Nora and I both worked remotely this week. She reached out late in the week with this post. I know that routine is key to her work, but this goes a little deeper. ~Laura
I’m a creature of habit, and routines are as precious to me as diamonds. Maybe more, because while diamonds are great, they’re sparkly and pretty, I don’t need them to get by. I definitely need routine.
I have one at home, and am happiest there when I can stick to it, without interruptions or something breaking that routine. Like a dentist appointment or a sick dog or ringing phone.
But a few times a year, I have another routine–away from home.
BW and I go to a lovely resort/spa in The Laurel Highlands–just a couple hours from home. We go, just the two of us in November, with friends in January, with friends and family in the summer. And I go with only girl pals for a week every spring. (That is the BEST week of the year!)
In the spring and summer, it’s play and relax only–though I’ve been known to sneak in a little work if I need to, early mornings, on the summer trips.
Fall and winter, these are working vacations for me. And my routine is set.
In the morning, I work out–either in the gym here or with DVDs I bring for the room. I do a good, long sweaty workout before breakfast–then woo–that’s over for the day! I might join BW for some breakfast, or might not. After–and he goes off on an adventure–I settle down to work. I can work really well here, I’ve discovered. No interruptions, no nagging thoughts about when I need to stop to start dinner. No dogs wanting to go out or come in, no UPS truc
k trundling up the hill. No phones ringing.
Absolute quiet and focus for at least four solid hours. It’s wonderful. I remember last year at this time finishing up Blood Magick at this little desk in the parlor of our suite. I’ve done some pretty good work here.
This morning I’ve finished up the first draft, just minutes ago, of the first book in a new trilogy. No info on that yet, gang. First draft is, for me, crappy draft. Lots of work to do yet.
After I work, I pull myself together, walk over and have some fabulous spa treatment. It’s glorious. A facial, a hot stone massage, a wrap–whatever. Then I come back, and as BW generally has his treatment just a bit later than mine, usually have about a half hour alone. To play on my tablet or read. Lovely.
Then it’s wine time! And ordering dinner someone else has to cook. Ahhhh.
Maybe some TV, some hanging out, then bedtime so I can get up and do it all again the next day.
I love routines. But I’ve also learned you can adjust them and give yourself small breaks. It doesn’t have to be a week away on a working vacation.(I admit, I treasure mine.) It could be taking an hour out of your busy day to do something just for yourself. A conversation with a pal, a little alone time, a walk, buying yourself some flowers. Anything that reminds you that good hard work–and I believe in good, hard work–should merit the occasional reward.
Be good to yourselves!
Now I’ve got about an hour–and may dip into that second draft before I walk over and have myself a favorite treatment–hot stone Shirodara. It’s amazing.
And I’ve just looked out the window. It’s snowing. Holy cow!
Nora
I love the view from the window of that pic. I love reading your books as soon as i open the first page i am in the book and love the relationships between the friends and families in all your books it so resembles my family i have to remind myself that it isn’t my family. i love it!!!!!!!!!!! thank you for all the time i have spent finding your books and being magically swept away time and time again especially all the magic stories which is quite a few. You Keep writing and I’ll keep reading them.
It is gorgeous! And I love the trilogies for the very reason you just mentioned – being able to see how the relationships evolve – and yet another reason why I like the In Death series so much.
I totally love routines. As a teacher of special ed students it is the only way to stay sane. I have a specific one for preparing myself for the day before I leave home. Having said that, I will routinely change up my routine in the afternoons so I don’t get in a rut. But I think that is, in a strange way, a routine!
I can not wait to dive into Blood Magic after I finish one of my teen novels “Stung”.
Thanks for sharing yours and hinting at a new trilogy. Way to tease and spark interest#
Fan in MN
My routine is I have none. It would be impossible to have a set routine. However I can see how it would be nice.
I totally understand. I can’t stick to a routine, myself, either, other than get up in the morning in time to wake my sons up in time for my husband to school, and we generally TRY to start dinner around the same time during the week. Any other attempts at routine generally get smacked upside the head with my physical issues, lol.
I love Nora’s choice of snack. Pretty much what you would find on my desk! We seem to have more than the name in common.
I love routine. It seems I’ve had one all my life. They changed with each circumstance as life changes. The routine of being a stay at home mother…the routine of being a working mother with teen sons….the routine of being a caregiver to parents and sister-in-law for several years and then the routine of being a cancer patient….. so now I’ve got the routine of feeling good, being a loving grandmother and being ME! I think a routines can save you in so many ways…..
