Shut Up and Write!

So in my adventures into the "real world" parts of Silicon Valley, I've discovered that most of my pre-college friends have moved away. Many are in the city, but almost none are right here, next to home, like I am.

This has made my social calendar a bit weaksauce, and that inevitably makes for an unhappy Danielle.

The solution? Meetup.com. It's like dating, but to find friends.

I started off with a club of girls (who I absolutely adore -- and did I mention I've recently been promoted to co-organizer of the group? YAY!), and I've now branched out into other meetups, for games, for readers, and now for writers.

Shut Up and Write! has meetups all over the country, from what I can tell. They just recently opened up a south bay group, and I attended one of the first meetings. The diversity of writers surprised me; we have one working on her dissertation, another fantasy writer, a chicklit author, a guy who specializes in nonfiction sports pieces, and so on.

The format is simple: you shut up, write for an hour, and then socialize. I can't say that I developed anything stellar last week, but I did get started on another contest-driven story. Woohoo! I'll be attending two more meetings this coming week. I'm hooked.

Do you have anything like Shut Up and Write! in your area? Do you find it helpful, motivating?

Discipline on the Road

My calendar for the next two months looks like a toddler took a pen and started doodling in all of the free space. I will be criss-crossing back and forth across America through mid-September and I have a serious dilemma: I am no good at working on the road.

Now, this being said, I did manage to write about 5,000 words while at Taos. But that was for a writer's workshop. So, I kind of had to.

But of all the trips I am making this summer, only one is writing related.

Part of my concern rests on the fact that I have only just developed a solid routine at home. Well, solid-ish. A bit like pudding, actually. So how am I supposed to motivate myself when I'm in a new and exciting place? Other writers must do this. In fact, I know they do. There's a whole genre dedicated to writing while traveling.

So what's my hang up? Is it just the lack of routine? Is it the draw of something new and shiny?

Does anyone have any tips for buckling down and getting work done while on the road?

Excuses

I logged 1,000 words on July 1st, but the goal was 1,600. I even set up a reward system for myself. I also came up with a solid (not totally unreasonable) list of excuses, such as:

• I should really be packing for my 4th of July vacation.
• The apartment needs to be cleaned.
• The Rabbit needs a walk. Desperately. Or he will never stop licking my toes.
• I have to chat with my friends.
• My blog needs to be updated.
• I have banged on my keyboard so hard that it is missing the ‘m’ key. How can I type without it?

These things, and a few others, managed to sideline the remaining 600 words. Pity.

Got any good excuses?

Routine

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from Taos Toolbox is the lesson of routine. Even as a writer - a creative type - it’s important to have a schedule for writing. This way your mind and body come to expect to write at the same time, same place, every day.

I’ve allotted two hours in the afternoons to writing. I’m supposed to unplug my computer, sit back, and stare at the screen until drops of blood appear on my finger tips.

So far, I’m about 75% successful.

In some ways I think it would be much easier if I lived in the pre-computer age. There would be less twittering happening. But also, I find that when presented with a pen and pad of paper, I feel the need to fill it up with thoughts. But oh, how I would miss spell check.

What are your writing habits?