I was basically out traveling for almost two weeks. But—I still had writing to do.
Actually, while I was gone, I had a call from my agent. I had revision requests on a project I’m working on and she suggested I knock them out in two weeks. That meant that half of that time I would be on the road while working on the edits.
I’ve always been able to work while I’m gone—but I’m not nearly as productive when I’m traveling as when I’m home.
So this is what I did—and I thought it might help y’all out if you’re on a deadline for a manuscript (either self-imposed or editor-imposed) or are needing to work on edits like I was.
First of all I figured out what I needed to work on. With a manuscript, this could mean that you tell yourself you want to write one particular chapter or one particular scene (if you’re jumping around as you write. So you could choose to write the book’s ending, etc.) With my edits, I printed out the editor’s revision requests so I could have them handy and think about what they wanted done.
Next I spent my road time (this could be time driving on a highway, or flying on a plane, or riding on a train) thinking about the action in a particular scene, or a particular character that I needed to develop in a different way, etc. Here in the States, we have miles and miles of really, really boring highway driving where the scenery rarely changes. The kids were both watching movies in the car with their headphones, and it gave me an amazing expanse of time (about 7 hours) to just think.
During the time I spent brainstorming the requested plot changes and character tweaks, I found that I really started getting more of a handle on my characters and getting better acquainted with them.
If you’re driving, like I was, then writing on paper isn’t really the best thing to do. :) I downloaded a voice recording feature onto my phone (most phones have a voice recorder, I think…or you could just leave a really LONG message on your home answering machine!) and whenever I got ideas, I spoke them into the voice recorder. The kids were totally wrapped up in their movie and oblivious (which was good, since I’d gotten a revision request to change my killer and I was mulling over the murder and red herrings and clues!)
If you’re riding on a plane or train, paper or your computer would work really well to jot down the ideas you have. I always think I’m going to remember my brainstorming sessions—but I never do.
When I got to our destination, I put everything aside until it was time for me to turn in (since I was there to visit family.) So there may not be the perfect time to just excuse yourself and write, but you can always turn in 20-30 minutes before you’re totally exhausted and get some writing done then.
But to be productive during such a short time, it really does help to plan ahead and know what you’re going to write for that evening.
Although being away from home does sometimes tire me out, I found that it was also really inspiring being in a different place with different people keeping different hours doing different things. Maybe shaking myself out of my usual routine was a good way to really stir up my imagination…and deadlines have a way of doing that, too!
Have you written while on the road this summer? Have any tips?
I always plan to be super-productive during trips, but never am. Good tips here. I can write during holidays away if I get up early and spend some quiet time with my work. At the end of any holiday day, I’m too beat to think straight enough to write.
Hope you had a lovely trip. :-)
Great ideas, some I hadn’t thought of.
Teresa
Elizabeth – Thanks for sharing ways that you were able to keep working while you were on the road. I had the same experience not long ago. I was away for ten days on a road trip. What I found was that it helped a lot to plan what I was going to write ahead of time. Then, at each hotel stop, it was easier to just get started writing. The thing that saved me was researching the hotels ahead of time to be sure that each one had complimentary WiFi : ). Also, researching the route ahead of time helped, so I could find rest-stops with WiFi : ).
When I’m driving seems to be one of the times I have the best ideas for articles or opening paragraphs for reviews. I’ve started carrying a small recorder with me just for that reason.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
These are such great tips for good use of time, Elizabeth. Love the voice recorder thingie while you’re driving.
karen
Headwriting can be VERY productive. And if you’re in a new environment, you get all sorts of new ideas.
I really appreciate your advice this post. We have periods where we travel, and I need to be able to work while we go now. I’m like you and much more productive when I’m at home, so your tips on how to handle traveling and writing is very helpful.
And for the record, I’m glad you’re back too.
Fortunately I’m a homebody. Should someonoe convince me to get on the insanity that is our nation’s highways, I will apply your tips.
I do similar things. When I’m not driving, I’m always jotting notes down and when I am, I’m always thinking or recording things on my phone. It really helps. Of course, I have scraps of ideas all over the place…
CD
These are really great tips! I haven’t had to work while traveling, so I’ll tuck these away for future reference. Thanks! :)
Er…NO! I must say for the (legal) record that I NEVER write while on the road. Certainly not scribbling nearly illegible text in a spiral-bound notebook while traveling at 70 mph on the NJ Turnpike. NOPE! NOT ME!
I do love long drive brainstorming sessions, though.
And now I have this image of the kids hitting a quiet spot in the movies and hearing mum in the front seat saying, “The killer should probably remove the internal organs in alphabetical order. Note to self: figure out what alphabetical order for organs is.”
:)
I was just wondering, when you sign books in the bookstores, do you write Riley Adams or Elizabet? To me it would be kind or strange to sign with a different name than my own … and it’s not even legal >:)))
Cold As Heaven
I’m impressed! It takes discipline to do that when you’re on the road – good for you :)
I had several flights this summer back and forth trying to get everything in order for my recent move. What I did was print off the last couple of pages that I’d written in my computer (I was in first-draft mode) and then wrote in a notebook. Having the last couple pages helped me stay grounded in my setting and allowed for me to move forward.
