@The Author’s Writer August 27, 2022, Rev. 5.24.2023
Some authors call themselves early birds while others relish in being night owls late into the night. Some awaken during the night with story ideas and get out of bed to write them down. Others sneak writing somewhere in between.
Yet is there an optimal time of day to write? Yes, there is.
Writing in the morning is when we can delve into our inner focus. Now I know that some writers out there will say that they are simply not a morning person. Others will say they need to get up, get ready for work, or get the kids ready for school. They write, if they write at all, after doing things for others.
Mornings are meditative and magical. Make morning writing a part of your daily writing routine.
This is problematic. Why? Because many authors and writers that I talk to (yes, there is a difference. Read my blog here) have trouble finding time to write, or if they have time, they have a hard time focusing. They may even lack in motivation. This is because writing for them is something they do after expending all of their energy elsewhere. Once they sit down to write, they simply do not have the energy for writing. They just want to eat, sleep, relax, watch a movie, surf the net, activities that do not expend a lot of mental energy.
Writers need clarity which is achieved through focus.
There is a really easy remedy to all of the above. That remedy is to write first thing in the morning.
Wait! What about the people who are not early-risers? People who have no energy in the morning? People who have to be somewhere in the morning,? The list goes on, etc.
The answer is to simply change your routine so you have more time in the morning to spend on you. Simply go to bed earlier and get up earlier so you can write before you do the other things you need to do.
This is psychological. When you put yourself and your desires first (in this case, your writing), you will be attending to yourself. You are valuing yourself as a writer. You are making you and your writing a top priority, not something to do at the end of your day after expending all of your energy on everyone and everything else.
This concept may seem out of the ordinary and more than difficult to execute at first. You may wake up early feeling groggy or tired. That’s okay. At least you got up earlier. You are on your way to creating a new habit of getting up early.
The freshness of morning and your creativity are most colorful at dawn.
Remember that old adage, “Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes a Person Healthy, Happy, and Wise?” Well, that’s all true.
The thing is, in today’s modern world, with so much to do, some much to learn, so many worries, etc. that we put ourselves last. That is not how life is intended to be. We must put ourselves first as writers because we have a very important message to share with others.
Your message is important. That’s why you must put yourself and your writing first and foremost in your daily routine. It is not selfish to put yourself first in the morning. When you do, you will be more energized throughout the day. Things will get accomplished more quickly because you will have more focus. You will also feel a lot better because you put you and your writing first. Your days will go more smoothly. You will feel empowered and energized.
In the morning, you may brush your teeth, take a shower, exercise, have that cup of coffee or tea, then write. Put your writing first, then recover doing all of the above. If you need to, wake up a little earlier so your new routine can include at least 15 minutes of writing first and foremost. (This doesn’t mean you can’t write later in the day. In fact, if and when you write later on, you’ll have more clarity.)
When you first attempt this, you may not feel like writing. It may seem unnatural, especially if you are used to writing at other times of the day or do not write at all. That’s okay. Change is good. Forcing yourself each and every day will help you create a new writing habit. Change is not always easy, but it is always appreciated when you are moving in the right direction, which is following your passion and discovering and living your calling.
When you put your writing first, everything else will follow according to plan.
