“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
Every single writer on the planet wants to write. But, sometimes, it isn’t something that comes as easily as we would like. A lack of creativity, increased fatigue and outside distractions can all be major causes of writer’s block and, once they have a hold of you, it’s very hard to shake off. So, the question then becomes: when is the best time for writing? Join us here at What We Reading as we take a look at when science says you are at your most productive, and when the best time for creativity is!
What Is The Best Time To Write?
The first thing to acknowledge before talking about the best times for creativity is that everyone is different. Ask ten writers when they write best, and you are sure to get ten wildly different answers. Everyone thrives in different environments and at different times of the day.
So, our answer to what the best time to write would be: the best time to begin writing is the time that works best for you – when you feel most motivated and least distracted.
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How To Know Your Best Time
Our point above naturally raises the question: how do you work out when your best time for writing is?
There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to working at different times of the day, and sometimes a plethora of factors make working at certain hours impossible.
To help get you better acquainted with when your best time for writing may be, here are a few reasons why people prefer being creative in the mornings and in the evenings.
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Reasons To Write In The Morning
‘Early risers’ or ‘morning larks’ are common in the world of writing. Authors such as Ernest Hemmingway, Stephen King and Maya Angelou have all claimed they are at their most productive when the sun has just begun to shine. Here’s why:
- Getting it done: Sometimes we can write because we feel guilty if we don’t. Alternatively, it can be something that we have to do, be it for school, work or any extra curricula activity. In this case, writing in the morning can be a useful way of getting progress made before you have the opportunity of being distracted or find yourself too busy.
- Accomplishment: Following on from the point above, getting some paragraphs or chapters out of the way in the morning can reward you with a solid sense of achievement before the day unfolds. Alternatively, if you’re someone who struggles to get out of the right side of the bed in the morning, having some writing to get on with can be a great motivator.
- A free mind: Your brain is at its most creative immediately after waking up, with it getting increasingly more analytical as the schedule of a busy day plays out. You also tend to be in a better, more motivated mood in the mornings, all of which combine to make this time of day the best for writing for some people.
Reasons To Write In The Evening
‘Night owls’ are also incredibly prevalent in the world of writing. Alongside famous authors such H.P. Lovecraft and Robert Frost, the internet is full of creative communities that are united by their shared productivity when the sun goes down. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Unwinding: For many, writing can be an incredibly therapeutic experience. After a stressful day, writing at the end of it can provide a blissful sense of escapism that works wonders. It can also be handy for offloading all the ideas you’ve garnered throughout the day, allowing you to hit the hay knowing you’ve got them all down on paper.
- No obligations: The night is when the majority of us are totally free from commitments that demand our time and attention during the day. Whilst this obviously gives us the time to write, the blank canvas in our diary can be a wonderful way of inducing a good amount of productivity.
- Self-consciousness: There’s a sense of freedom that comes from writing at night. Whether it be the relief of the day’s events flowing out or the tranquillity of the surroundings, words seem to spill out much more freely after the sun goes down. They might not always be the most concise, but getting the words down on paper is half the battle when it comes to writing.
Finding Your Own Writing Shift
Unless you are professionally writing full-time, there are going to be commitments in your schedule that make finding time to put pen to paper difficult. But, working out when it is you’re at your best will help you make the most of your time. The best writing is produced when someone is at their most creative and, whether it is day or night, everyone has to find that out for themselves!
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
