The Writer's Studio at SFU
@twssfu.bsky.social
350 followers 140 following 710 posts
We offer creative writing courses, programs and events that centre mentorship, community and connection. Join our monthly chats and sprints! https://sfu.ca/write
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dhstrange.bsky.social
A5. I mostly write on a keyboard, and usually in sprints of 30 min or less with 5-10 min breaks between. I really only write by hand if I’m really stuck on something. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q5. Do you have a writing routine that examines your writing process and technology? Do you have scheduled breaks if you are mostly a keyboard writer? Do you take time away to write in a notebook or do you avoid technology as much as possible when writing? #TWSOchat
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scifireader.bsky.social
Absolutely! Unique concepts make sci-fi shine! 🌌 Have you checked out "The Left Hand of Darkness"? It explores gender and society in a mind-bending way. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." 🪐
twssfu.bsky.social
Thanks for going back and answering that in last month's chat. That novel sounds fascinating, I love science fiction with unique concepts. ^ct #TWSOchat
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dhstrange.bsky.social
A4. Ummm, no? I’m a wild pantser, and when it’s done and I’m in revisions, I’ll go back and reassess each element as part of the whole. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q4. Do you set aside time to work on different aspects of your novel by dividing it up into sections? For example, do you work on character development by taking long periods of time to embody that character's experience by doing things that they might physically do or think about/study? #TWSOchat
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dhstrange.bsky.social
A1. I definitely write at night and leave it be until the next day. I can’t trust my critical skills right after writing. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q3. cont'd Maya Angelou writes in the morning, goes shopping for dinner ingredients, cooks for herself and guests and then reads what she wrote that morning. Have you formulated some kind of writing schedule for yourself that you use on a daily or weekly basis? #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Alpha waves? Hmmm I've have to look into that. I definitely find an music with lyrics attached to it, way too distracting to listen too. ^ct #TWSOchat
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dhstrange.bsky.social
A2. I often listen to alpha waves while writing? Or instrumental only playlists? I definitely create playlists for every project to listen to when I’m not writing. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q2. Joan Didion creates a kind of incubation period for ideas by spending time alone, with a drink going over her day, E.B. White says he never listens to music when writing, and Susan Sontag writes in a notebook everyday and reads only in the evening. How about you? tinyurl.com/yjxfhr45 #TWSOchat
The Daily Routines of Great Writers
“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”
tinyurl.com
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dhstrange.bsky.social
A1. I am pretty indifferent about my routines and most of them have to do with making the page easy for me to read. For example, I change the colour of page, or the type of font to make it easier for me to look at for a long time. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q1. Today’s #TWSOchat session is about Writing Routines in your literary practice. Do you have a specific writing routine that is core to your writing practice and that you think might benefit others?
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emath.bsky.social
A5. On my last novel, I did most of the imaginative writing by hand, and then the rewrites with a keyboard. There's always a bit of imagination sneaking into rewrites, but I found writing by hand let my brain work less linearly.
twssfu.bsky.social
Q5. Do you have a writing routine that examines your writing process and technology? Do you have scheduled breaks if you are mostly a keyboard writer? Do you take time away to write in a notebook or do you avoid technology as much as possible when writing? #TWSOchat
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margueritehbc.bsky.social
I do the same thing with blogposts, I think. I've done it for more than twenty years. It certainly has made it easier to just sit down and wrote.
twssfu.bsky.social
That sounds like an ideal writing day, even if it's "just" walking or writing. Love those kinds of day! #TWSOchat
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emath.bsky.social
A9. my ideal writing day starts with yoga or tai chi, then a bloc of writing, then a good head-clearing walk, then writing, then a swim, then writing, then yoga or tai chi to wind down.
Most days I'm lucky to walk and write. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Q9. A lot of writers also incorporate some form of exercise into their writing day, going for a run, walk or swim. Is this something that works for you? Often physical stamina helps with mental stamina so that the body can do long periods of a sustained activity without breaking focus. #TWSOchat
twssfu.bsky.social
Save the date for the next #TWSOchat on Sunday, November 9th at 10:30am (PDT). We will talk about Discussions with Other Writers. Join in with TWS alumni + mentors to ask q's and share your knowledge. #writerschat #WritingCommnunity
twssfu.bsky.social
Writers! Give us a follow too/mark in your calendars, so that you will know about the upcoming #TWSsprints and #TWSOchat sessions. Twitter Sessions: 2nd Sunday of each month -- TWS Twitter Chats #TWSOchat 4th Sunday of each month -- TWS Writing Sprints #TWSsprints
twssfu.bsky.social
Thanks writing friends for joining in on another interesting discussion. As always, thank you for sharing! At TWS we love to hear how your writing is going and what you are finding interesting in the literary world. #TWSOchat #writers #writingcommunity
twssfu.bsky.social
4-5 hours is a great amount of time to really do some meaningful writing and research. Plus like you mentioned it really help to get you in that Zen like state too. ^ct #TWSOchat
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annthea13.bsky.social
#TWSOchatAlumni+Mentors

I give myself 4-5 hours to work and then that is all I am usually able to write in a day, but if I pull off 4 to 5 hours, I am the most calm, zen like human because I have optimally performed. I learned in India Zen is dhiyan which is the meditation in our minds as we work.
twssfu.bsky.social
A9. I do like going to the gym and find that it helps adjust my body after long periods of sitting. Also walks are great or any type of movement really does help. #TWSOchat ^ct
twssfu.bsky.social
Please follow the #writers participating in #TWSOchat, this community grows by sharing info + resources. Today we discussed “Writing Routines” ~ I will tweet the writers' handles asap! ^ct #writing #writerschat
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toveblack.bsky.social
It really helps you get past your internal editor!
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toveblack.bsky.social
That sounds really good. Having a job to go to and family to look after means it doesn’t quite work like that, but I like writing early and coming back to it later.
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toveblack.bsky.social
I get that. I write every day so it works out to being cautious about what I read or watch so it doesn’t throw me over off track!
twssfu.bsky.social
Thanks for going back and answering that in last month's chat. That novel sounds fascinating, I love science fiction with unique concepts. ^ct #TWSOchat
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annthea13.bsky.social
Q.7 In the mundane science fiction novel "The Child Garden" 2 concepts struck me. One was the children were all injected with a virus at age 5 that contained their total education. The second concept was the young people, when they saw Street lights, they all started dancing.
twssfu.bsky.social
Q9. A lot of writers also incorporate some form of exercise into their writing day, going for a run, walk or swim. Is this something that works for you? Often physical stamina helps with mental stamina so that the body can do long periods of a sustained activity without breaking focus. #TWSOchat