Laurel Highlands – wow! I am re-reading the Key Trilogy (for like the 5th time), and it is fun to imagine you, Nora, in the same setting as those fabulous books! And, I just need to say that the prospect of a new trilogy is wonderful!
wow I love every of your books and the thought of a new trilogy just made my whole body light up I so love your trilogies but then I love everything you write keep writing girl and I will keep buying and reading hope you had a very good time at the spa bye for now.
What beautiful scenery to write in, I wish I could but it’s never been something I’ve been very good at so I’ll leave that to the experts! I love every book I’ve read and read them over and over. I finally got Blood Magick yesterday and I’m enjoying it immensely. I too love the snack but not the diet coke, can’t drink the diet ones lol. Everytime I read one of Nora’s books I think of my cousin who is also a writer, who met Nora at a writer’s convention or awards show, I can’t remember for sure which one. Their meeting was a little unexpected as they briefly got stuck in an elevator together. Probably not the way anyone really wants to meet anyone, but still an exciting experience. 🙂
Enjoy it’s nothing like a good massage and pampering. We do girls trips in the summer with my sisters, aunts and mom love them tooo best times and memorable ones
Routine is good for the soul. I would like to add a few things, like that massage.. I could do that everyday.. I am so looking forward to reading Blood Magic… Reading is a routine I do everyday single day.
I know about routines but last October I lost my job, I was downsized and with it I lost my routine. My whole life I have worked and I have that routine down pat but when I lost my job I lost my routine and I got lost too. Over the last year I have slowly developed a new routine, a take better care of me routine, a take the time to be creative routine. As part of that process I’ve discovered chair yoga which is wonderful for people like me with bad hips and knees and I am gradually learned to breathe better and regain some flexibility. I’ve learned that I love to paint, that I’m good at it but no threat to the masters, lol. My new routine is more forgiving and caring and as a result I have grown a great deal and I really appreciate my new routine – it brings order and sense back to my world and it makes me happy. Nora clearly your routing works for you, the proof is in all the wonderful books you write. Thanks for the moments of majick and joy you give everyone in your stories. 🙂
Isn’t it a lovely surprise to see those bright-colored little trees when everything else has settled into winter? Hope you had a good, relaxing vacation. Great to hear there’s another trilogy in the works!
I walk a couple miles every a.m. before sitting down to write. Just kind of clears the head. Later, I walk the dog and cat (she has our backs – LOL). I’ll be ready to read The Liar as soon as I finish my new Regency. Just realized that’s part of my routine, too – a new NR as a reward for sticking to it.
You know, I read somewhere that Nora wrote 8 hours a day, every day, without fail, even on every vacation. That, well, sounded kind of sucky to me, working away your vacation. But Nora’s post (and her posts from Derby week) have made it clear that is not the case (plus another post she made about a day in the life, sort of). This sounds much more balanced, and she gets to have fun on vacations! But her vacations, as she just described them, sound wonderful – well, except for the good sweaty workout, but I’m not a good sweaty workout type of girl, for various reasons, lol.
If having a strict routine helps you to keep your creative juices flowing, that you can produce 3-4 books a year, then I say “rock on” and thanks, as we are the grateful beneficiaries of that routine. I used to worry that being a creature of routine, made me appear stilted or anal in some way, and without a lack of spontaneity. Now, I don’t, thanks to your comments. I need a routine each day to help me keep track of things that I need to do, especially when life gets so busy and I’m feeling pulled in many different directions. This past year I battled breast cancer and some serious heart issues, and it was these daily routines (as well as re-reading many of your wonderful books) that gave me a reason to get up each day, to keep going and not give up. And a spa treatment sounds perfect, right about now!! Thanks for sharing this, and am excited to know there is another of your trilogies in the works. They are my absolute favourites, as well as the In Death series.
I too am a creature of habit and like routines, I tend to get cranky when my routine is interrupted. One of my favorite things to do is declare a “Me Day!” When I tell people I’m having a me day (usually one a month) they know not to come over or call unless it’s an absolute life threatening emergency. The only thing I have to do is feed my cats, the best part of my routine.
You are my favorite author, so glad you write so many books, there is something magical about them.
I hope one day to be able to go to Turn the page and stay in the Inn in Boonsboro and also meet you at a book signing.
It’s so cool you shared your work area with us and to see Cheeze it crackers, like those too!
Routines are very comforting, glad you have a routine that allows you to do so much writing, you are amazing and good you pamper yourself so you can continue to write those wonderful novel’s you write.
Love that every book you write, I end up learning a bit about the protagonist’s occupation or hobby.
