WIP challenge: day 4 check-in!

[littlebutfierce]

It's the last day of the first week in February. How's your weekend going?

Poll #9402

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

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How's your fic coming along this weekend so far?

View Answers

Lots of progress!
7 (46.7%)

A little progress
5 (33.3%)

Not much going on
3 (20.0%)

Totally stalled out
0 (0.0%)

And what have you been up to?

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Writing
13 (86.7%)

Editing
6 (40.0%)

Sending to beta
2 (13.3%)

Researching
3 (20.0%)

Posting
2 (13.3%)

Taking a break
0 (0.0%)

Five words or less to sum up your fic week:

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For discussion: Let's talk about bodies. Not our characters', ours. Can you write when you're totally exhausted? Or when you're feeling sick? Are you struggling with RSI or knots in your neck or other things developed from sitting at the computer too long, perhaps in a bad position, while writing? Do you do anything to deal with that (software to remind you to stretch, a trackball mouse, physio)?

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

I spent today sort of wandering between WIPs, really. Well, that & napping on the couch -- so there's one question answered; I can't write much or at all when I'm exhausted or sick. I do have trouble w/a knot in my shoulder (that I used to think was a bone!) & probably still have two frozen vertebrae in my neck, & sometimes my mouse arm burns. :/ I try to make my desk at home as ergonomic as possible, but even when I do (& there's only so much I can do given budget, etc.) it's still possible to sit badly -- for example I have a kneeling chair but if I put my feet on the seat where my knees are supposed to go & type like that, it's a horrible position. ^^;;; When I get to that point I try to make myself take a break or just go to sleep. I try to get my desk at work adjusted for me too, but it's harder there, sob.

That kind of stuff is no joke. I hope people take it seriously -- once you wake up one day & realize your bad posture at the computer has buggered up your arm, etc. it can be really really hard to make adjustments so you can deal (there's no going back to what your arm used to be like, no).

[dhae_knight_1]

I've had really good experiences setting an alarm every hour, to get up and walk around (or stretch, or make eye-exercises or whatever) for five minutes. Not only does it move you out of unfortunate positions, but it also gives you a mental break. I was surprised to discover what it did, both for my mental health and the quality of my work. :-)

[littlebutfierce]

I have something like that at work. Some of my coworkers kind of make fun of me a little (while they sit there shaking their sore wrists out & stuff :P ) but I do think it helps. I should be better about doing that at home. I agree, I think the mental break helps too!

[dhae_knight_1]

Oddly enough, I've had a seriously sore back today. Not becase of writing, but rather because I've been sitting for too long on a chair I'm not used to. Still pretty much stalls out my writing, because I can neither sit, lie or stand comfortably for any length of time, and reaching - even the minute stretch to the keyboard - needs to be undertaken with the utmost caution. :-(

[eve_doodle]

Oh, that's awful! I hope you feel better soon. For a sore back, I usually soak in hot water for as long as I can (with lots of Epsom salts) and put on a hot towel I microwaved for a bit. Hope you feel better soon. <3

[littlebutfierce]

Ouch!! I hope either your body gets used to the chair, or you're able to switch to a different one. I got a kneeling chair this summer (I used to have one years ago & loved it) & until I got used to it I was even more uncomfortable -- it made my knees hurt & sometimes it made a random nerve in my foot fire off. ^^;;;; Now it seems to be all right though (knock on wood).

[insignia]

The YGO fic I started for fan_flashworks has become a bit more ambitious than I intended. Since it's basically supposed to fill in the blanks during a canon event (take place between the panels, so to speak), I have to make it fit with what we actually see, without rehashing too much of that (because that would be boring), and still make it work as a stand-alone story. I'm also forcing myself to use each of the five senses at least once in descriptions, and make sure the protagonist interacts with each of the other characters. Being the first YGO fic I actually write (besides snippets for bigger projects), it's sort of a characterisation test-drive too... Oh, boy. This may sound like a lot of trouble, but I find that it's easier to stay enthusiastic when I have ridiculously specific demands on the text.

