We’ve talked about where people write, but reader Roberto Soto was the first to pose this one: when do you write?
Are you like Jeff Abbott in the early days, getting up at 4am with a little suspense writing to start your day?
Or do you write when the inspiration strikes?
Lots of people have asked me this question since last Thursday, and let me just say that while being an agent is indeed a hectic profession I know for a fact I am not nearly as busy as some of the people who read this blog (for one, I don’t have kids). And as those of you who are insanely busy know, there’s always time to write. You might just need to force yourself to write during the times when every atom in your body would rather be doing something else.
What about you?
Crystal says
For me, I have to have inspiration to write or else I won't write at all. If I have a story idea I want to work on, I write whenever I feel the urge to. I have to get my groove (or what I call my muse) going or I can't write at all. The juices have to flow or I am doomed 🙂
Any time of the day is fine for me, like I said I just need my muse to inspire me.
Crystal
Lis Garrett says
I usually save my creative writing for after I've put all three kids to bed – 8:30ish. This gives me time throughout the day to outline in my mind. By the time I sit down at the computer, I'm ready to go! (until about 10PM when I collapse from exhaustion)
PS – I have a small goal of 1000 words per day.
Andrew the author says
I have a full time job and go to school. That usually means inspiration festers when I'm in bed trying to get some sleep and dialogue or a scene develops like a tumor until, frustrated, I have to write it down.
Unfortunately, revision and editing muses do not nag the same way.
Awriter says
This is a really good question.
When do I write? I write when I should be doing homework, when I should be doing something else, when I should be paying attention in class, but my fingers itch to write and who am I to not let the muse have her way?
I write late at night, early in the morning, at lunch, during supper, while I'm on the road, while I'm hanging out with friends, when I'm in class, when I'm at home supposed to be sleeping or cleaning, when I babysit, When I'm at my boyfriends house, when…Whenever I feel the need or the inspiration to write, I write. 🙂
Always having pens and pencils and paper on me is probably the reason why I can write so much 😛
Dawn says
My sleep schedule is crazy, but no matter when I sleep, I write when I wake up. It could be in the morning or after a late afternoon nap that allows me to stay awake all night. As long as the rest of the house is sleeping … I'm good.
Jil says
Walk the dog, workout at the gym, breakfast, e-mails then it's about ten and I write until about one or two. I must start in the morning though. I can't do much of anything useful in the afternoon. Didn't Hemingway etc. always write in the morning then meet in a bar afterwards? Wish I had a group to do that with – Starbucks would do though.
DanP says
I typically write between 11 PM and 2 AM, bolstered by a warm beverage and music.
I also write during the day on weekends, but find this much more challenging.
Continuity is important for me; or perhaps inertia is a better description. Once I write regularly at one time it goes. But should I stop for a few days, cranking things up again is a problem.
A little every day. My motto.
Carol Piasente says
It's an interesting question right now. When I was working full time, I worked only on the weekends, for a stretch of 2-4 hours. I was surprised at how I could pick up where I left off with that much time off in between. Now I am not working full time, and find it just as hard to settle on a time. I SAY I like to work first thing in the morning, but mid- morning to mid-afternoon is probably more like it. Often, the most creative solutions come right after sleep or on a walk.
Hat Man says
Every molecule in my being wants me to write. I write first thing in the morning.
Anita Saxena says
I brain storm while I drive. I edit during work. I write during my lunch break (which fortunately has averaged 1.5-2 hours lately).
When I'm not working, I like to write in the afternoons away from the house.
It just varies. It's crazy trying to juggle 3 different jobs, a relationship, and just LIFE.
But I enjoy every second that I can get away and write.
Nichole Osborn says
I usually write late at night, when my family is sound asleep. But yesterday I found myself writing as I waited for my mom, while she was at an appointment I took her to.
Horserider says
Usually when inspiration strikes. I like to write late at night best, but that's not possible unless it's a weekend. During the week my writing time comes in during the afternoon/evening, if at all. Most of my writing seems to get done on the weekends at the moment.
V L Smith says
When I was working full time, my only writing time was my lunch hour. I took a chair up to an empty floor of the building and wrote in a notebook. Over the weekend I would transfer my written pages into the novel. Tedious, yes, but at least I was writing.
Since I lost my job a month ago, I set aside two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon, usually 9-11 and 1-3. These are my BOC hours and I write until the time is up. It's amazing how much more I accomplish because I'm focused.
--Deb says
I can't bring myself to drag myself out of bed any earlier in the morning, so I get most of my writing done at night. I find it works best when my Inner Critic is too busy yawning to make snarky comments about the words I'm typing. The more tired she is, the more writing I get done … although, it often needs a ton of editing the next day to make it sharper, because when she's yawning, so am I! But that's okay, editing is usually easier than getting that first draft down on paper.
Alpha Otter says
I'm actually taking a break from my job solely to write next week – using some vacation time away from the office to just stay home and write all day for four days straight. My wife is visiting family, so it's good time to hole myself up.
