I'm definitely a morning person and I think best of what to write when I'm walking somewhere. I'm curious to know what other people's strategies or best times to write are. How do you get your ideas out?
I usually write best around early afternoon when my mind has properly awoken. Like you @Otis I think of lots of stuff while I walk, and also when I'm lying in bed. I keep my notebook next to my bed and have a tendency to spontaneously switch on the light and note an idea down at weird times of the morning.
Sometimes a sentence strikes. When motivated is when I best compose, and lately it hasn't been going so well.
I use my travelling time to and from work to think about things and then I'll make a note of them on my phone. I write most of my story at night when I get home. I always focus better after 7pm for some reason so I just roll with it.
Thanks for the replies guys! And omg, I too could make notes on my phone I suppose. While that might seem obvious now, I never thought of that before.
Lately I've been enjoying sitting in the cool shade in my backyard, listening to the sounds of the forest behind my house and the contrasting city noises all around when I'm writing. Morning and late in the day are best at the moment.
Morning, after my wife and son have gone off to work. Nice and quiet, and I can natter to myself if need be.
Wake up and get up and do it, before matters of the day start to impose. Additionally, when you feel like it. Works for me.
Is that on the loo? Just kidding. @Otis When as in time? Although I'm primarily a night owl I can write at any time.
I think I'm trying to write all the time. It's just nothing ever comes out. It's as frustrating as it sounds. Why do you think I'm sitting here writing on this forum? It's all to hope being able to write my story one day... to have confidence... to not doubt myself anymore... to just be able to write all the time without any delay... to be a pro... a master... someone who gets it. But I'm not there yey. I'm here trying to learn that. I hope I can find the time in my life where I'll just be able to write at any given moment and have it come out just the way I want. I just know it's not now. Or maybe it can be. I definitely don't have the luxury in my state of mind the way it is now (maybe because of stupidity or laziness or something, I don't know) that I can't just write in the morning or at night or something like that. It's whenever it comes to me. When the inspiration and the drive to write what I want is stronger than the self-doubt and the fear of messing up can ever be.
ladybird: Yes on the loo as we say in the US the toilet I do my best writing in the bathroom its peaceful and quiet and nobody bothers me when I'm in their.
About twenty years ago, I started getting up three hours early each morning to write. These days, my best time is between 8:00 and noon. When I'm in the middle of a draft, I force myself to write Monday to Friday, 8:00 to noon even on those days when I'd rather sit on the balcony and watch the river flow by. I, too, find that ideas come more easily when I'm out walking. And if I'm stuck while writing, I pace throughout our apartment to get things flowing again. Most of the time, it works.
I have a long commute to work in a very rural setting. I find that my best ideas come while I'm driving and then it's just hell to get it down on paper when I get home/to work. It never seems to come out as well as it did when I was driving.
Right before I fall asleep! Walks are good for solving story related problems, but it's at bedtime I come up with the actual ideas and sentences and description and so on.
