This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Robert welcome Kathryn back to discuss routines. Why are we so interested in what other people do, when and how? Is there some new wisdom we can take away from yet another conversation about routines? Some nugget to help us get 2021 off right? We think so!
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SHOW NOTES
Why are we so fascinated with each other’s routines? Does it help us to iterate our own when we listen to others? And have we all mastered our own productive routines?
What we talked about:
Why do we like to know what everyone else is doing? (1:10)
Do we listen to routines with a critical eye? (3:35)
Has Robert had success with habit stacking? (7:35)
Why do routines fail? (11:33)
Assessing your practices. (13:08)
What do we do to keep track of our tasks? How does that help our routine? (18:00)
Using and abusing our tasks lists. (22:52)
Finding the zone. (24:00)
So why are we so fascinated by each others habits and routines? (26:30)
Why do we fail in adopting other people’s routines? (27:50)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
Do you enjoy the show?
Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com