by Susan Budig - Mindful Poet
Member since:
February 16, 2006

Gather Writing Essentials: May 26, 2010

May 26, 2010 02:57 AM UTC (Updated: May 26, 2010 04:05 AM UTC)
views: 0 | 9 people recommend this | comments: 76

I've finally entered into the world of the working: Not-Now-I'm-On-The-Clock! It's alright, but what a hit my time for writing has taken.  And reading.  And oneirism has stopped dead in my head. 

But to say I'm "finally" working is maybe a bit too hard on me.  This past weekend I covered an event and wrote an 800+ word story for a newspaper, I taught a poetry workshop, and knocked on probably 100 doors, cheerfully saying, "Hello, I'm from the US Census..."  I also squeezed in normal stuff like grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and checking the dog for ticks. I've been doing all of those activities for years except the door-knocking part.  But when I add twenty hours of ding-dongs to my calendar, I'm about ready to sing ding-dong.

So what are your tricks to finding time to write?  I know about taking PowerNaps; is there such a think as PowerWriting?  I know about bringing a book to the store so that as I wait in the check-out line I can catch up on the next chapter of Wuthering Heights.  But what about writing?  Do I carry a notebook and in between squeezing avocados, do I write about the furtive experience? How do you do that when your hands are busy steering the wheel?  Or your mouth is busy saying, "Would you like fries with that?"

And beyond finding the time to put pen to paper, how do you find the time to cogitate?  I mean really and truly mull over an idea or phrase or experience?  In the comment section, respond to some, one, or all of my ponderings.  Make me happy and give me something to chew on. 

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I featured a couple of these gwwe submissions.  Read them all and see if you agree with my choices. 

Simon Says Pick Your Teeth by Sheila Deeth

Moody Blues by Angela A.

The Retreat by Len Maxwell

Searching for Jeremy by Abbie H.

Unbelieving Fools by Janice F.

The Day I Became Color Blind by Susan Budig

A little late is better than never:

A great day at the park by Angela A.

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Prompts for May 26, due June 1st:

  • The word or concept shoe needs to be prominent in your story, but I'm not specifying what sort of shoe
  • Use the technique of parallel storylines
  • Include the words: hobo, gum, & slurp
  • tag with gwwe

Enjoy the prompts.  They are meant to be springboards to your own great writing.  If you're not writing now, what are you doing that's more important?  ;-)

Comments: 76

Richard Thuss May 26, 2010, 7:20am UTC
if an idle mind is the devils playground, then you must be in heaven, Susan. (lol) Being retired, I don't dare answer the question, how do i find the time?
elizabeth evans May 26, 2010, 7:42am UTC
Strange, when I was teaching full time, I used to get up at 4 and do my writing before school. It was the only time when the house was quiet and I could ignore household tasks....I felt it was my time. Now that I am retired, you would think I would have lots of time....but just the opposite is true.
elizabeth evans May 26, 2010, 7:43am UTC
Good prompt....a slurping gum chewing hobo found a golden shoe?
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 10:16am UTC
But was the other one also found? Or is it still drifting?
Melody M. May 26, 2010, 10:40am UTC
I once read an article that said that Steve Allen always had a small recorder with him - to speak his ideas into and thus he was always "working" even while driving or laying on the beach. I thought - yeah - that's the right idea - so I bought a digital recorder - and I HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK THE THING! But maybe it will work for you?
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 10:47am UTC
I've used a digital recorder since maybe 2006? I use it for work when I'm working on a news article; I tape the interview. I tried to use it for recording my thoughts like Steve Allen does/did (is he still alive?), but it didn't work out for me. Still, I could try again, Melody. Maybe your nudging will get me going on that idea for a second try.
Ruthi C. May 26, 2010, 2:10pm UTC
I've often thought this would be a good idea but have yet to try it.
Michael Fishman May 27, 2010, 6:42am UTC
No, Steve Allen died a number of years ago :( I like a little 3x5 pocket notebook. And if you don't have any writing ideas, it's great for marking down the name of a song on the radio you want to check out.
Ann Marcaida May 26, 2010, 10:57am UTC
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best. Now featured.
Karen Lee May 26, 2010, 11:00am UTC
As a matter of fact, I do carry a notebook with me all the time. I write down all sorts of silly stuff such as things that I want to do, things that I don't want to do, things that I see people do, things could be a thing to do . . . .
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 11:13am UTC
Well, see, Karen, you're organized. ;-) I carry scraps of paper on which are written phrases, phone numbers, prompts...