I've pretty much spent the day outlining this thing, and not even touched my main story. Heh.

[littlebutfierce]

I think specific demands can help the story grow within them -- it's like how writing a sonnet or a sestina seems really restrictive, but w/in those rules it makes you think of new things.

Good luck!

[insignia]

Yeah, it also adds a little puzzle-solving, which is kind of fun :D

[roane]

Oh look you asked this for me. ;) My arms and shoulders are pretty sore today, from too much time spent at the computer writing. And I really should take the night off, but I'm sooooo close to finishing this story I can't stand it. So, I'll probably end up pushing ahead tonight and will pay for it tomorrow. ;)

[eve_doodle]

How long did you end up writing? Oh, I know that feeling- you just can't help but keep going! I remember I had to leave for an errand in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of a writing session and continued outlining in my head, leading into several abrupt meetings with the lamppost and trashcans outside. (I still have the bruises, haha.)

How much more do you have to write?

[roane]

I stopped around 4 and took a nap. I haven't written anything tonight, just posted what I had. I had to stop, my arms were getting sore! :)

I've just got the one big scene at the end. I'm hoping maybe tomorrow, but I have HAVE to do some schoolwork tomorrow.

[eve_doodle]

Woah, that's a lot. Kudos!

Sounds exciting; I can't wait to see what you've written, especially the inclusion of that lovely Time Agent... <3

[roane]

Well, the Google doc is updated and it's up at AO3, so go for it. :)

[eve_doodle]

!!

[littlebutfierce]

Ohhhhhh yikes, be careful! I totally get the temptation to push ahead & finish -- but I hope then at least you manage to give yourself some time off today. ^^;;

(So... I should say YAY for being so close to finishing your story! But I am tempering that w/a TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY too. ;)

[jagnikjen]

February started with the tail end of a major crisis at work, so I really didn't get much accomplished at all, other than to be in the current WIP (as per one of FEB goals) and to do some very minor tweaking.

Been doing better Thursday and Friday. Yesterday I started a read-through so that I can see how the story flows from the beginning and hopefully figure out out how to fix the stuck parts. As of right now, I am 4 words away from 20K. :)

As for the discussion topic...funny you should ask. First of all, no I can't write when I am exhausted. Being sick, on the other hand, isn't as much of a hindrance for me.

About two months ago or so I started doing short little exercises whenever I used the restroom. For example, cross-body toe touches, stretches, knee bends, etc. Then I started walking around my neighborhood in the mornings (up to three blocks). I get close to an hour of exercise a day. This is my exercise routine now and it has made such a huge differences in how I feel overall. Recently I started adjusting my diet as well.

All of this has made me more productive all the way around.

Also, any cross body actions from toe-touches to just drawing Xs in the air with your finger and really watching the motion helps opens the connection between right and left brain which in turn helps with your creativity and productivity.

[littlebutfierce]

Phew, I'm glad work issues have started to recede a little!

Ha, when I go to the bathroom at work, if no one's around I fling my arms around & stretch before I dry my hands. It feels good to stretch my arms out! I need to be better about doing that sort of thing at home. For a v. brief period I was doing a tiny bit of yoga every day (even if it was just one sun salutation) & it was so good! But I've long let it slide.

[lilly_c]

Have got a lot written today, not sure how much though. I'm waiting till I've finished it for word count :)

I can write a lot when I have my semi-regular bouts of insomnia, but not when I'm totally exhausted though. I do find it hard to write if the room I'm in is either too hot or too cold, I'm very finicky about room temps.

I've tried writing a couple of times when I've been ill but it never makes any sense once I'm off meds and better. I tend not to write when I'm wobbly (I have PTSD) and it's hard to focus when I'm struggling with that.

There is a usb mouse hooked up to my laptop because the touchpad makes my wrist hurt too much.

[meridian_rose]

Oh, yes I'm like Goldilocks about temperatures and can't concentrate if the room is too hot or cold, only just right :D
I did no writing yesterday because we finally got snow and the room was too cold.

