How Much Time You Spend for Writing?

I would like to know that how much time you spend for writing? Do you write daily?

In my case, I spend daily 4-5 hours for research and wring.

Some days, it can be all day.  Last year, I pretty much woke up, started researching/writing, went to bed. 

This year, I've forced myself to take evenings off at least, though that's falling by the way-side again, now that I'm writing a novel.  Fortunately, that doesn't feel like work, so it semi counts as leisure too.

I turn on my computer as soon as I get up and don't turn it off until I go to bed. I spend 10% of my time writing and 90% of my time spinning my wheels.

Just depends on the day.  Sometimes it is pretty much 16 hours straight, other days I'm chasing down fires and trying to catch back up on "real life."

BrendaReeves: 04/20/2013 - 08:36 AM

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I turn on my computer as soon as I get up and don't turn it off until I go to bed. I spend 10% of my time writing and 90% of my time spinning my wheels.

That's about what I do too, except I spend about 90% on Zazzle. I've just about given up writing as a source of income.

I need to get back to Zazzle because I'm not making any money here. If I could write like a speed demon, like Jo, I know it would be different, but I can't. I also have to really feel what I write. I just can't write something I'm really not interested in.

For me, it's the research not the actual writing, which is the time-consuming part. 

The one I just posted, about the 18th century vampire epidemic, probably took about ten hours on and off in just research. Then there's finding pictures to illustrate it, and products to monetize it.  I've been squirreling bits of information away for weeks for it, but actually putting it together and writing it has taken the best part of two days. 

The one I posted yesterday, about Peter Plogojowitz, was originally part of this article. I separated it out, because it made sense to do so, and because I was despairing of ever getting it finished.

I am enjoying writing them, but sometimes I think I'd be much better off just speed writing something fast and commercial.   It would be a lot less work and probably easier to achieve an Editor's Choice Award with. ;)

JoHarrington: 04/20/2013 - 11:32 AM

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  It would be a lot less work and probably easier to achieve an Editor's Choice Award with. ;)

Probably not, Jo. ECs are much more about sterling content than anything else.

I know.  But you and the team can't see the research time behind stuff.  Sod's Law alone dictates that if I spent 20 years researching something, it's likely to be passed over, while something thrown together in about 2 minutes gets a rosette.

I may be exaggerating slightly. >.>

JoHarrington: 04/20/2013 - 11:32 AM

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For me, it's the research not the actual writing, which is the time-consuming part. 

The one I just posted, about the 18th century vampire epidemic, probably took about ten hours on and off in just research. Then there's finding pictures to illustrate it, and products to monetize it.  I've been squirreling bits of information away for weeks for it, but actually putting it together and writing it has taken the best part of two days. 

The one I posted yesterday, about Peter Plogojowitz, was originally part of this article. I separated it out, because it made sense to do so, and because I was despairing of ever getting it finished.

I am enjoying writing them, but sometimes I think I'd be much better off just speed writing something fast and commercial.   It would be a lot less work and probably easier to achieve an Editor's Choice Award with. ;)

Jo, However, you are making money now. I'm not too sure it's the commercial writing that gets noticed. I'm getting a lot more traffic on the three serious articles I've written recently than I do on the commercial ones.

I write and/or edit when I'm awake and not at work (dayjob, main income). So every weekend from around 10am-midnight and every weeknight for a couple of hours from around 8pm-10pm.

I've just finished editing a 74,000 word novel in around 7 and a half hours. Going to the store to get some air and some urgent bits we didn't pick up last week when we were in (butter was not on the list...) and then I'm going to be finishing at least one article for publication tonight. Tomorrow, writing around housework as we have houseguests and a big party next weekend so I need to have the place smartened up. Floors dry so much quicker in the sun.

I write as my job allows. As a court reporter, I sometimes get swamped proof reading transcripts And the last thing I want to do is stare at the screen.