After reading all these comments I realized that a majority of folks write late at night. Next time I write late at night, I will imagine legions of writers joining me. Every night thousands of deep sea oceanic creatures swim up to the surface of the ocean to feed and whatnot – they call it the largest migration on earth and it happens every flippin' night. A similar migration happens across America: laptop screens illuminating dark corners of rooms while households sleep, thousands of words bubbling up to the surface of computer monitors, gurgling coffee makers helping sustain the migration.
Pure awesomeness.
Robin says
This has always been my greatest challenge. Would love to find a regular time that doesn't get shafted due to family demands. This summer I accomplished working from 6am to 7:30 as I didn't have to take my three kids to school, but now that school has started again, I'm trying out different time zones. Usually I'm a late night person so I'll go back to that. I'm just worried about getting up for the morning rush and falling asleep at my day job desk.
Jen P says
I create snippets for my current work in my mind whenever something triggers what a character would say or look like or do…but I only get it into word starting around eleven at night and till two or three am. I need complete silence to write anything other than a few lines, and most importantly, to know that there is no time limit, so I can really get into it. Trying to do any during nap times is a waste of time, because I'm half listening out for waking children and know that I only have a limited window of opportunity. Plus after midnight I cannot vacuum, clean, cook etc, so I don't feel guilty, as I do if I write in the day.I fantasize that when my children will be full-time in school in a few years, I'll have so much more time, but I suspect I'll still write best in the wee small hours. 2010 I'm moving country and starting a course, so I have vowed to block two regular nights a week for nothing but the WIP.
Danielle Thorne says
Late night.
Beth says
Whenever I can! Lately, it's been in the morning when kids are at preschool. Before that, it was late at night when kids and hubby were in bed 🙂 Great to read everyone's answers! Congrats on your book deal, btw!
bethmann15.blogspot.com
Jeffrey says
I write in the morning, from 5:00 or so until maybe 10:00, then re-write and edit in the evenings… Weekends are varied.
Terri Tiffany says
I do my best writing after lunch–when all is quiet in the house and I can go to my room and really get into it.
J L says
I write every day, usually sneaking in some time from the day job & getting in an hour or two at night. It depends on my release schedule, too — this year I had 5 books out, so that takes time out of my work-in-progress time. I also carry a digital recorder with me so I can 'write' while I walk, etc. I also write at poolside when I do laps (I tweeted about the waterproof paper I use & several folks commented about it — I made some sales!)
Melissa Petreshock says
I usually write during the day for 3-5 hours while my husband is at work and my kids are at school. Once everyone is home there is no time to concentrate. I try to work at least a little bit at night, but I get distracted by other things on the internet too often like instant messaging my sister.
I pretty much average 1500-2000 words per day that I write. I rarely write on the weekends or holidays because everyone is home then too.
During the summer I have to block off time that the kids (ages 5, 8, 13) are not allowed to bother me while I'm writing and have my oldest help keep the younger two entertained.
BTW, I don't work aside from being a mom and a writer so I don't have to deal with a job interfering with my writing time. 🙂
Jemi Fraser says
I usually write late in the evenings. My job usually runs 10 – 11 hours a day. Then supper, family and finally writing – usually between 9 and 11. Unless, of course, I fall asleep on the laptop 🙂
The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after says
I write everyday barring incident and mostly at night because I’m an insomniac.
Simone
Melissa Pearl says
I have a two year old son, so I write when he goes down for his nap. I'm lucky as he sleeps for about an hour a day. My husband and I also take turns on the weekend getting up. So on my morning off I spend the whole time writing. As hectic as life is, I feel like I do actually get quite a bit of time to write. Let's not discuss the state of my house though, okay?
Lucinda says
New writing usually happens Friday mornings and Sunday mornings (my days off with nothing that can't wait 'til later)
I do most of my editing and rewrites whenever I get time after work and after any new writing is finished on days off.
While working (factory ten hours a day), I often think about my characters and plots and sometimes jot notes down.
Lucinda
Jen C says
I'll start writing whenever these dudes in the house next door stop hammering. So, probably about 5pm. (obviously they've never heard of a great little invention called a nail gun).
Nicole Zoltack says
I have an 11 month old. For the past two weeks, he's been wonderful, taking 2-3 hour long naps around 1 or 2 so I can get some writing then. Plus he sleeps through the night for another 10-12 hours! So I usually stay up late to write then, after hubby is in bed. I aim for everyday but there are just some days when time just flies by and I'm just too tired and I crash.
The Amateur says
I rarely write anything unless I am alone and force myself to. Don't get me wrong, writing is why I breathe and I'd rather be an author than anything else, however I am fearful of success/failure. With that said, I often find time (withing the parameters I just mentioned) when I'm at school. In the library. It's kind of like being alone- it's very quiet. The only thing you really hear is the clacking of the keys, which really stokes the fire!
