What is your most productive writing time?

[SamScribble]

At one stage in my life, I lived in a building in which there were four professional writers.

One writer wrote pretty much every day from 7am until about midday. She then took a break. At 4pm she was usually back at her desk editing, and at 6pm she went for a walk, generally in the direction of the local pub.

The second writer worked from 9am until 1pm – and then left his workroom for the day, locking the door behind him.

The third writer hardly ever started work before 10pm and kept going until he ran out of steam, usually somewhere around 4am in the morning.

All three of them were remarkably productive.

I find own work habits vary a bit depending on what I’m working on. If I’m working on a book, I find that the hours between seven and ten in the morning can be pretty productive. If I’m editing other people’s work – or ghost writing – I try to work ‘office hours’. And columns and blog pieces can happen at pretty much any hour of the day or night.

Mind you, as I get older, I find myself agreeing with Peter de Vries, who said: ‘I only write when I am inspired. And I see to it that I am inspired at 9 o'clock every morning.’ Except, in my case, it’s probably more like 8 o’clock every morning.

What works for you?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You have to discover what works for you. I write when the spirit moves me, and that amounted to 2 stories last week. Do you wanna make bourbon or moonshine is the question.

 

[EmeraldKitten]

Hmm... it all depends.
Typically, I get up in the morning, get my coffee, check out the board and facebook, then write.
How much gets done depends on what time I go to work each day, but usually the morning it 'my' time.
The only time I really write in the evenings is if some wonderful idea popped into my head while I was at work.
If that's the case, I start writing with a pen and paper and transfer it when I get home.

I guess my muse is as addicted to coffee as I am.

 

[Firebrain]

I write better if I have other things to do, lol. If I clear time for writing...you can guarantee that I'll procrastinate on Youtube or something.

 

[sr71plt]

Between 10 pm and 3 am is my most productive writing time.

 

[sillypanda]

I tend to get the most writing done in the evening / night hours, when I'm not preoccupied with anything else.

Plus, keeping my writing time later makes me more productive during the day, and ensures that I get things done to "earn" writing time.

 

[Ldy_Sea]

I have to be in the mood but I get my best ideas and most of my writing done while I'm sleep deprived. Like after being awae for 24 hours or more straight. I once went without sleeping for over 50 hours and wrote a good portion of a mystery novel. Unfortunatly that muse died and I never finished it.

 

[vrosej10]

9.30pm till dawn. Can't write for shit during the day but can edit fine.

 

[Bebeslut]

Either when I make myself do it or when I really should be doing something else.

 

[squarejohn]

I'm a night owl. Start at 1 or 2am and finish at sunrise and go to sleep. My only fear is that when I am asleep, someone will open the lid of my coffin and drive a stake through my heart.

 

[SamScribble]

Squarejohn, I think I know what you mean. My friend PJ used to work all night (well, most of the night), and worry that he would wake in late morning to discover that he had dreamed the whole thing, and there would be nothing there. He needn’t have worried. It was always there. And it was mostly good – and occasionally very good. RIP, PJ.

 

[Senojea]

When I write....

It depends, I usually dream the night before, work out the plot while taking the kids to school and then write until they get home, for the most part.

If I have not been inspired in a while it takes a lot for me to bunker down and just get the edits out of the way.

Once I get started I work until I am distracted by having to pick up a child or do the laundry.

I don't really have a designated writing time. If I happen to get inspired while out and about, I type a quick email to myself so I have the idea when I get home.

Anywhere anytime, I guess.

 

[colddiesel]

I write when I first get up through out the morning, either working on blogging or my book

Two things.

1 That link in your post is 'agin' the rules of this site.

2 You need an editor, your basic English is weak.

 

[Liar]

Early morning before breakfast. I feel like crap, but dag nabbit do I get things done.