Choosing The Best Time To Write

Image by Yerson Retamal from Pixabay

There’s a lot been written about when is the best time to write. It’s always a hot topic for writers.

Many swear by getting their best writing done early in the morning. Others swear that it’s better to write late at night when it’s quiet. They love to burn the proverbial midnight oil.

I’m not a person who can get up and write straight away in the morning. I need to have breakfast, do the dishes and clean up before I can sit down and write. I need to clear other jobs away first before my mind is free. It’s just how I am, so I go with it.

As to staying up late to write, it’s not something I regularly do. But sometimes when I’m in the flow state, I write till it’s late, then stay up really late watching a movie to refocus my mind so that I can sleep.

The thing is, we are all different so we all have different times that are best for us to write. We also have different states of mind on different days. Some days I’m waiting for the bell to ring so that I can stop writing, and others days, it’s hard to stop.

I think that the problem is that it’s easy to confuse your ideal time to write with your best time to write. And what we’d like it be and what it actually is are usually two different things.

It also depends on life’s other commitments too. If you have small children running around all day, you’ll probably be a midnight oil writer.

Do what’s best for you, not what you think would be best.

I’ve always found that I can write anytime. That’s because I’m a writer, not a dreamer.

“Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you're going to be every day from nine 'til noon. or seven 'til three. If he does know, I assure you that sooner or later he'll start showing up.”

~ Stephen King

Stormy Writing Weather

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash

 Recently, where I live in Queensland, Australia, we’ve had some really wild weather.

So far this year there have been 3 cyclones (called hurricanes in some countries) off the coast bringing strong winds and flooding rains.

As you can imagine, it meant there were a lot of days when I didn’t leave home.

And because I live in a small apartment, I didn’t have much to do except sit and write.

The storms raged outside bringing plenty of trees and branches down, with gale force winds and quite the show of thunder and lightning.

Because it’s summer here, the local kids were still on school holidays which was lucky for them. I pitied anyone who had to venture outside while the storms were so severe.

I was thankful that live somewhere with onsite managers, so they had the unenviable task of clearing the debris outside, and I don't have to.

I was also grateful that I didn’t have to worry about a leaky roof, because my apartment doesn’t have one. I have a concrete ceiling and an upstairs neighbour, so when I’m indoors I’m protected from wild weather. I also have a covered balcony to protect my extra thick patio doors and my front door is a solid and heavy fire door.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, I simply shut myself in and get plenty of writing done.

And because I already have my 12 Month writing Plan, I already know what to write, so all I have to do is sit down and get started.

Don’t you just love it when you have time to write and so much writing to do?

I feel so cozy inside when it storms, and having a plan means I’m eager to sit down and start writing.

https://cheritonhousepublishing.com/books/12MTH.html

Use discount code “12mthpromo”

New High-Paying Writing Markets

 24 Calls for Pitches Directly from Editors

This is a quick post to let you know about some interesting writing markets. 

Some have tight deadlines so take a look at them now.

These publications are seeking pitches right now. 

Content requests include gaming tips, country music, healthy children, and dating. 

See them all at:

https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/24-calls-for-pitches-directly-from-editors/

There is also a list of 77 paying markets from Published To Death. A few of them have already passed the deadline for submission but there are still dozens to choose from at:

https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2022/01/60-calls-for-submissions-in-february.html

Start writing and submitting and enjoy every minute. :)

The Costly Mistake That Can Sabotage Your Writing

Image by Olya Adamovich from Pixabay

"Turn up for work. Discipline allows creative freedom. No discipline equals no freedom."

    ~ Jeanette Winterson

I know a woman who lives like a slug.

Every day she gets up with no clue how she’s going to spend her day. Some days, she doesn’t even bother getting out of bed. She just plays computer games, streams TV shows and naps a lot.

She doesn’t eat well either because she rarely shops, and even when she does, she buys random food items and has no clue of what meals she’ll make from it. So she mostly exists on microwaved pizza and Doritos.

It’s a sad life indeed.

I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite. I get up at 6am every day, get dressed, make the bed, have breakfast, do the dishes, do the chores, and anything else I need to do, and then sit down to write.

My writing is organised too. I have a diary where I write everything I’m going to be working on. So all I have to do is look in my diary and start writing.

My writing is not just planned out every day, but every week, month and year.

It’s this meticulous planning and organising that has enabled me to work as a writer and earn all my income this way. I couldn’t write as much as I do if I didn’t have a writing plan.

That’s why I wrote, The 12 Month Writing Challenge, to help you to plan your writing for the next 12 months and get more writing done than you ever have before.

And to make it even easier, The 12 Month Writing Challenge comes with a bonus copy of The One Month Author so that you can write 12 books in a year.

And right now you can download a copy of both PDF ebooks for only $9.99 (usual price - $24.99), using the discount code ‘12mthpromo.’

I know I’ve been pushing this offer a lot lately, but it’s only because I don’t want you to miss out.

Stop dreaming and start writing.

The 12 Month Writing Challenge

https://cheritonhousepublishing.com/books/12MTH.html