A Day in the Life of a Cozy Mystery Author Lois Winston
A Day in the Life of Cozy Mystery Author Lois Winston
By Lois Winston
Did you ever have one of those days where you look back and wonder what you accomplished between starting your day and ending it? You check your word count for the day and ask yourself how you could have accomplished so little. Where did the time go? Admit it. We’ve all been there. It’s amazing how all those miniscule tasks that interrupt us throughout the day add up to hours of unproductive nonwriting. When that happens, I turn into a grump.
I’m not someone who has to pound out a set number of words a day. If I can write one scene that I’m happy with, I feel as though I’ve accomplished something. More than one scene? All the better. On average, though, I tend to write about 1,000 words a day—on a good day. Those are the days that end with me feeling that I’ve accomplished something and made headway on my work-in-progress. My day ends with a smile instead of the grumps.
If I could do that every day, I’d be able to write a book every nine or ten weeks. Too often, though, the opposite is true. There are days when so much of the minutia of life takes over that I’m lucky if I’ve hammered out a paragraph on that WIP. But sometimes, I don’t even add a sentence.
So where does my time go? My babies spread their wings and flew the coop decades ago. I no longer juggle three careers simultaneously. (Yes, three! As the Brits say, needs must.) I now have the luxury of being able to do nothing but write all day. Except…
Let’s pull back the curtain and look at an average day in the life of cozy mystery author Lois Winston.
My day begins with typical morning rituals. I wake up (usually far too early), brush my teeth, empty the dishwasher, make breakfast, and eat breakfast while watching the morning news (research!) Then I shower, dress, and head upstairs to my office where I power up my computer and check my book sales. Seeing overnight sales puts a smile on my face. It’s a great way to start the day. No sales? Not so great.
Next comes Wordle. I can’t really start my day before doing Wordle and the NY Times mini crossword. They trigger the firing of all those brain synapses. Except lately I’ve also become obsessed with Connections….
I then check my email. It’s not unusual to find my mailbox filled with fifty or sixty emails that have come in since I went to bed. Most of the emails are writing-related, but there are also quite a few from committees I’m on at church, a few from friends and family, and of course, all those places that bombard you with ads after you’ve purchased something online. And that’s not even counting the spam from Nigerian princes and marketing companies claiming they know someone in Hollywood interested in turning my books into movies. Delete. Delete Delete.
By the time I skim all the emails and answer the ones that need answering, it’s time for a second cup of coffee. But there are days when I need that second cup before I’ve finished with the overnight emails. While the coffee is brewing, I throw in a load of wash.
Before I know it, it’s 10am. Depending on the day, I’ve been up for a minimum of three hours. Usually more because I’m a woman of a certain age, and a full night’s sleep is a distant memory.
More emails have arrived, and I go through them while drinking my coffee. By this point I’m stiff from sitting so long. I jump on the treadmill for half an hour.
I then need to run to the post office to mail a book to a contest winner. There’s one main post office in our city of approximately 85,000 residents. The line is fifteen deep, and there’s only one clerk behind the counter.
Half an hour later, I’m back in my car and realize I need to stop at the supermarket before going home. We used up the last of the milk at breakfast, and I hate drinking black coffee. We’ve also run out of fresh fruit and veggies.
When I arrive home, I put the food away and throw the wash into the dryer. I still can’t begin my writing day because I had agreed to judge a synopsis and three chapters of an unpublished work for a contest. I read the work, then spend half an hour composing a constructive critique that hopefully, won’t make the writer burst out in tears. Although her manuscript needs lots of work, we all had to start somewhere, and my first attempt was no better.
By now, it’s lunchtime. I grab a yogurt, slice an apple, and read the morning newspaper while eating lunch. Afterwards, I load the dishwasher while I brew another cup of coffee. Decaf this time.
Coffee in hand, I head back to my office, finally ready to start writing, but before I can write anything new, I always reread what I wrote yesterday.
The dryer buzzer goes off before I finish reading. I dash downstairs to pull the clothes out of the dryer, so they don’t wrinkle.
I finally get back to my computer, finish reading and begin to write. Two paragraphs later, I remember I have a blog that’s supposed to run tomorrow, and I never wrote it. I open a fresh document and try to think of something pithy to write for the post.
After another hour, the blog is written and uploaded. I go back to my WIP and suddenly find myself staring at a blinking cursor. I jump back on the treadmill for another half hour because if the words aren’t coming, at least I can walk off some calories and maybe while doing so, inspiration will strike.
After grabbing a glass of ice water, I head back to my computer. The words begin to flow. I’m in the zone. Until I happen to glance at the clock and realize, it’s nearly dinner time. Once dinner is cooked, eaten, and the dishwasher is loaded, I collapse onto the sofa to watch the evening news and Jeopardy! Depending on the night, I either continue watching TV or read a book. Eventually, I call it a night—after dealing with more emails.
Total word count for the day? Nowhere near a thousand. I resign myself to the fact that it was one of those days. I go to bed a grump, hoping I’ll be more productive tomorrow. At least we have milk, fruit, and veggies in the fridge, and I won’t have to make a trip to the post office. But…
As I turn off the light, a reminder pops up on my phone, alerting me to a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.
How’s your day going? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code (US and UK residents only) for a free audiobook download of any of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries.
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USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” Seams Like the Perfect Crime is her latest release in the series. In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery.
Hilarious, but sadly so true.
Story of our lives, Debra!
I could pretty much change the byline and publish the same post. Trek onward, Lois!
I think we’re all in the same boat, Saralyn, but you know what they say about misery loving company!
Exactly, Saralyn!
Ditto! The good thing is that after all these years, I KNOW I will finish the book in time, and I do. That’s all that’s important. I’m not sure if that’s a matter of age, wisdom, or denial.
Probably a combination of all three, Kathleen. 😉
Oh, how I can relate to this kind of day, Lois! But a writer’s gotta write, and tomorrow is on the way. Just hope it’s distraction-free.
Is it ever really distracting free, Gay?
wow, that is a full day.
Yes, yes, yes! My days never seem to have enough hours. My non-writing friends complain their days are too long.
Interesting, Marilyn. Maybe your non-writing friends should start writing?
Sometimes, life is like a hamster running on a wheel ( ;
Only sometimes, Pam?
Such great comments. I’ve gotten hooked on pickleball and I’m literally out the door at 6:15 most mornings. I tell myself exercise is important! But mornings used to be my writing time. I call you the Energizer Bunny , Lois!!! You’re entitled to one of those days.
I have no complaints when it’s once in a while, Donnell, but there seem to be too many of them lately. Hence, my grumpy author persona!