Writer's Fallout Shelter

Just remember that I dont mean to suggest what worked for me will work for anyone else.

Having said that, I'll share a little story with you.
I wrote the first draft of my first novel while laid up in a hospital. When I got back on the job, I realized the concept was good but the writing was less than sound. At the time I was traveing three to five thousand miles a month, working 10-14 hours a day on site, and then trying to be a decent husband and dad when I got home. School stuff, family obligations, 8-10 hours a day in the office when I was home...

So, I set a schedule. One hour in the evening was mine. No compromise unless someone was bleeding, or something was burning. Before that hour and after that hour, I was on family time. The family didnt exaclty understand why I needed the hour, but they understood I needed it and kept the normal family circus stuff to a minimum.

As the writing began to take shape, I added another hour after the family went to bed. Sometimes I would get up an hour early, and sometimes I would stay up an hour later but I made sure I got in the extra hour. I also made comments on a micro-cassette when ideas struck and I couldnt get to the computer. I kept a notebook on the bedside table and often made idea notations by mini-flashlight at 2am.

Ideal situation? Hardly. Doable? Absolutely.

More on this a bit later.



For more "stuff" visit:
http://LiamJackson.com

"Have you ever been caught hiding bodies in your closet? No? Good place to hide them, uh?"

Proud member of the Horror Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, and the Authors Guild