My husband's learned to leave my seemingly used tissues and napkins alone. :-D
kay garrod May 26, 2010, 12:25pm UTC
sounds like me some times! I like it! LOL
Mike Firesmith May 26, 2010, 11:22am UTC
Write when you can, live when you have too.
kay garrod May 26, 2010, 12:27pm UTC
This is me for sure! not doing neither very well lately!!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 12:39pm UTC
Hang in there, Kay. Sometimes we need to take Life minute-by-minute, breath-by-breath.
Marilyn M. May 26, 2010, 12:00pm UTC
Why not have a voice activated small recorder to record your thoughts? Then make time to listen to them and to write SOMETHING every day, even if it's just a diary entry.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 12:36pm UTC
Here's what particular to me, Marilyn. My thoughts are in my head and I can send them out via my fingers on the keyboard. But translating them into verbal sounds is something else entirely. It's difficult for me. I have a sense of a word in my head, but finding a voice that you can hear and saying the thought doesn't work as I wish it would.
Nikki McLean May 26, 2010, 12:25pm UTC
When i was working for the civil service i wrote whilst i was at work lol. I carried a note book around, just a small oneso that it didn't take up to much room and wrote like crazy when i had an idea so that i didn't forget it. The trick is as Marilyn say's is write something every day, even if its just random nonsense that came into your head. You never know when it will be useful
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 12:37pm UTC
Good ideas. I have a notebook, too. But remembering to carry it with me is another thing for me to forget. ;-)
Veronica Marie Beaumont May 26, 2010, 12:29pm UTC
I carry a notebook with me in my purse at all times, but I'm also given to collecting post-its and bits of paper and sticking them in the notebook.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 12:38pm UTC
Yes, I like those post-it notes. Another good notebook is also called a hand.
Nancy Paoletti May 26, 2010, 1:16pm UTC
nothing is more important than my writing. espcially with all this research matrial sitting here. I really need to get started... but alas I'm enjoying a bit of fun playing a silly game on the XBox... no thanks to my husband!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 3:41am UTC
Whatcha researching? Sometimes that part is the most fun. :-)
Nancy Paoletti May 27, 2010, 6:46am UTC
Police brutality and the affect, if any, it may have on a community's crime rate.
Michael Fishman May 27, 2010, 6:52am UTC
The idea of researching sounds like a really difficult task to me! I just finished an amazing book called The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy and she said in an interview that she read books on the subject for three years and took 100's of pages of notes and I've read that Herman Wouk read 100's of books and spent 15 years researching for The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Can you imagine that type of dedication?
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 1:53pm UTC
Dedication....or OCD. Seriously, Michael, sometimes research is a way to avoid writing, a way to procrastinate, a way to feed an obsessive compulsiveness.
Angela A. May 26, 2010, 2:01pm UTC
How do I find time to write, or mull? Usually very late at night. 10:00 when the kids are snug in bed. That's when I truly sit down and write. I don't use a notebook to write down notes. When a story pops in my head, it's like a movie that keeps playing over and over again. I never forget what I need to write. It's just not always easy to write what I see. That's what I'm working on these days.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 2:55pm UTC
That's amazing about not forgetting. Ideas spark for me all the time about poetry, but if I don't write it down or use mnemonics to remember, it flies away.
Angela A. May 26, 2010, 10:48pm UTC
Like I said, I don't have trouble remembering scenes. But, if I sit down to try to right it, it seems that I can't find the right words to express it...
Like my story, Soul Mates? I see the struggle between Good and evil there. But, when I go to write the scene, I'm unsure of how much action/slash dialogue to put in there. I need a good balance, I think.
Ruthi C. May 26, 2010, 2:12pm UTC
...smiles...
Thanks for adding Nuttin' But Sunshine to -- Sun Bespeckled Ink!
This is now Featured!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 2:56pm UTC
Danke, Ruthi.
Angela A. May 26, 2010, 2:32pm UTC
I did this prompt in record time. I was like, ooooh, an idea popped into my head after I saw hobo and gum. Then, it took off from there.
Shoesforhobos
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 26, 2010, 2:56pm UTC
Haven't read it yet, but I like the title. You'll soon have the nickname of Popcorn, Angela. ;-)
Angela A. May 26, 2010, 10:48pm UTC
Thanks. I thought it fit with the story. Read it when you have the time.
Ms Lee P. May 26, 2010, 5:02pm UTC
What can I say? I'm retired - so been there and done that isn't much of an answer. I retired and found "me" again. I disappeared somewhere along lifes path and became many things to many people and wore lots of hats and was called by many titles and somewhere in all that mess called life was me. I retired and slowly "me" began to creep out again.

