Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of your favorite author is like? I know I have, from the perspective of wondering if I am at all doing this thing right. The question about my process has come up a time or two, but this is the first time anyone has wondered what goes into the making of one of days. I’m both afraid and intrigued to explore the topic. What if I am boring? What if the check list of things doesn’t add up to an author?
I’ve thought about my daily routine when lamenting my life in the past, remarking on how clockwork it all is. My personality (INFJ-Gemini) struggles with rigid schedules and although I don’t literally try to schedule my life, it ends up that way. Much like everyone else, my alarm goes off in the AM, the ringtone set to Tantrum by Luminox (it was Jarvis just about week or two ago). I need something that gets me up and I want to boogie to. Seriously. Getting up in the morning is hard! My favorite thing is bedtime and snuggling so having to part with my blankets once they have accepted me as one of their own is cruel to both them and me.
From there, I do the usual bathroom things. I MUST brush my teeth before I set foot out the door. I don’t care what else I look like so much, but my breath will not be killing anyone I walk into while getting Miss Sadie Sue Shagbottom out for her first constitutional of the day (even if it is only to the patch of grass in the lot behind the house).
Once Miss Sue is fed and watered, I go get ready for work. Just before I leave for the day, I walk my girl for a few minutes to make sure she’s all set for the day while I am gone, and give her some cookies to hold her over until I get back. Then, I skooch off to work for eight hours.
Work is boring. It’s just a lot of paper pushing and phone answering. Sometimes I have to play hostess, but mostly it’s just desk work–nice and simple the way I like it. Why is that? Because I want to preserve my brain for writing and research. Work is actually my downtown, if that makes sense. Having clocked my hours, I skooch back home to my darling Sadie.
Sadie, being a golden retriever, is quite happy to see me and we go through our door greeting ritual. Most of the time I escape a bloody nose form her overzealous affection and we go tumbling down the stairs to unleash the hounds. Ahhh…sweet relief. During the warm weather and long days, we do a nice walk around the neighborhood. My pup is never happier than when she gets to have regular walks. Unfortunately, sometimes the weather keeps us in (if it’s too hot, I won’t walk her and risk her paws getting burned, so we stick close to the house, likewise with pouring rain and the cold dark winter). I don’t live in the best of neighborhoods, so walking after sundown is risky, even with my dog at my side. Risking either of isn’t worth the time, so we just play indoors.
With Sadie all set, I break out the pans and start dinner. We’ll watch Netflix or a DVD once we’ve eaten, as I peruse Social Media, write blog posts, design art/media for my books or read research materials for my next work. Right now, I’m working on a lot of designs and concept art for Trailokya. Most of the writing I do happens here on the blog since it’s advent (interrupted at 8PM for a dog break). That all takes up the majority of the evening and by 11, I get around to doing my German Lesson (if I couldn’t sneak it in while cooking or eating).
Just before bed I get ready for the next day, making the lunch and picking my outfit. I take Sadie out to the bathroom and then get settled myself and off to sleep I go (with one last Social Media check).
My weekends are about the same, with errands and chores taking the place of my work day.
I was right…this does scare me into thinking I’m too normal!
