Does time of day matter to writers?
I think it does. I think it matters more than most of us are willing to admit.
What time of the day is the best time of day for you to write? Why?
Without question the best time for me to write is when I first wake up. Taking care of writing first means it’s unlikely to get de-railed by other people, projects, or my own internal conflicts. Any time I’ve been successful in working steadily toward a goal, it’s because I put first things first.
This is my perfect morning:
- Get up at 6 am
- Work out for half an hour-ish
- After workout, set up coffee to brew while I shower
- 7 am Write and drink coffee for 2 hours
- 9 am Eat breakfast
- 9:15 back to writing until 10:30
But here is what my typical morning looks like:
- Alarm goes off at 6 am. I ignore it so that I can ruminate on whatever fresh hell the day will bring with it.
- Actually get out of bed at 6:40. Get ready for work and leave house by 6:55
- Arrive at work at 7:45 Make coffee and avoid cheerful co-workers if I can.
- 8 am- start work
- 10 am- eat breakfast on my coffee break
Obviously I’m going to need to make some changes in my world to get the writing schedule I want. It is a work in progress.
What time of day do you actually write? Is it the same as your ideal time?
I write from 2 or 2:30 pm until suppertime. Unfortunately with little consistency. It’s nowhere near ideal. The worst time for me to do anything at all is the middle of the afternoon. The low-blood sugar + “I need a nap” doldrums start to plague me. Facebook and other dumb things call out for my attention. The dentist calls. Some distractions have been removed, but I am working on removing more.
Honestly, sometimes I think people will just have to start locking me in a small windowless bathroom with my notebook, some pens, and a laptop without Internet access.
Or I have to find a way to get up every day at 4 am.
Chloe Cocking 