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| Photo credit: North Charleston on Flickr |
While I don’t accomplish this as consistently as I would maybe like, I love the feeling of having completed all of my daily writing goals before noon. It gives me the freedom of having the rest of the day to blow those goals out of the water (assuming I have the rest of the day open to do so), or getting whatever else I need done with the satisfying knowledge that I’ve already accomplished what I needed to as far as writing goes.
However, while this is my favorite time to write, as I don’t get up ridiculously early to do it, it isn’t always feasible. While I suppose I could get up at five or so in the morning if I wanted to, until I find the inner strength to do so, I suspect I will continue with some late night writing sprints.
The difference for me, is that when I start earlier, I tend to be much more ambitious. Rather than stopping after meeting my minimum goal, I’ll do another sprint or two later on when I have the chance, and completely decimate the minimum while I’m at it. And it feels fantastic.
When I write later in the day, however, I’ll usually stop after meeting my quota. This is because I am at my laziest at the end of the day—I’m perfectly content to sit sloth-like in front of my monitor and catch up on my Hulu queue, or scroll through Twitter and tumblr until my eyes glaze over. Or sign off early and read. Reading is good, too.
I share this with you, because I’d like to hear about your writing habits. Do you have a specific time that you clock into writer-mode every day, or is your writing time more sporadic?
Twitter-sized bites:
Do you write at a specific time? Join the discussion on @Ava_Jae's blog! (Click to tweet)
This writer prefers to write in the morning, but what about you? (Click to tweet)
Hah! For me it's the evening, I feel I have less distractions when everyone is winding down. Lil' one is going bed, big one is playing console, I'm writing. Best time for to write is after midnight, why? Because daytime is for daydreaming.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I must tweet that!
After midnight! Wow! You're definitely a night owl, I take it. :)
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I totally understand the winding down bit, and I can see how that would also be a great time to sit down and write. As for daytime is for daydreaming...I like that! I daydream at just about any time, but I like the way you said it. Very nice.
The best moment for me is when I'm done with everything else. My mind is clear and I can concentrate on my writing. Since it's the last thing in my day, I don't have to worry about time, which is always my enemy.
ReplyDeleteActually end of my day does not mean a specific time. Usually it is during the night, sometimes at dawn or early morning, but it could also be afternoon. During the week I don't follow the normal day-night rhythm. It tends to shift forward day by day, then I reset it during the weekend. :)
I write whenever I can squeeze in time for it. Usually between lunch and when the kids coming home at two. Sometimes after the kids are in bed. The quality of my writing is probably better the earlier I write.
ReplyDeleteMy work schedule is so sporadic that I try to fit in writing whenever I can. But I also find that the later it gets, the more creative I become. I wouldn't even start writing until midnight when I was a teenager. Of course, sleep gets in the way nowadays.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! I understand what you mean about the end of the day not necessarily being a specific time. It can be really nice to sit down and write when you know you've finished everything else. :)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even thought about writing quality. I'm not sure if it's too affected by time (unless I'm entirely exhausted while I'm writing, perhaps), but truth be told, I haven't really analyzed it with that in mind.
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting! I've spoken to many writers who seem to be night owls. Of course there's the issue of pesky sleep to contend with...
ReplyDeleteWell I am usually most creative in the on the evenings. It's not unusual for me that I try to write in the afternoon, but have no inspiration at all. Then before I am going to bed I think I can just write a bit, like 5 minutes, and I end up writing at least an hour because it's the words are just comming.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm working on a book, I aim to write/edit for an hour right after dinner. It's time I might have wasted watching television or doing something else unproductive so it works out great for me.
ReplyDeleteI love it when a writing sprint exceeds expectations. It's great to be able to sit down and think I'll be happy with five minutes and end up with an hour's worth of material. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way use of time! Amazing how much extra time we have to write when we eliminate time-sucking activities.
ReplyDeleteI write WHENEVER a good thought comes to me. Unfortunately that is usually 1 of 3 places: half asleep in bed, driving or in the shower.
ReplyDeleteGahhhh I know! Funny how the perfect ideas come to you at the most inconvenient times.
ReplyDeletePsssssh. School. Just kidding, getting enough sleep before class is important. I understand your pain--sleep is such a nuisance isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteI usually find that when I try to pin myself down to specific times for anything, I usually end up feeling less inspired.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I don't usually pin myself to a specific time (i.e.: you must write at 8:00 A.M.), but when I can, I try to get things done early, or at least get started early in the day (i.e.: you are sufficiently awake--now go write.)
ReplyDelete