Redefining my writing process

I wasn't happy about this prospect.  See, my normal writing process consisted of writing the rough draft, and all subsequent drafts, on my laptop, while sitting on my leather couch (so soft and cushy) and resting my feet comfortably on the coffee table.  I wrote from 10a.m. to about 3:30p.m while my daughter was in school.  

Fast forward to new baby being born, daughter on summer break, and selling two novels to Pocket Books.  One of which, is not even completed.  The above process no longer worked.  I tried.  Stubbornly tried.  And I finally realized it had to change.  I had to change my habits.

It's been a rough two weeks, but I'm finally becoming comfortable with this new process.  I've gone old school, people.  Notebook.  Pencils, with electric sharpener on hand if possible.  Sometimes, I still get to sit on the couch, other times, it's at the park, at the pool, or in bed.  I must be mobile.  And the laptop just doesn't cut it.  Yesterday, for instance, I wrote two pages during the baby's morning nap, one page while kids were playing on the floor and then six pages after bedtime.  My goal is at least five pages a day, but I always try for ten.  Somedays I make it, some days I don't, but I don't feel guilty because at least I got in those five.  I will not go to bed unless I have those five.  Once the ms. is done, I plan to work nap times and nights to type it all into the PC, and to get in my first edit while I type. 

I hated changing.  I'm a creature of habit.  I sat on that same couch with a laptop and wrote all seven of my novels.  (Yeah, I know, I'm long overdue for a new couch!)  This will be the first one I've written by hand.  I may not have a hand left by the time I'm done.  But I know of a few authors who write this way (Gena Showalter comes to mind) and are able to get quite a bit of work done.  And, I actually think I'm writing more than before.  No internet to distract me.  No email to check at insane intervals.  So . . .   Here's to new things!