[lilly_c]

Same if it's not right I'm not happy :)

We've not had any snow where I live yet.

[littlebutfierce]

Oh yes, touchpads always are difficult for me to work w/. ^^;;;

Yay for all those words today!

[lilly_c]

I don't like touchpads at all.

Thanks :)

[snowynight]

Another 1K's achieved. I'm pushing the characters toward a no-return point and so far they cooperate.

I have a bad posture so I have a sore back. My way to deal with it's to do more stretching exercise.

[littlebutfierce]

Woooo, yay for keeping the words flowing!

I need to be better about stretching. I keep thinking about how one of the members of CLAMP got all messed up from spending so long in a seat at a desk. ^^;;;

[eve_doodle]

I woke up early (for me) today, but I only managed to get things done late in the day, while I felt pretty tired. I've figured out that I'm at my most productive during the night (starts around 6 PM, peaks around 11 PM and then rapidly declines from there). Got about 2.5k done for Chapter Nine of WIP done so far but I'm expecting to write at least .5k more until I retire for the night and lots of research to be done after that.

I hit a great point in my chapter and I've gotten most of writing done in the last two hours; writing in a new POV/style really excites me and I've been revising my outline for my WIP like mad.

It's hard (for me) to write in the morning or when I feel energetic; I do my best when I'm tired or it's night, strangely enough. I have horrible posture and so much computer use has given me wrist problems. I have to take breaks every 15-20 mins to massage stiff wrists and my back is even worse. I ride the train a lot (2 hrs every day) and at one point, I developed severe back problems because of the way I napped while commuting; it became difficult to bend down and too painful to walk around much. It's gotten a lot better, but I prefer doing things in bed now with one of those lap-desk things and lots of pillows. There are times when I want to write but my back/wrists won't let me, which is usually when I end up napping/listening to a nice audiobook.

[littlebutfierce]

Sounds like you're doing really well on your WIP. Hooray!

I find it hard to sit comfortably on trains as well. ^^;;; If I'm flying somewhere I always bring one of those inflatable lumbar support pillows, or if I'm taking a long train journey. But truth be told I'd quite like it for my everyday commute too, ha. It's so frustrating to want to write & to be physically unable -- I'm sorry you have to deal w/that too.

[eve_doodle]

I'm so glad that my WIP is coming along well. It's honestly thanks to the WIP challenge and Words Count. Without any of these check-in posts, I would never feel the urge to write anything. <3

Oh my, those pillows sound amazing! It sounds like I need to invest in one; my back will definitely thank me. It does get pretty frustrating sometimes but I've gotten used to it-- at least we can commiserate with each other!

[crowdog66]

By dint of much effort I managed to crack 500 words today. *cheers weakly and throws confetti*

Today is a case in point of "physical conditions that make it hard for me to write": I should start bleeding any day now, and the hormonal upheaval sometimes plays holy hell with my energy levels. I can still write under those conditions (or when I'm sick, or when I'm tired), but total exhaustion absolutely floors me. In spite of working at a computer 12-16 hours a day I don't have any RSIs, although I do have an alarm set up to go off every hour so I can walk for five minutes due to a DVT scare a couple of weeks back, and I'm sure getting up and changing position helps tremendously.

[littlebutfierce]

500 words is great!!

I feel really super exhausted immediately before I get my period, so I know what you mean... & then I experience somewhat of an upswing of energy when I get it (even after accounting for the energy drain of cramps, etc.).

I'm glad you have an alarm set to get up & move every once in a while!

[laceblade]

I have bad upper back pain, chronically, I guess.

I've....never done anything to make work spaces more ergonomic, either at home or at work.
Well I guess at work, I asked for wrist rests for my keyboard and mouse, but that's it.

I guess I kind of suck at paying attention to my body in this regard, ^^;
If sitting at the computer gets too hard, I used to like to lie on my stomach and write on paper.