Anatole says
I write when I can — usually on weekends. Hopefully (if everyone could just leave me alone for a couple hours).
Richard Lewis says
Still traveling, no time to read through the thread snd maybe somebody has already suggested it, but why not turn this into a poll?
It'd be interesting, but not truly informative…I think there are two types of writers in the world, those who prefer to write early and those who prefer to write late. (Well, actually, the more I know other writers the more I realize each has their own writing quirks/habits)
(PS: a post on those who borrow books and those who refuse to lend would be interesting.
Charles Lamb (died 1834): "The human species according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, [those] who borrow and [those] who lend…Your borrowers of books–those mutilators of collections, spoilers of the symmetry of shelves, and creators of odd volumes."
I myself have "keeper" books I will only lend after borrower surrenders a child for collateral, but other books I freely give away or exchange.
Empress Awesome says
Anytime I'm not in class, in the bathroom, doing homework or surfing the net… which is usually from 11 pm to 2 am. And actually (for the first two, at least) I write the scene in my mind and then hustle to get it down when I'm free.
Richard Lewis says
I should add that my hat is off, even in this cold weather, to those who have to steal time* to write (such as a certain literary agent)…but if one could pick a time.
I forgot to say I'm a morning person, but when deadline looms, I'm a frantic every possible second type of person.
*make time, set aside time
Gerri says
I write first thing in the mornings, sometimes before the crack of dawn. Whenever I can't complete my usual three or five pages I write in between other work and tasks until they're done. If that's impossible, I finish up at nights.
Bamboo Grovers says
I write weekdays between 1.10pm, straight after I drop my daughter at kindergarten, and 2.35pm, when I need to leave to pick the older kids up from school. During that time, my youngest daughter has nap time. She is getting older and doesn't want to nap so much anymore. Lately I've been putting her in her cot with a big pile of books and telling her she's so lucky that's it's reading time now. I fear my writing window is about to disappear…
Lorel Clayton says
I have a minimum 500 word goal everyday (after a quick editing of the last day's writing) and I fit it in whenever I can: early morning, lunch, while dinner's cooking, late night…Usually, if I can find a good block of time, I get at least 1000 words done. Then on weekends my goal is 2000 words/day, but I'm really happy when I make 4000 🙂
Marc says
Reading these comments remind me that I have no excuse not to write…and that I should set myself some goals.
Lindsay says
I'm a writer at my day job, so it usually takes me a few hours to unwind from my work projects before I can really focus on a personal project. And even then, it takes me about an hour to get in the zone. So somewhere at about 11pm I'm usually on a roll.
Chris says
It depends on what I'm writing. If it's book or article writing, I have to be alone. I use the business hour time to work when no one is in the house. For blogging, I'll blog whenever I can, which is usually at night while watching TV. The style is more casual, and I'm not checking facts or timelines typically.
Lora says
20 minutes in the evening. Before exhaustion sets in entirely.
Brian Crawford says
For me, mornings are ideal for editing and revising, but evenings are best for pure writing, as if my brain needs to be a little tired and loose in order to drop its inhibitions and create. I've learned that I'm most creative when I stop distracting myself and just slow down and sit in the present with my thoughts, like I did as a child.
Diana says
I used to write in the car while waiting for my kids at dance lessons, basketball practice, play rehearsal…you get the picture. Everything was at least fifteen minutes from the house and lasted from a half an hour to two hours. While the kids danced, practiced, rehearsed…I sat in the car and wrote.
And then they grew up and now drive themselves. Which means I have that same time now, without the drive :).
Louise Uccio says
I also write around midnight, when everything is quiet and peaceful.
John says
I write mainly at night; 10pm – 12am, or so.
Katie says
Whenever inspiration strikes, when I'm not otherwise engaged. When we watch movies I write while they're downloading or stop to buffer. I write in the car when someone else is driving. I write during my sister's orchestra practice. I write when I'm waiting for web pages to load. Sometimes I only get in a sentence, sometimes It's several pages. but eventually it comes out to be a book…
Matthew Crowe says
Anytime I feel inspiration, and sometimes force it out as well.
Ryan Thomas Riddle says
Right before the morning sun burns away the night, I rise with egg-crust eyes, groping for the coffee pot and rousing my brain from its dreary slumber. Then with caffeine shot I scrape pen across yellow legal paper, culling words from the ether. Satisfied, not always. Some mornings, wads of paper multiply faster than written pages. Oh, those are the days when more caffeine is needed.
Winter Hansen says
I'd like to see the results of this as a poll since I don't have time to read all of the great answers. I've got two kids, so writing in the summer means early mornings or after their bedtime. During the school year, I have several more daytime hours, but I often find myself writing after 9:30 until my eyes start bleeding, though I'm really a morning person. In short, whenever I can, like most writers.
lotusgirl says
I write whenever I can steal time–often sitting in the car waiting for my children while they are in class or lessons or whatever. I also like to write late at night when the house is quiet.