Tag: Robin Woods

Sorry I’ve been away, but here’s what I’ve been up to.

Okay, so I’ve returned to the classroom full time and I’m struggling to carve out space in my day for writing posts like this one.

Let me rephrase my original statement, I’m finding it difficult to carve out space in my day for creative writing. I’ve been writing plenty of lesson plans.

Right before I went back to work, I adjusted my daily schedule to look like this.

I wanted to direct my efforts on finishing up the ever-growing pile of manuscripts I’ve accumulated over the years. Pretty efficient right?

I thought so. I also believed I’d be able to tweak the schedule to encompass everything I wished to do in a week when I returned to work.

Well, it hasn’t worked out. I forgot how drained I am after working all day.

(A wonderful impersonation of me when I get home from work! WAKE UP!!)

To get back on track, I’ve brainstormed strategies to include creative writing along with all the other stuff I need to do in my day.

Here’s what I’ve come up with: I need to stop cramming so much stuff into my schedule! At this point in my life, this should be a no-brainer, but every so often I must reexamine what I’m doing and remember this important tip.

I’m a slow learner sometimes!

Another simple trick I’ve come up with is to bring my laptop or journal to work and write during my lunch hour at least one day a week.

I’m also going to set up my folding table again with all the supplies I need to complete one manuscript at a time. This includes adding a timer and setting it for hour increments followed by a break. I was doing this several months back, and it worked splendidly.

List of Supplies:
Different colored pens
Pencils
Sticky notes File folders that have storyline ideas and research Robin Woods’ Prompt Me Novel (Tons of great ideas for writers in this workbook.)

I do have a writing desk, but I use it for composing lesson plans for other authors, book reviews, and loads of other things. Are you seeing a pattern here? Yeah, my mind is always going. Dare I say, visions of sugarplums fill my head even while I’m awake.

How do you carry out your creative writing schedule with a full-time job?