So excited about you writing a new trilogy, is the book cover on FB part of it? I wonder, the title showed Liar.
Hi Sara,
The Liar is the title of Nora’s romantic suspense that will be coming out in April.
We’re going to have to wait awhile for her to tease us with plots and titles of the new trilogy.
Wym
I have read many different types of books over the years. Ms.Roberts have always had a special place for me when I moved away from WV and now I’m back here walking the trails and seeing the wonderful history here in this area it’s amazing. I love to curl up with a good book it relaxes me. My only thing I have tried to over look is…the GDs I just think there are many other ways to express this. But beyond that these books are wonderful and I am working on my collection again some of them where stolen a few years back.
I love to hear how you are able to create a routine so that you can get work in and also have fun. You sound like you have a balanced life so that means you will be able to be creative for a longer time. That is so nice to hear as I love all your books. I was delighted to read that you are creating another trilogy. I love when you have more then one book as I feel I get to know the people in the books and they become my friends. I have have often reread many of your books over again just for that same reason. Thank you for sharing Nora and much more, thanks for all the enjoyable hours I get from reading and rereading your books.
Routines are such a comfort to me. I try to follow the same routine every day. My cats love the routine as well. I had difficulty the other day trying to decide which of my books I would read next. And once again, instead of going with a new one, I went back to my Nora Roberts books and chose Montana Sky, the first one I had ever read and the one that still remains my favorite. I had to re-build my entire collection after moving to New Zealand 10 years ago (I left my Nora Roberts books to my youngest daughter as she also enjoys them) but have the entire collection again. I love going back and visiting with the characters. It is like visiting old friends.
We seem to have a couple of things in common , you love to write fantastic books and I love you read them (yours of course) and in your picture there is a bottle of diet coke which is my favourite drink. Question was there a reason in your books there is tubes of Pepsi not Coke or diet coke?. Please keep up the good work because you are so appreciated
I have also wondered about the Pepsi references! Karen S.
I have a routine now, but not as regulated as when I was teaching. Now I am retired, I follow somewhat of a routine, but use more of my day to read for pleasure. When I was teaching, I had to do much more reading for school. Nora, you are my favorite author, and you are the one author whose books I always buy when they come out. Your characters “live” for me, and so many of them are people I would like to meet. As my husband’s background is Irish, I love the fact that so many of the books are set in Ireland. The descriptions in the books are so good that I can picture the setting and feel as if I am there. I am now reading Blood Magick, and I can’t wait until the next books. I am glad there will be a new trilogy. My two favorite trilogies are the Key Trilogy and the Circle Trilogy. Like one of the other replies, I too look forward to staying at the Inn Boons Boro and attending a book signing. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your books that give me so much pleasure.
You have always inspired me by your charaters. Thank you
Routine is the path to every happy ending… A steady forward march through snow… That eventually welcomes one home. Wonderful post! Happy writing!!
YAY! A new trilogy in the works!!! I’m such a HUGE Nora fan and eagerly anticipate every single written installment!
Can’t wait for the next book!
Cheers friends,
L. 🙂
Super late to this party 😉 Just read the Newsletter, & Nora mentioned this blog post. I love these little sneak peeks into her life as a writer. While I’m not a writer, I am 100% a creature of habit. Routines are my crutches, my friends, my comfort… Completely on the same page there! I’m always nonplussed when I read about how much she accomplishes amidst the flurry that comes with running a home! It’s very impressive to me. These working vacations sound delightful! Uninterrupted work is bliss 🙂
On a related note, I find it lovely that Nora & Bruce take these little getaways! Truly lovely!
I really enjoy your books.I haven’t read your last trilogy yet. I got caught up in this
Outlander series and the show but I intend to read your trilogy next. I’m glad to hear you’re writing a new trilogy. I loved the series about Bonnsboro and the Inn. The girls thst did the wedding planning were also one of my favorites. Looking forward to your next one. Enjoy your time there. It’s sounds wonderful. Have a great holiday!
Routines…seems the older I get the more I’m in need of the routines I have in place for daily living. My favorite time of day is the time I set aside in the evening to read. Of course Nora Roberts is the first pick of books. Thank you Nora for the few hours i get to escape to a whole other world. I love being swept away by your stories and find it incredibly hard to set your books down and return to the living. Looking forward to your next trilogy.
I am really looking forward to your new trilogy. I enjoy reading your trilogies, because I’m always happy to read more about beloved characters. There is nothing I like better than my nightly routine: which involves snuggling into my bed and reading, and when it’s a Nora Roberts, or J.D. Robb book, I’m at my happiest. Happy Writing.