#18 My daily writing routine
The best writing routine is the one that works for you.
A myriad of factors are at play such as work, family and energy levels.
I’m sharing mine below because it’s a system that has worked for me and parts might be relevant or useful for you.
The caveats are I have no kids, I’m naturally an early bird and I’m very lucky to have a busy job but a degree of control over my schedule – deadlines permitting, of course.
I carve out time before and after my job when possible, with the priority being the 5-7am window for deep work. At the weekend I find the time later in the day but it varies depending on what’s going on.
5:00 – Wake up, feed the cat, make the coffee I laid out the night before.
5:05 – Spend five to ten minutes looking at my ideas list or notes to remind myself of where I’m going with the writing session. I try not to get bogged down here though.
5:15 – Start writing, sometimes just freewriting to see where it takes me, other times I can launch right in.
6:00 – Make and eat breakfast so I have fuel for my exercise, but with enough time for it to settle in my stomach so I don’t feel heavy for that day’s workout.
6:15 – Dive back into the writing.
7:00-7:30 – Change into my gym/running gear, laid out the night before.
8:15 (ish) – Workout and shower ticked off, I head to a coffee shop before work and squeeze in another hour or so of support work like planning, website admin or sharing content on social media.
The rhythms of my professional commitments then take over until late afternoon.
I tend to have less energy after work so the real creative writing is more elusive in the afternoon and evening.
So instead I tend to do things requiring less heavy lifting: I either plan ideas or edit my work later in the day. Sometimes a second wind will give me another hour or two of writing but I don’t count on it.
The last element is when I journal before bed, I’ll note down an idea or something interesting I came across in the day that might form the basis for my writing the next day or down the line.
A writing routine is highly personal and depends on your commitments.
The best writing routine is the one you stick to and enjoy.
But remember, priorities change and if you have to adapt your writing routine that is okay too.
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Benjamin Craske
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