Morning or Night?

[BookCat]

Are you at your most productive in the morning or at night? I'd love to know when most writers write: your personal experience and anything you know about the habits of other writers.

I still haven't decided which is best for myself, and think it may depend upon the time of year. I have far more energy in the summer when I tend to channel my creativity into art rather than literature.

I would love to hear of your experience. Thanks

[arjaybe]

First thing in the morning. Early, when there's nobody but me and my fountain pen. In nice weather, I might take a ten minute walk first.

[skb]

My most productive time was about ten years ago when I discovered a café where I could spend my whole lunch time sitting in the corner with my little white ibook (and the café owner didn't mind). I actually finished my first short story in a week (time since for any story: about 3-8 years. Sigh).
That one hour a day was amazing.
However, I've never attained that level of concentration again. I'm constantly on the look out for a new café

[cromag]

Night. Very late at night.

[crich70]

I have read how many find that inspiration isn't what gets you to writing but what you find knocking at the door when you are doing the writing. Basically if you wait for inspiration you will never get started. I recommend William Wallace Cook's (the author of Plotto) book "The Fiction Factory" for reading. He tells how it was when he was writing books. He couldn't wait for inspiration at a particular time of day or etc. He just sat down, rolled a sheet of paper into his typewriter and started. He'd have a few false starts but then he'd find a way in and he produced I don't know how many 80 page/16 chapter books over several decades.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cromag

Night. Very late at night.

Same here usually, because it's quiet. But sometimes I get up early in the morning for various reasons and that works also. I'm not the type who can filter out the background noise very well – sometimes, but usually not. Sometimes I'll start with music in the background but, usually within ten minutes I will shut it off because it quickly becomes irritating. Usually when I listen to music, I listen to music exclusively.

[Hitch]

I should have pointy teeth and an unquenchable thirst for blood. Or say "hoot-hoot," take your pick. I'm definitely a Creature of the Night. I wish I could force the rest of the world to work on my schedule.

Hitch

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I should have pointy teeth and an unquenchable thirst for blood. Or say "hoot-hoot," take your pick. I'm definitely a Creature of the Night. I wish I could force the rest of the world to work on my schedule.

Hitch

Don't wish for that, Hitch! It would destroy what makes it good: the quiet, and the expectation it will stay quiet. (I often have quiet days, but just the anticipation of possible calls is enough to be disturbing.)

I've always been a night-owl, when I'm not writing fiction late at night I'm writing code, reading or whatever.

I have managed to train most of my clients not to call me early unless it's an emergency - which, considering that most of them start very early, is very good of them.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by gmw

Don't wish for that, Hitch! It would destroy what makes it good: the quiet, and the expectation it will stay quiet. (I often have quiet days, but just the anticipation of possible calls is enough to be disturbing.)

I've always been a night-owl, when I'm not writing fiction late at night I'm writing code, reading or whatever.

I have managed to train most of my clients not to call me early unless it's an emergency - which, considering that most of them start very early, is very good of them.

Well, as a Reel Perfesshnul, I have an office phone, which joyfully, I can turn the hell OFF, unless/until I feel like answering it. ;-) I learned that lesson at least 25 years ago--a client's "emergency" and what I consider an actual "eeee-mergency" ain't the same thang, youknowhudImean?

:-)

Hitch

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Well, as a Reel Perfesshnul, I have an office phone, which joyfully, I can turn the hell OFF, unless/until I feel like answering it. ;-) I learned that lesson at least 25 years ago--a client's "emergency" and what I consider an actual "eeee-mergency" ain't the same thang, youknowhudImean?

:-)

Hitch

You are forgetting the golden rule: the client is always right. So if they think it is an emergency it is one.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by gmw

You are forgetting the golden rule: the client is always right. So if they think it is an emergency it is one.

Obviously, if you still believe that, you haven't been doing this long enough. ;-)

Spoiler:

I have stories that would curl the hair on Yul Brynner.

Hitch

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Obviously, if you still believe that, you haven't been doing this long enough. ;-)
[...]

Or I might say the same in reverse. The truth, though, is that I have had a peculiarly long relationship is a small number of clients (25yrs in one case) and that rather changes things.

[Nabeel]

For writing non-fiction: morning, from about 9-12.30, maybe also afternoon, 2-6. For writing fiction, evening, 7-11, with a glass of wine.

The two modes are similar in some ways, but quite distinct in practice.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by gmw

Or I might say the same in reverse. The truth, though, is that I have had a peculiarly long relationship is a small number of clients (25yrs in one case) and that rather changes things.

Sure. At one point in time, I had a huge client that I'd had for 20+ years, and I'd have said what you did. Now, I've had 3,000+ clients (ouch) since 2009, and my perspective is COMPLETELY different.

Hitch

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Nabeel

For writing non-fiction: morning, from about 9-12.30, maybe also afternoon, 2-6. For writing fiction, evening, 7-11, with a glass of wine.

The two modes are similar in some ways, but quite distinct in practice.

I find that interesting. I agree that the two modes are distinct in practice (I am able to be much more methodical with my non-fiction writing so that my time tends to be more consistently productive), but my best hours (late at night) are the best for all my work: fiction, non-fiction, coding, whatever.