One of the first things that new writers may discover when they start working is that there are certain times of the day that make for better writing results. Of course, this isn't a one-size-fits-all sort of thing. No, each writer will answer differently if asked. (Some may not know when they do their best writing.)
There are writers that work better first thing in the morning and there are those that do better work at night when things tend to be quieter. You may even find that the middle of the day is the best time for you. There are also writers that work better dividing up their writing times into several periods throughout the day. Which of these are you? Better yet, what benefit is there to knowing when you write better?
For the working writer, the answer may come down to productivity. If you are working on an article with a deadline, you want know that you can make the most of the limited time that you have in order to get things done. If you want to work better then you should be aware of your tendencies. Make your writing time work for you rather than against you. There are some beginning writers that spent time trying to force themselves into a particular mold. They then wonder why they're having such a hard time putting words on the page. Every article becomes a struggle to complete.
Now, we cannot say that this is the only reason for low productivity. There are other factors that contribute to how much a given writer will get done during the course of the day. Distractions from within and without number chief among these. Sometimes, you're just having a bad day and the words won't come easily. It doesn't have to be a complicated mesh of reasons for why one part of the day works better than another.
Rather than conforming yourself to one specific way, it may be the best course to have some options so you are not governed by an unrealistic standard. How can you expect be a creative writer this way? But wait. Which is it? There are benefits to approaching your writing time from both perspectives. In fact, you may find that a good mix of the two will be the most effective way to get things done right.
I leave it up to every writer to discover this one for themselves. I am doing the same. What do you think? Do you have an opinion about this? If yes, then e-mail me or leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.
2 comments:
Hey, Shaun! Found your article at Publetariat. You've raised an interesting question that I've thought about a lot. When I first got started with writing, I was very young, and I found I was most "inspired" late at night and I'd write into the early morning hours. However, "inspiration" was fickle, and I can't say that I ever developed a reasonable writing habit. As my writing practice and I have matured, I've found that writing daily first thing in the early morning (4-6am) translates into consistent inspiration and better output. What about you? When do you do your best writing?
Hi Ami, I'm glad you liked the article. While I was writing that post, I had to stop and think about that question myself. I think I was like you at the beginning. I found I was better or more "inspired" to work and produce content late at night. Even though that can still be true today sometimes, it is tough to nail down the best time since I am always dealing with my kids popping in. I've had to become very flexible. Of course, I'm not sure if that always translates into better productivity.
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