I travel a lot as well and a lot of fast-food places now have Wi-Fi, so I often whip out my computer on these stops while my family is eating and write down my thoughts, or send quick emails if I need to. My husband has stopped rolling his eyes and gotten used to it (lol). I’ve had some of my most creative moments at Subway quick stops.
We have a trip to Phoenix planned next month to visit family. Then its off to Michigan and Ohio to see more family and friends in November. That’s about it. But I’m sure I’ll be doing plenty of writing and hopefully book sighning too.
Stephen Tremp
Charmaine–Getting up early is probably ideal, isn’t it? That’s what I did during the book tour to get some writing in. Nice if we can beat our hosts up!
Teresa–It’s hard being away from the routine, isn’t it? But sometimes taking a break from writing just isn’t in the cards.
Journaling Woman–Thanks!
Alex–Insanity is right. Especially driving through Atlanta…
Margot–Wi-fi! Yes. And the funny thing is that some of the NICEST hotels (I’m thinking one chain in particular) has Wi-Fi you have to pay for. But all the mid-range hotels (which I’m targeting now) offer free wi-fi. And they should! Even McDonalds has free wi-fi these days…
Clarissa–That’s another post all in itself! How to weave the stuff we’ve come up with into the book (or whether to just put it in a file for a future book.)
Laura–Hope they’ll help!
Simon–Ha! Just for the record, I’ve NEVER done that, either. Never. At least, not when there are kids in the car. If it’s just me…
See, that’s why I can’t get too detailed with my murder scenes! I have to keep it vague at all times or else my kids will get twisted… :)
Cold as Heaven–It’s *very* strange to sign another name. A couple of times I signed the wrong name and had to buy the book. Bleh. After a lifetime of signing Elizabeth Craig, signing as Riley Adams is hard. I’ve also tried to sign Riley Craig and Elizabeth Adams and all kinds of crazy combinations. :)
Mason–I guess because the driving is just so monotonous. In town, it’s busy enough on the road so that I’m just focused on other drivers. But on the highway, there’s just no change at all on the road.
Karen–Thanks! Hope it helps. :)
Terry–The only thing for me is *remembering* the headwriting I’ve done! My memory is just awful. The voice recorder helped me out a lot.
Stephanie–Good idea. And pulling out a few print outs and a spiral notebook is a lot less bother on a plane than a laptop is. And we don’t have to shut them down with the pilot says to!
Stephanie–It’s those uninspiring-looking places that sometimes offer the best inspiration, don’t they? I wonder why that is?
Stephen–Wow! That’s a LOT of traveling. And…I’m guessing…on a plane, right? Can’t imagine going with little kids on that kind of a drive! Hope you’re able to get a lot done.
A voice recording feature, I love that idea! I do a lot of driving too so that will come in very handy. Thank you so much for the idea!
I’ve done a fair amount of writing while traveling. Though I rarely reach the same level of productivity that I would at home, I have found ways to at least keep from falling behind. My favorite trick is to bring something with me or have some routine to signal my subconscious “Okay, it’s writing time.” This can be anything from reading a quick writing article on the plane to a daily commute with your laptop to the coffee shop on your cruise ship. Just get a routine!
Elizabeth, you are very disciplined. I realize you have to be, but you’re good at it.
I’m going to see if there’s a voice recorder app for my iPhone. That sounds like a brilliant idea.
I’m extremely impressed. I think the thinking time sounds GREAT, but I don’t think I could do anything orally… I’d need to pull out my notebook at the next stop.
Killer change request?! ACK! That’s a biggie! Did she point to who she wanted it to be? Or just not who you made it? Good thing you write several of the endings, eh? Or was this too short a deadline for that?
Okay, now I’m scared…
Heather–I just ignore the fact that I don’t like the sound of my own voice, and it works perfectly!
Michelle–I like the idea of having cues to segue into a writing time. What a great idea!
Helen–There’s an app for *everything* on that iphone! I found one that was easy to use and easy to access later.
Jemi–Thanks! It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but I was stuck!
Hart–I think your memory is better than mine and you’d be a good candidate for waiting to jot down notes.
That *is* a big revision, but honestly, it’s not a very time-consuming one since all the suspects COULD have done it. No, she let me decide on a different killer. I think I’ve picked a surprising choice. :)
Voice recording, that’s almost like Dostoyevsky did when he “wrote” The Gambler. One month before the deadline set by the publisher, he hadn’t written a single word. So he hired a stenographer and dictated the manuscript orally … and made it for the deadline. It’s a Hell of a cool book >:)
Cold As Heaven
” And pulling out a few print outs and a spiral notebook is a lot less bother on a plane than a laptop is. And we don’t have to shut them down with the pilot says to!”
So true. And it doesn’t weigh as much either.
Cold As Heaven–Now THAT’S a good idea! Sounds like a cure for writer’s block to me.
Stephanie–Yes! Good point. I always feel like I’ve done weight lifting at the end of a plane ride. But then my carry-on luggage and laptop bag are just wayyyy too heavy….because I have the print out, the notebook, AND the laptop. I think I need to learn to pare down…