I usually take between 3 to 5 hours.  thats not long compared to a lot of people, but Im not as professional as most people. when work is slow or I have extra time, I really push to get articles out because I know I have limited  free time.

unfortunately for me I am not the type that can write a piece in spurts. Once I start I've got to finish. 

How much time you spend for writing? Interesting question that one, I have often found myself pondering that very thing. Generally I write about things I know something about, research is more about what’s new and ground breaking, may take a few hours, a couple of days, or as much as several weeks. Once I have all my facts checked, comes the outline phase, which may take all of five minutes, I have never really been a fan of outlines, much to the chagrin of my English composition professor, back in those days of higher learning.

Back to the important stuff, how much time do I spend writing an article for publishing here at Wizzley, is one thing, a short story is quite another. Suffice it to say, from starting one of my information packed wizz, to publishing generally takes me five days. Writing and re-writing takes anywhere from five to ten hours, formatting another hour or two, checking for spelling and grammar issues is a real time eater for me, you see commas and periods all look the same to me.

As for editor’s choice awards and all that, shoot I’m tickled shitless when demanding readers such as your selves find, and take time to read, my well-crafted articles made possible by the wizzley team.

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff, have fun with your writing, or break open a good bottle of wine.

Cheers, Mike

I'll have to echo what Mike Teddleton said. I usually spend between 5 and 10 hours on an article, which includes the research, processing the photos, etc. Most of the time it's been closer to 10 hours: 7.5, 8 hours. I write my food articles a little faster, but to do that I have to cook AND take photos and keep cleaning the working surfaces, and that easily takes several hours.

I spent the best part of 6 days on my Barcelona article, but that was partly because I wanted to make sure I have all my facts and dates right. I also had to organize a couple of thousands of photos as I wrote the article. I decided it was too much work. But people did seem to enjoy it, so I was happy about that.

That said, I also build some articles over time. Right now I have several on British English going. I'll probably finish them in months.

I've also started making notes as I notice a quote or object that would go well in a certain article. And I have a good number of articles that I have the material for -- I'm just looking for some hours of relatively uninterrupted time to write them.

JoHarrington: 04/20/2013 - 11:32 AM

I am enjoying writing them, but sometimes I think I'd be much better off just speed writing something fast and commercial.   It would be a lot less work and probably easier to achieve an Editor's Choice Award with. ;)

I agree with Chef, EC's are more for sterling content and that is why you have so many Jo.   Well deserved, too!   Since I only write commercial pages here, I don't have any EC awards.  However, I prefer to write commercial pages since they take less research and make more money.   EC awards don't pay the bills, sales do.

Back to the original question, I spend most of  the day online, but I am not sure how many of those hours are spent writing.  My goal is to publish atleast 3 pages a week. I write on multiple platforms.   However, I don't always reach that goal.

EC Awards don't pay bills, but sterling content may.   

chefkeem: 04/21/2013 - 10:07 AM

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EC Awards don't pay bills, but sterling content may.   

Sure, that is possible.

I agree with Mike!

Humility is a priceless and much adored trait. 

Janet, You make a good point as well, I agree with you.

PERSONALLY - I'm backing away from writing more content here BUT will be diligent to edit and improve my content for the good of the site and myself. anytime you become numbers driven your work tends to decline in quality. I still find mistakes in my work and many others, to be honest I don't take the time to bring it to the attention of the writer. BUT I am focused to constantly seek out and correct my oversights which I know are do to my hurried attempt to build content, shame on me!

HERE HERE it is not a mere handful of writers that give birth to great potential nor some beating themselves down in comparison, we are unique and valuable or Wizzley would not afford us membership.  WE can all do well simply believe in your unique self follow your interest and the honest voice within that is solely your own. 

Someone (can't remember who) once told me to find your voice and it is then you will do well. I have reflected back on this comment many times thinking "so true"

I must agree STERLING is KING and or Queen!

Very well said Katie. 

Thanks Abby :)