My stomach is where my surgery scars are, though, and I can't lie on my stomach now, :(

[littlebutfierce]

I feel like in the US people still don't take this sort of thing seriously at work -- I remember being kind of mocked in some workplaces about it. & the two places I've worked here, well, there are people assigned to do ergonomic assessments on people's desks! Probably there are lots of places here that don't do that, but it still struck me as a nice difference.

I'm sorry you can't use one of your alternate positions to write anymore. :(

[pinstripefedora]

Wooo, I wrote 1,600 words today! This is mainly because I have been waiting to get to this scene since I first starting writing this fic, but I have been saving it until last because if I wrote it first then I would have had no motivation to plow through when the other scenes got difficult. It's my reward, I guess you could say. Hopefully in the next couple days I will be able to finish it, and then this chapter will be almost completely done!

Also, I totally meant to thank everybody in my post yesterday, but then I got really distracted and anyway -- thanks, everybody who gave me links and advice for my problem! It was super helpful!

I don't know if I can write when sick -- simply because when I'm sick I don't even think about writing -- but writing when exhausted is definitely out. I can usually edit relatively unimpaired no matter how tired I am, though. Writing during the first two or so days of my period, though, is pretty much impossible for me.

Oddly, writing usually doesn't hurt me too much, provided I do it at my desk and my chair is adjusted to the proper height. If I try to write in bed, it will mess me up something fierce, though, in a way that generally only a professional can fix. I do sometimes get knots at the base of my shoulder/neck, but usually a hot shower and some stretches will take care of most of them. Also, I am trying this new thing where I try to do a little bit of exercise every day before I let myself write, and so far it's working pretty well... but I am notoriously bad at keeping up with exercise routines, so I'm not holding my breath for any long-term benefits.

[littlebutfierce]

Yay for all those words!!

I've never tried to write in bed -- that just sounds painful *wince*. I'm glad you only have knots that can be taken care of relatively easily!

[lacerta]

During the writing session, I wrote about 800 words for the comment fic prompt, but it hasn't really clicked yet. The start is so boring to me and I'm wondering whether there isn't a way to sidestep that part all together, jump in right in the middle and then fill out the background later. Not like there's a lot of plot to it anyway.

I also did another couple of sentences for 1sentencefic. 14 more to go. (I think I spent 20 min trying to figure out where the Stones were playing in 1978 and how to get there from Kansas which... so besides the point. At least I stopped before I tried to figure out the exact shade of the living room wallpaper.)

It depends on how sick or exhausted I am, but the general answer is no, I don't write. I'm too whiny *g*. And this post has reminded me that I need to put a little more effort into my exercises. I have bad posture too and after I stopped taking dance classes, I was hoping that just doing little regular exercises at home would keep me fit enough. The last few months, though, I've been slacking badly and my shoulders/upper back are gettting pretty stiff again.

[littlebutfierce]

Oh, I definitely start writing in the middle of something if the beginning is boring to me -- & then I hope that I can come back & find out that I don't need the beginning after all, or that there's a way that I can now see to rework it.

Yay for those words, anyway, even if they end up being chopped -- sometimes you don't know where you need to take a story until you've taken it the wrong way, y'know? I hope you're able to find the way to make it work.

Good luck getting back into exercises for your back!!

[insignia]

Just a thought, but if the beginning is too boring, maybe you should think of a better one? I've noticed, now that I'm paying attention, that if I can't bring myself to write a scene it's usually because it just isn't very interesting the way I've imagined it.

I totally sympathise with getting hooked on research for unnecessary details, by the way :D

[bay_alexison]

Technically day four is yesterday, but got the last bit of edits Beta B for my Big Bang suggested and emailed her the scenes I made changes to. I was planning to look over my beta's notes for help_japan but didn't get a chance to. Maybe later today.

It kinda depends if I'm still in the mood and if I needed to get something done quick. There are times when I needed to get some writing done I can do that if I'm exhausted. If I'm quite sick though I would rest instead of writing since I would be in no state of mine to do that.