Thirty Days Deep: November 2020
Early Rising, Hours of Writing
Pre-experiment Thoughts:
While brainstorming experiments for future editions of 30 Days Deep, I began searching for unique routines in which famous writers employ while in the thick of their projects. After a few articles, I found something not so unique. I expected to find a list of quirky habits and superstitions, abnormal workout schedules or weird excursions for creative inspiration. Instead a pattern started to emerge in these writers' responses.
Almost every single daily routine began with waking up early and getting right to work for a couple of uninterrupted hours until breakfast or whatever their first activity of the day happened to be.
Haruki Murakami, "When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at four a.m. and work for five to six hours."
Ernest Hemingway, "When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no one to disturb you and it is cool or cold and you come to your work and warm as you write."
Maya Angelo, "I usually get up at about 5:30, and I’m ready to have coffee by 6, usually with my husband. He goes off to his work around 6:30, and I go off to mine...I keep a hotel room in which I do my work...I try to get there around 7, and I work until 2 in the afternoon."
Kurt Vonnegut, "I awake at 5:30, work until 8:00, eat breakfast at home, work until 10:00.."
John Updike, "I write every weekday morning. I try to vary what I am doing, and my verse, or poetry, is a help here. Embarked on a long project, I try to stay with it even on dull days."
Enough said.
There has got to be something to this.
During the month of November, we will wake up each day and write for 3 uninterrupted hours. Limit distraction. The starting time may vary depending on what each of us has going on that day, but the three hours of uninterrupted writing is non-negotiable.
Set those alarms!
- Emily Menges
Mama Nose Best, October 2020 Post-Experiment Thoughts:
Will not continue. I learned many breathing techniques this month which I consider the biggest take-aways. I feel I can incorporate my practice of nose breathing into my daily life (while walking, cooking, watching T.V., in the shower, etc.) without devoting 30 minutes solely to breathing exercises each day.