How many hours in a week do you allocate to writing?
Do you write more on week days or at weekends?
I allocate the whole weekend to writing, and about 2-3 hours each week day evening. When I am not editing, I write about thirty hours a week.
I have read blogs where agents have asked the same question. I can only surmise that the time an author spends writing is an important factor when an agent decides whether to represent an author. I believe a dedicated productive author has a better chance of hooking an agent, providing they are recognised as a talented writer.
I have a family and have to make a living as well so can't write full-time. A couple of hours in the evening on working days. Then during weekends, I often write when the family is sleeping and all is quiet, more often not not throughout the night - taking plenty of caffeine...
I am over half way through taking a year out to write a novel and have so far completed one and am working on a second as the first tries to find an agent. It varies how much I write a day but mornings are often no-go times for me - I just don't feel focussed. Then I may write from lunchtime to evening where I my get down 1000 words or on some days 7000 (not often that many though but some days it just happens like that). Sometimes I write all weekend as well as during the week but am never usualy happy if I do less than 1000 words. I tend to edit once I've finished writing the whole thing and I dont often write the story in order. Currently, I have the start and ending for my book and am now working on the middle. Other things I've written, such as stories for children in verse, I have written the ending first.
When I can. I cant write in the mind set of 'I have to write'. I can only write when it feels comfortable, when i am inspired, and when it feels right. I have to write with meaning, with emotions and love, hate, anger, passion. I believe what I ever emotions i write into the story, the reader will feel it too, if i do it in the right way and that for me takes time and dedication. I cant write, book after book , a book here, a book there. I can only dedicate my energy into one story at a time, no matter how long that will take,so I am able to give all I got and make it worthwhile and i feel i told a story in the right way. =] And then I worry about publishing after wards, because If I were to spend all my time on what to do after a book is written, before its finished, i wouldnt write anything at all.