. I can sit on my couch and write in much more comfort, or I can write on my desktop and then go read on my notebook. The ability to write where I want has been awesome.Kristin Laughtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536556357622503501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-85643896267511659342009-02-13T13:30:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:30:00.000-05:00We have a multi-level house so it's hard to say wh...We have a multi-level house so it's hard to say what floor I'm on, (there are five sets of stairs between my office and the garage) but I write in an enclosed loft on the top floor with a view of the forest outside--which is why I keep the curtains drawn most of the time. I call it my cave, and I'm here now, in my comfortable leather recliner with my laptop and "cool pad" in my lap. I write from such a deep point of view that I can't work with any distractions--this room is dark, quiet and warm in winter, sort of like a womb, rather than a cave--but whatever I call it, it's comfortable enough that I can regularly put in ten to fifteen hour days w/o losing what sanity I have left.Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-23508503748767113502009-02-13T13:20:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:20:00.000-05:00I like my office. Scratch that, I love my office. ...I like my office. Scratch that, I love my office. Mount Rainier, the Cascades Mountains, all make for great writing atmosphere. But I also have good success writing longhand in front of the TV with the kiddos. Everyone is safe and sound, freeing my mind to wander through my story.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Confucius says; man stuck in pantry have butt in jam.Sookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04309019627346019836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72898253801117402752009-02-13T13:05:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:05:00.000-05:00The computer's downstairs, so that's where I write...The computer's downstairs, so that's where I write. But where I think about writing's a different matter. When the words dry up (or when the guilt gets too great) I do the housework, shopping, etc, or just take a walk. Anything that switches off brain switches on imagination.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72466729590407110002009-02-13T12:47:00.000-05:002009-02-13T12:47:00.000-05:00My husband and I commute together. So I go in at 7...My husband and I commute together. So I go in at 7am to work and write until I start work at 9am.<BR/><BR/>Since I got this new job, I have gotten so much written for my WIP.<BR/>I look forward to writing every morning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26116687355699053502009-02-13T12:38:00.000-05:002009-02-13T12:38:00.000-05:00I'm old school too. I have blank writing booklets ...I'm old school too. I have blank writing booklets and love to do the first draft curled up on the couch listening to music or sitting on the balcony overlooking our ravine view. Only when I'm finished with a whole chapter do I transfer it to the computer. I then let it sit there for a few days before going back for the beginning of the editing stage.<BR/><BR/>I love the feel of pen and paper. My writing booklets also travel with me on any transit or holiday.<BR/><BR/>-AMAnne-Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960236584908811801noreply@blogger.com