So you just do what you need to do or you don't do what you need to do and one day it will all settle down again and you'll have the time you want for you.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 12:50am UTC
Not to be overly dramatic, Lee, but what you said above is how I used to think. Then my sister died at age 43 along with her dreams. I decided that wasn't going to happen to me.
Ms Lee P. May 27, 2010, 1:10am UTC
I'm so sorry about your sister. Losing a member of your family is tragic. I have always enjoyed life even when I was busy doing for others instead of myself. I'm way way past 43 with great grand kids and my life has been busy and full and I'm probably the most disgustingly happy person in the world. Who knew being old would be so great! Hope your life will be as great an advnture as mine has been. I've been busy writing about some of my many adventures and people are reading what I've written, again I say, "Who Knew!"
Elsie Duggan May 26, 2010, 6:01pm UTC
This sounds like a fun prompt,will try and give it a go, thanks Susan, love, Elsie
judith starling May 26, 2010, 7:18pm UTC
lee's comment reminds me of a favorite feminist lyric from 1973:
"Twice I was a mother, once I was a wife.
Tore out all the pages, now all that's left is life.
The changing, oh the changing. I wonder who I'll be...
got a scrapbook filled with photographs and none of them...
not one of them...is me".'

If we all believe in lifespan development, we may find a new and better us every month or two......Peace,
Irene H. May 26, 2010, 7:22pm UTC
Unfortunately, my time for ideas, or better ways to phrase something, or just the PERFECT word to use in a given instance, comes when I get into bed and turn out the light. My mind just comes alive and the creative juices start flowing. Darn! I'm awake another night for half the night. Can't seem to shut off the process and take control of it at a better time. Any suggestions?
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 3:44am UTC
Since you're awake anyway, turn on a low-light and start writing what you're thinking. Do this every time your brain kicks into hyper-think. After a few nights of this, you'll learn to sleep better and you'll have a notebook full of writing to jump-start you when you are truly awake.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 3:46am UTC
That plus exercise more. ^_^

Seriously, I used to have this problem regularly. Then I began intense aerobics and rarely have the over-thinking happening anymore.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 3:46am UTC
Crikey, I look pretty stoopid writing about sleep at this time of the morning/night.
Michael Fishman May 27, 2010, 6:39am UTC
A short ten minute meditation before going to bed also helps.
Irene H. May 27, 2010, 11:19am UTC
Thank you for this suggestion. I'll try it.
Janice F. May 26, 2010, 7:40pm UTC
As you know, my time has been challenged for quite a while but I can tell you what has helped:
1. Writing a simple poem every day in April kept my mind fresh...(Thank you Susan!) Though some of the poems we wrote were a tad difficult, you could stick to the easier forms or free form poetry.
2. Freewriting when I can to dump the stuff out of my brain.
3. Make a goal...in April my goal was to submit a poem for every day of your contest and I succeeded, in May it is to submit stories for the wed and sat prompts. Small goall that only last a month then I can change up.
Hope this helps...but the biggest thing (as you already know I'm sure) is to never give up...just do it :)
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 12:53am UTC
Right on, Sister!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 27, 2010, 12:54am UTC
I know. I know. I sound hokey and dated, but tough. Janice knows where I'm coming from. :-)
Janice F. May 28, 2010, 12:22am UTC
Oh yeah! But it wouldve sounded toughter if you'd have said "Sistah" LOL
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:23am UTC
Well, see, Janice, I'm not a toughie. :-)
Joseph Breunig May 27, 2010, 10:42am UTC
Spending quality in prayer and carrying a clipboard works for me; by opening myself up to God and attending this weekend's service, I was able to take some notes and complete a first draft of a poem (Remembering Pentecost); today I'll present it to my poetry group for feedback and have it posted online by the weekend. A close friend uses a pocket tape recorder; later on, he transcribes his notes/musings onto the computer.

The key for anyone: find what works for you!

