The Winter Duke is a fantastic YA Fantasy novel (LGBT) written by Claire Eliza Bartlett. To celebrate the release of her new book, I’m honored to host a guest post written by the author. She tells us all what a typical writing day looks like. Released on March 3, 2020, this novel is now available in all major retailers. The cherry on top? You get to enter my US giveaway on the blog and on Instagram for a chance to win a copy for yourself.
This amazing tour is hosted by The FFBC Tours.
Guest Post by Claire Eliza Bartlett, author of The Winter Duke.
A Typical Writing Day
I am a very lucky creature: the writer with a half-time job. I work a few days a week as a tour guide in Copenhagen, and the rest of my working days are spent furiously pounding away at my keyboard. Here’s what I do when I have a full day of writerly work ahead of me:
6:00: My husband’s alarm goes off. Why, Lord.
6:10: The husband flops out of bed. As soon as he opens the door our cats rush in for a morning pet. They’re cute, but I wish I were sleeping.
6:30-7:30: Some time in this period I roll out of bed. My curse in life is that I’m not a morning person, but I do my best work in the mornings. I make myself a cup of coffee, maybe I put some toast on for breakfast. I go into the office and fire up the computer. My computer’s getting on in years, so it needs a few minutes to think about what it’s done.
7:30-lunch: I write. Yes, it’s as simple as that. My brain works on overdrive when I finally get moving, and since I’m obsessed with writing I’m pretty much thinking about it from the moment I get up. When I’m in the drafting stage, I aim to write a chapter a day – 4000 – 6000 words. And I aim to do it all before I break for lunch. (I don’t stop to shower or refill my coffee, either. I am a single-minded beast when it is time). I time myself, because I’ve found that without a timer on I putz around far too much. So I make it my goal to write 2000 words per hour (100 words every 3 minutes somehow feels much more doable to me). I usually make that goal for about one hour, but I’m getting better.
Lunch happens when I deem myself at a good point to break, usually when a chapter’s finished. If it’s a particularly long or difficult chapter, though, I’ll throw in the towel before 2pm. My brain starts to slow down, get distracted, wonder what’s for dinner…
After lunch: Two things come after lunch: job management and household management. The afternoon is where I try to do some of the non-writing things related to being an author – interviews, guest posts, emailing my agent or editor or publisher about something. When I’m really on the ball, I even plan some social media!
On days like this, my work day is usually over by 3 or 4 pm. And then, hooray! No commute home!
Tour guiding is a difficult job. I’m walking around the city in all kinds of weather (well, it’s Denmark, so usually rainy weather), shouting over traffic and construction and all sorts of wonderful things, and using lots of energy being enthusiastic for my customers. I never have energy to write when I come home from a tour. Maybe it’s the same for you. How do you write anything under conditions that put your body and/or mind under stress?
So what do I do on days when I work as a tour guide?
Learn how to game your brain
I learned through trial and error that I am most focused and produce best in the morning. Most people’s brains have a cycle, but don’t compare your cycle to someone else’s. If you map out which times you’re most productive and creative, you can block them out for writing sessions.
Set goals
Every day, I write 200 words of a short story in addition to my big novel project. When I finish one, I get started on another. I write pretty quickly, so even on days when I have to get up and go to a tour I can find fifteen minutes or so in the morning to write. If I can’t, I can muster the energy in the evening for a measly 200 words. The point is, I set myself a goal I can’t fail to meet. If you have no time at all to write, if you can’t carve out the blocks you need, start small. Keep at it. After a while you will look back and be amazed at how your word count has racked up. Instead of waiting for that free time to open itself up for you, take your opportunities even if they’re small.
Divide ‘easy work’ and ‘hard work’
Even though I’m not so good at writing prose in the evenings, I can do things that don’t require such precise words, like outline, brainstorm, or write emails. I can do these things around a regular job and, more importantly, outside of my precious writing hour.
You’ll notice that both my writing days and my tour guiding days involve goals. Make sure you set tangible goals for yourself when you write. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes!
The Winter Duke – SYNOPSIS
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Book Excerpt – The Winter Duke
About the author, Claire Eliza Bartlett
I am a writer and tour guide in Copenhagen, Denmark. Though I originally come from Colorado, I left the US when I was eighteen and I haven’t lived there since.
More permanent stops on my travels have included Switzerland, Wales and Denmark. The arrival of a Danish husband has somewhat cemented my living situation, but I get my travel in smaller doses these days.
I like to write fantasy, mostly, though I dabble in soft sci-fi. My short stories are more adult, my novels more YA.
I’ve studied history, archaeology, and writing. I like to take my inspiration from historical events, and the more unknown and inspiring the event, the better.
I am represented by Kurestin Armada of P.S. Literary.
To keep up with what strange things I’m researching and writing, you can sign up for my newsletter here. I send out a short newsletter once a month.
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GIVEAWAY
Prize: Win (1) of (2) finished copies of THE WINTER DUKE by Claire Eliza Bartlett (US Only)
March 3, 2020 – March 18, 2020
Thanks for the post. The cover is beautiful. The Winter Duke sounds like an epic fantasy. I will add this one to my to-read list.