I write when I've got something I think is worth writing. There are certain times of the day when it's more convenient for me to write, though.
When I set aside a time to write I usually procrastinate seriously though, if you want to be a professional writer you have to learn to write in a certain kind of time bound manner. May be not as strictly as a columnist of a magazine but you got to develop a certain routine. Afterall we all go to work even though we don't want to and still do productive work
I write when I feel like writing in the mood. Regarding the place where I write, I prefer a calm, quiet place rather than getting surrounded with distractions and noisy people because I cannot concentrate that way. If you have your own time and place to write, choose the comfortable way that works for you.
I write everyday. Once I get home from work, I would give myself an hour and a half devoted to writing. My writing routine consists of writing a draft, revising a finished draft, creating an outline -- or freehand writing when I don't have a project or when I need a buffer after a project. Inspiration comes randomly, and it cannot be forced to produce something. Carry a notepad, a notebook or some index cards with you. When inspiration hits, catch it fast by writing it down. If you don't have a pen and paper with you, get that smartphone out and text yourself that flash of lightning. I use those as my fuel for my writing schedule. And if your fingers are itching and your story just wants to come out, who's to say that you need to wait until you get home? Damn it! Write it down.
I write whenever inspiration hits me. I have even gotten out of bed at 3 in the morning just to go write
Oh yeah, going to law school is a no-brainer for me. I'm actually not worried about it anymore, as all your words of wisdom have helped - as did noticing that a good number of lawyers who graduated from my school are published authors. Thank you all so much.
I think sometimes I put writing before I put school and friendships, even though the latter should probably come before. I think education and work is undoubtably more important. If its about your immediate education or income, I think it's important to do that, since writing is not going to gurantee you money or a career. I think it's one of those things, if you have the time, do it in your spare time. If you really want to take it professionally, make sure you have an income and then do it full time.
I was having some concerns about combining school and writing as well since I discovered I was neglecting school so I can spend more time writing which is actually very wrong. I am very very terrible in planning things and people keep telling me to make a planning and stick to it, but I can't stick to it for some reason. I always end up stressing because times seems to fly by while it feels like I haven't done a thing. But these tips here have helped me enormously. Maybe I will even manage to write during my exams
Personally I prefer to write at night because I never seem to get peace to write during the day. Does anyone else have a preferred time for writing?
Honestly, I would prefer to write during the day. My brain, however, prefers the night, because apparently all of my ideas come from fatigue.
When your tired the parts of your brain that control logic slow down a bit, so you feel more creative. Often ideas happened upon in the wee hours of the night won't seem so great after a good rest. I write whenever it tickles me.
I'm an early morning writer. In fact, I'm writing THIS at 4.34 am. I purposely go to bed early so I get a good night's sleep, get up very early, have coffee and go for a walk (on reasonably nice mornings) then come back and get stuck in. I'm retired now, but I started doing this while I was working, to give myself several hours of writing time before entering the fray. Not only is there peace and quiet to be had at this time of day, but I find that ideas really flow just after I wake up—that subconscious dream state is still hanging in there. The walk is a great story problem-solver, and many of my story links come together on my walk. I carry a notebook with me to scribble them down. (Have no idea what people think if they happen to look out their windows at 5.15 am and see somebody standing in front of their house, scribbling ferociously into a tiny notebook, but I've not been arrested yet!) Once somebody starts yakking at me or the phone starts ringing or whatever, I lose the ability to create 'worlds.' I can edit any time of day, though—as long as somebody's not standing at my elbow wittering on about potato blight or the latest football scores. Editing requires a different 'kind' of brain, I reckon. Or at least a different hat on top of it.
Whenever I can find peace and quiet. Actually that's not how it sounds. I can write with noise all around, I need peace and quiet inside.
I prefer to write when alone, which due to certain circumstances means I'm only ever really alone during the 1-2 hours between everyone else going to bed and when I finally decide to turn in. I've just had to train myself to be able to write with ongoing distractions: something I mastered while living on-campus in my first year of college. I can write anywhere at anytime.
whenever the inspiration is there, i have been known to sit in a cafe for three hours writing solidly once
I tend to be really flexible with my writing schedule. Most of the time I find myself writing deep into the night, however I've been able to wake up and write if I've got an idea fresh on my mind. It also helps that I am self-employed, so I can take notes or write a quick reminder to myself between work tasks without worrying about a boss being all kinds of upset with me. I find that I typically do the bulk of my writing at night after I've spent an entire day thinking up a scene and creating the framework. That, I suppose, is when most of the pages really flow. ~~SP
Whenever I can manage it. Now that I work from home a lot, the opportunities are much more frequent (just on my lunch hour, of course).
Whenever the muse calls I pick up the phone. Last night we had an on and off conversation that ran from one AM to three. I filled several 3x5 cards with her dictation. And I will translate them into my language -as soon as I tear myself away from this current distraction.
I prefer to write during the Holocene Epoch. It works best for me. I actually find it impossible to write at any other time.
LOL! The anthropologist in me chuckled at that. Particularly since the Holocene makes an appearance in my current novel.
I realize this has been talked about before... I'm very much a hobbyist writer. In fact, before I started on my WIP I didn't think of myself as a writer (of fiction) at all. Of course writing takes time and, while I enjoy it, there is no doubt that it's also work. My problem is that I have other tasks that must be completed that are also intellectually stimulating work. Thus whenever I work on my story I feel a cloud over my head from which a voice emanates saying, "you should really be working on something else." It isn't pleasant, and it takes away from the enjoyment of writing. Clearly some kind of balance is necessary. My current plan is to just allow myself some limited time for creative writing, even if only 30 minutes per day. That doesn't seem to be working very well for me, though. I'm wondering how others manage this problem.
I am brand new to this, and have a house full of children. The only place for any sort of privacy is the bathroom. Not the most comfortable place to sit, but no one seems to ask why you are in there for so long!
Get up 30 mins earlier in the morning to write. You should write only AFTER the morning routine. Try the other way once and you will know why
I got up at 3.15 today. Made tea, checked facebook, then I created a new file and started writing. By 4 AM, I already had 500 words. By 5 AM I was at 2000. Basically, before the baby was up, I had more or less completed a good first draft of a short story of just under 3K. I will sit on it a few days and then come back and do some revision. This may not work for all, but I find getting up super early is the best time to write. No one will bother you. There is nothing else that you can do (apart from sleep and you can do that when you are dead) and when you get to work you already feel that you have accomplished something worthwhile. Give it a try!
