I have been writing professionally for 3 decades. It has been a joy, even when drudgery. It never leaves me what a privilege it is to write stories. Stories that come straight from my imagination and no one else’s. My characters are fictional. I make them up.
People have suggested I write a story based on an idea they have. You’d be surprised how often this happens. But that is not how it works. I have never taken someone else’s idea and developed it into something that I say I have written. I have no one else’s imagination in my head. Nor do I have their heart.
There are ghost writers, who people pay to write a book that they say is their own. Trump had a ghost writer for The Art of the Deal, but that’s not who I am.
I have said in the past, that I write the books that I’d like to read but can’t find on the shelf. I have trouble finding books that captivate me, and characters that inspire me. And so I write stories that captivate me. Temple Secrets and the Temple family captivated me. I create the characters I can learn something from or enjoy writing about. Like Old Sally, Queenie, Violet, and Rose.
I grew up reading books that didn’t always have female characters in them. It was said back when I started, that girls will read boy books, but boys will not read girl books. I’m sorry, but that is so screwed up.
I typically write novels that have strong, female characters who transform by the end of the book. Female characters that show us (female and male alike) how to be brave and perhaps how to be funny, in the face of adversity. Things I need to remember I can do.
Every day I write, I generally start by 9 o’clock and write until around one. My first ritual is to brew a cup of tea. This is the pot I brewed this morning.
Since it’s Sunday and I won’t be writing today, I read. And still I have my tea
I usually drink black tea because it has caffeine in it. With one Stevia and some half and half it is delicious.
By eleven I have heated my teacup up in the microwave maybe twice. Then I have the rest of the pot.
I write Monday through Friday and take the weekend off. When the weather is nice, I take my little dog Rocky for a walk at noon—or after lunch—and get the mail.
I have a good life. I have a good bit of discipline except when I have a lot going on. Like moving from Tennessee to South Carolina last summer. It really helps that I totally enjoy what I’m doing.
Do you have a writing routine? Please feel free to share.
Love you!
Susan
I don’t have a writing routine but I do have a very similar art routine. I take my favorite vanilla tea up to my little studio space and stream my favorite music while I draw and create my art. Sometimes I get two pieces finished but usually just the one. If it gives me problems I leave it for a bit and go back to it later to finish.