Sometimes writers are just too tired to write. Sometimes we have day jobs or families or general insanity that sucks up every last minute of the day. Well, now what?
During this week's call block, I started thinking about everything I get done besides writing when I'm on call. Here goes...
#1) Blogs. Ta-dash. Case in point.
During this week's call block, I started thinking about everything I get done besides writing when I'm on call. Here goes...
#1) Blogs. Ta-dash. Case in point.
#2) Research. This activity fits well into small, interrupt-able attention packets, which is nice when the ICU + med-surg floor + Ob unit + ER + 5 nursing homes all have my number on speed dial. You know it’s been a bad weekend when the switchboard operator at the hospital begins her spiel with an apology. Sometimes a few minutes of research is nice. Like thinking about really hot men and how they might fit into a novel, hypothetically-speaking of course. Yum!
#3) Catch up on TV shows. With the remote control that lets me pause in the middle of stuff.
#4) Catch up on reading. Heretical comment to follow. Sorry. I know they say we should read all the time and every single day, but I really do think the “read daily” and “write daily” has to do with folks not slogging through 80-100 hrs that week + going in at night to deliver or admit patients. Again. Maybe I’m simply a big ol’ weenoid, but my noggin gets numb after 10 straight days of 24/7 calls, hospital work, and lots of interruptions.
#5) Stare into space and think about stuff. No joke. I don’t feel guilty doing it, either, since I’m on call and cannot be depended on to produce any other goods or products during this time.
#6) Upkeep on website, Amazon author page, and Goodreads.
#7) Plan vacations. Lordie have mercy, I can spend hours on end looking for destinations and flights. Latest obsessions? Black Hills and Scotland and Wales.
#3) Catch up on TV shows. With the remote control that lets me pause in the middle of stuff.
#4) Catch up on reading. Heretical comment to follow. Sorry. I know they say we should read all the time and every single day, but I really do think the “read daily” and “write daily” has to do with folks not slogging through 80-100 hrs that week + going in at night to deliver or admit patients. Again. Maybe I’m simply a big ol’ weenoid, but my noggin gets numb after 10 straight days of 24/7 calls, hospital work, and lots of interruptions.
#5) Stare into space and think about stuff. No joke. I don’t feel guilty doing it, either, since I’m on call and cannot be depended on to produce any other goods or products during this time.
#6) Upkeep on website, Amazon author page, and Goodreads.
#7) Plan vacations. Lordie have mercy, I can spend hours on end looking for destinations and flights. Latest obsessions? Black Hills and Scotland and Wales.
(that's Snowdonia National Park in Wales, BTW)
#8) Tweet more
#9) Clean the house. Because when I’m in the writing mode, no cleaning takes place. (Please reference the blog about fastdrafting: Fastdrafting a Full-Length Novel: Part 2.) When on call, I can do cleaning between phone calls or (in the case of dusting) during phone calls. Multitask win!
#10) Work stuff. I try to catch up on paperwork, administrata, CME courses, licensing/credentialing bits and pieces during the call block. Might as well. I’m already thinking about medicine anyway. Use the time to get some relevant tasks done. And free up time for writing later!
#8) Tweet more
#9) Clean the house. Because when I’m in the writing mode, no cleaning takes place. (Please reference the blog about fastdrafting: Fastdrafting a Full-Length Novel: Part 2.) When on call, I can do cleaning between phone calls or (in the case of dusting) during phone calls. Multitask win!
#10) Work stuff. I try to catch up on paperwork, administrata, CME courses, licensing/credentialing bits and pieces during the call block. Might as well. I’m already thinking about medicine anyway. Use the time to get some relevant tasks done. And free up time for writing later!
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