Esmeralda Stone

When I was working a real job, I used to…well, not dread Mondays, but I certainly didn’t look forward to them. Even in the my last job, which was a technical writing gig with about the best team you could ask for, it was still work. But since changing to writing full-time, I love Mondays. I love the entire workweek, actually. Why? Because I get to write. And not just write, but work on my writing.

Monday through Friday are my dedicated writing days. Somedays don’t go quite as planned, but in general I sit down at my computer around 6:30 (7:30 or 8 if it’s a run day) and work until 11:15 or 11:30. An hour goes to farm chores and lunch, and then I write again until 3:30, which is when my husband gets home. We have dinner with the kids, take the dog for a walk, and then I’ll go back to my office at around 5 or 5:30, and work another two to three hours.

Sort of sick, isn’t it? I try to spend the last half hour before bed hanging out with my husband, but I’ll be honest, it doesn’t always happen. Luckily, we’ve been married long enough that he doesn’t take it personally.

Sometimes I’ll write during the weekend, too. This past Saturday I wrote for nine hours. It was glorious.

I started this routine in April, and I get to do it for a year. We’ll see what happens after that. But if nothing comes of it, and I need to go back to a ‘real world’ job, I’ll always be thankful for the time I had to experience being a full-time writer.

E. Stone