This is a weekly series of guest posts on How Writers Work. Australian childrens and YA author Carole Wilkinson talks about her writing.
Writing Method
Theres nothing unusual about my writing method. It involves making sure I get enough hours in front of the computer each day. I try to write 1000 words per day [Michael Pryor writes 4000 words per day?!?] Sometimes that can happen in a couple of hours, sometimes it takes all day. Ive learned from experience that my brain works best in the morning, so I aim to be in front of the computer at 7.30 am, and I try to avoid any appointments in the morning.
Afternoons disappear in a flurry of answering emails, going to the library, reading for research, getting some exercise and doing all those other things writers have to do (eg this week I have written two guest blogs, written a fresh bio for an upcoming event, answered a questionnaire for a writers festival later this year, planned some school visits).
My Desk
Yes, I have a messy desk. I tidy it up on Friday afternoons, but it soon gets messy again. A lot of what I do in my spare time also involves sitting at the computer (eg family history, doing stuff for the climate change group I belong to) so there are usually piles of stuff for those activities as well.
I work on a Macbook as I like everything to be portable, but for ergonomic reasons, when Im at the desk I attach a mouse and a separate screen, and use a wireless keyboard. A chair with good back support and a footrest complete my desk equipment. Without these things I get backache, neckache and spend a fortune at the osteopath.
Tools of the Trade
I have done away with keeping an appointments diary and use Ical instead. On the other hand, I do prefer to have a hardcopy dictionary and thesaurus. I also have an old alarm clock. The digital clock on my computer only tells me one thingwhat time it is right now, but a clock face gives me a sense of how long it is till lunch, how much of the day is left. As far as taking notes and writing down ideas, I am in transition there. I have electronic notes files for every projected piece of work in the program that I use for writing (Scrivener, which I love). However I still have notebooks for when Im out and about. This system is not working well as I have multiple notebooks and it sometimes takes me a while to find things. I am hoping that when I can afford an Ipad, my note-taking problems will disappear.
My whiteboard is a really important tool for me. Whenever a story gets stuck, or I need to solve a plot problem or work out a sequence of events, I do it on the whiteboard. It almost always gets me on the right track. I dont know if its just the change of standing up instead of sitting in front of the computer, or if its handwriting, or writing on a vertical surface instead of a horizontal keyboard. I have no idea, but it works for me, especially if I do it first thing in the morning.
What am I working on now?
Currently I am working on a new Dragonkeeper book. This is not a continuation of the first series. It is set 400 years later. This is my fifth Dragonkeeper book, but that doesnt make it any easier! Getting the initial story down is still hard work. The whiteboard is definitely getting a workout lately!
Okay. Now you know what a messy desk looks like!
But your mind is definitely not messy! Especially with all the research you do for your books.
I am enjoying these ‘How Writers Work’ sessions so much. Every week I learn something more about my fellow writers and how they work.
I love the idea of the clock (Carole), the way you don’t make appointments until after 2.30 (Gabi), and the way you write in 45 minute grabs (Sue).
Lovely to see your place of creation too Carole and I’m with Gabi . . . it’s not at all messy!
Yes it’s been very interesting to see the similarities and the differences in writers’ techniques. There hasn’t been anyone yet who says they have difficulty with the discipline of getting up every day and meeting the self-imposed deadlines. Perhaps that’s the key to being a writer, being stubborn enough to make yourself do it!
This is really interesting, learning about how writers work. Your desk doesn’t seem too bad, mine’s even worse and I’m not even a writer! I can’t wait for the next Dragonkeeper book. I read the first three… not sure about the fourth one. Which one is it? Is it the prologue, if so, I have read it.
Can’t wait to explore this website further, Mrs Wang, this is a really interesting blog! 😀
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment. Hope you enjoy browsing my website (:
Txiao,
Yes the 4th one was what I call the “prequel”, Dragon Dawn.
That’s a fascinating insight into the business of writing. I really like the whiteboard idea – if I could find a spot for one in my house, I think I’d embrace that concept whole-heartedly.
Katie,
I can recommend it. I didn’t have much space so I put it on the wall sideways. Portrait rather than landscape. I bought mine at a school fete and it has been one of my most useful and most used tools.
Same here, I always keep a hardcopy dictionary and thesaurus. They are always handy. And also in transition as Ive just bought a MacBook I use for writing. I still love writing on notebooks but I travel a lot and sometimes they get misplaced.