--Joe Breunig
Reaching Towards His Unbounded Glory
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:24am UTC
I like how you process your work, thanks for sharing with us, Joseph.
Alison H. May 27, 2010, 1:40pm UTC
Thanks for a great post. I have a little notebook that I carry around that fits into my wallet. I also have a beautiful coupon file that I found at the thrift store; someone had made a fabric cover for it and it has a little tie. Into this go my random scraps and scribbles on pieces of paper. Now as for finding time to work on these? No regular time. Just when I can and I'm not too tired. Sometimes I have 15 minutes while on a job shift.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:26am UTC
Now *that's* a good idea. I might make a cloth envelop using origami to hold onto my scraps of paper. Currently they reside in the front pocket of my purse or in pants pockets. They are very smushed.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:26am UTC
And I like that fiddle in your photo!!
Kihe Blackeagle May 27, 2010, 3:30pm UTC
Notebook, note cards, notebook computer, PDA, back of junkmail envelopes, back of paper otherwise destined for the recycle bin, other oddments whereupon I can scribble... it all goes into the writing mix for me. As far as time & when/where, I take that notebook with me to lunch, keep it next to me on the couch while watching television, set it in my lap while the computer grinds through another compile cycle or long-running search, etc.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:27am UTC
I see I would benefit from attaching a notebook to my necklace maybe. I ought to develop a stronger habit of carrying a notebook.
Kihe Blackeagle Jun 1, 2010, 12:40am UTC
Belt (or girdle, in certain costuming) or shoulder bag? Of course, SMALL notebooks might work for necklace-suspension - once received such in an embroidered cover for teaching at an SCA event... These days, my cell phone is a Treo and even my largish fingers do fairly well on the keyboard.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:45am UTC
Eureka! My cellphone! ::Yes::
Sheila Deeth May 27, 2010, 5:44pm UTC
I remember my writing devolved into scraps of words on scraps of paper when I was "working." Computer print-outs were good for writing the odd chapter on the back. But then I'd throw them away because of what was on the front. Now at least the scraps are my own to keep or discard as I choose, and the computer's better than a cardboard box for storage.
Robert - just a simple man - B. May 27, 2010, 6:00pm UTC
Congrats on being among the working. I'm still trying. Are you sure that was 'short'?

:+)
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:28am UTC
My column above? Yes, sir, that's quite short. ;-)
Christine S. May 28, 2010, 2:09am UTC
You'd think as a member of the currently-unemployed-in-the-real-world, I'd have a lot more time to really sit and contemplate a good story. The truth is that I spend so much time writing for other people that I find I don't have a lot of time to write for myself anymore. I used to have a lot of it, and spend a portion of that time trying to find paid writing jobs. Well guess what, be careful what you wish for cause you might find that they come true. I write for a living from home, but find between gigs and family and checking the dog for ticks, I've lost time to spend on writing for pleasure.
But I'm going to try and find the time and do something for this week's challenge. I have a thing about shoes. LOL
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 28, 2010, 2:33am UTC
^_^ I don't have a thing for shoes. ;-) But I do like homophones.
Betty B. May 31, 2010, 6:37am UTC
I teach full time and have the summers to write but I'm far more productive and creative during the school year. I'm better organized then. The key for me is lists, a husband who is willing to pick up the slack, and a tolerance for clutter. I'll spend the first three days of summer vacation cleaning. (I don't know what the health department would say if they saw my kitchen floor.)
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet May 31, 2010, 9:58am UTC
I've been a stay-at-home mom for twenty years. For the first dozen years of kids, I was almost exclusively home with them, but then I started to write. However it wasn't until just recently when I started working for the US Census that I really saw how much I did as a stay-at-home that's not getting done now. Or it's getting done long after sitting around--you know, the dishes, the laundry, the correspondence, the groceries, the appointments, the school projects--all just sit there long past due-date because I'm busy counting people.

Betty B. Jun 1, 2010, 9:16pm UTC
I used to stress out over the things I didn't get done. I still do-sometimes. I try not to set the mail (the bills) aside but it's too easy to do. I really hate when I miss a due date. It happens more often than I like to admit.

My mother is coming to visit in less than a week. Like it or not, I have to make time to clean. It's never been high on my priority list but it's worse now.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 11:56pm UTC
I use automatic payment for most bills. That's a wonder. Love that convenience.
Betty B. Jun 2, 2010, 4:22pm UTC
I don't have to buy stamps or checks and it's easier to balance the checkbook. I love it.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 2, 2010, 4:25pm UTC
I don't know about other credit cards, but our main one--Discover--offers lots of helpful budgeting and balancing online. I can see where my money is spent by category (food, medical, automobile, etc), by month, and by year.
Betty B. Jun 3, 2010, 5:34am UTC
I don't have a Discover Card. I might want to check that out.
Kim Simpson May 31, 2010, 1:08pm UTC
This is such an important topic Susan and one of the biggest challenges for anyone working on creative passions. My biggest problem is that I have a business that is full-time + and my creative projects (also a business because I make them that level priority) and sometimes they fall off the plate for a period of time because they don't pay the bills yet.

I'm trying, this summer, (again) to make time every day for my creative projects. When I get behind, I'll set aside one or two weekend days to get caught up. I'm not sure that there is any perfect system, depends on the person and the day. The important thing is to never, ever give up when you get behind, or don't feel like you're making enough progress!

Enjoy your day!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jun 1, 2010, 12:33am UTC
I think, Kim, that even writers who write (creatively) spent more time than they'd like NOT writing. They spend it lining up writing jobs, invoicing, managing their accounts, and all those busywork details.

I'm getting closer to being able to put writing front-n-center, but not yet. :-/
Betty B. Jun 1, 2010, 9:18pm UTC
I would love to write full time but it's not going to happen any time soon. Until that point I'll keep juggling.

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