The internet is practically bursting with content on the writing routines of best-selling authors. But these writers already make a living from the craft. Their schedules often feel completely different from those of aspiring debut authors, who might be juggling a day job and caring for dependents while trying to find any spare moment to write. So, is a writing routine necessary \u2013 and if so, how can it be tailored to suit you?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A novel (or non-fiction book) for adults is roughly 80,000 words long. To complete a draft in a year, you’d need to achieve an output of 6,650 words a month (or 1,500 words a week). Viewed like this, the task doesn\u2019t seem insurmountable. And there\u2019s nobody saying you have to finish that first draft in twelve months, either. This is where establishing a writing routine comes in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below, I\u2019ve looked at the writing routines of some of my aspiring debut clients, alongside those of well-known authors: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fawzia (aspiring debut)<\/strong>: \u201cI have three hours a week to write. That\u2019s it. I\u2019m a mum to two young children and I tell myself I\u2019ll write in the evenings, but I\u2019m too fried. My three-hour stint (when the kids are in childcare) is gold dust. Although it doesn\u2019t amount to a huge word-count, it\u2019s all I\u2019ve got. Without that time, I\u2019d go mad!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The famous author<\/strong>: Haruki Murakami rises early, and runs and swims at intervals to break up his desk time. In his words, \u201cWriting a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Claudia (aspiring debut):<\/strong> \u201cMy kids are at school full-time. I teach part time, so I manage to dedicate one day a week to writing. I start as soon as the house is empty and leave everything, including housework and lesson planning, until after the kids are home. I\u2019m not a slave to wordcount because I can\u2019t be. I just have to ringfence this time, and use it as best I can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The famous author<\/strong>: Jodi Picoult starts her narratives already knowing the conclusion, then works backwards to find out how to get there.\u202fJodi\u2019s approach to writing is that it\u2019s a \u2018proper\u2019 job and requires an 8-hour day.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Andreas (aspiring debut):<\/strong> \u201cI live alone. I\u2019m lucky to be able to write during the day, and schedule my paid work in the evenings. I\u2019ve so far turned out an impressive word-count on a weekly basis, but often it\u2019s sketchy and gets deleted and rewritten. But so long as I\u2019m writing, I\u2019m trying my best, even if it\u2019s a long-term work-in-progress.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The famous author:<\/strong> Kate Mosse explains, \u201cFor me, the writing comes at the very end of the preparation and planning, which might take four or five years. When I write, I start very early in the day \u2013 maybe 4 o\u2019clock \u2013 with a cup of strong, sweet black coffee and my tiny laptop\u2026 I then write for, say, seven\/eight hours a day, before disappearing off for a walk or a swim or anything that keeps the old bones moving. After that, a quiet evening with the family\u2026 ready to begin again the next morning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Padraig (aspiring debut): <\/strong>\u201cNow the kids have grown and flown, I reserve Saturdays for writing. I guard my Saturdays jealously (it\u2019s become a bit of a family joke). I don\u2019t care how slowly I write, so long as I can keep working on my book that sacred one day a week.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The famous author<\/strong>: David Mitchell notes, \u201cI could probably write for ten hours a day if I had them, but I\u2019ve got two young children, so I can either be a halfway decent dad or I can be a writer who writes all day. I can\u2019t really be both. As things stand, I might clock in three hours on a poor day, and six or seven on a productive day.\u202fSometimes\u2026 I forget the time until my long-suffering wife begins to drop noisy hints.\u201d\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n The final words must go to Kate Mosse, because her writing routine advice fits any lifestyle or circumstance: \u201cFive minutes a day are better than no minutes. You might not yet have time to write that \u2018big\u2019 novel you\u2019ve been planning, but everyone \u2013 whatever their responsibilities for working, caring, life \u2013 can find five minutes a day. Keep a pad and paper by the kettle\u2026 or send text messages to yourself. Look at people in the street and think of how you\u2019d put them on the page with just three words\u2026 when you do have time to write, you\u2019ll be match fit and ready to go.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Four Tips for Establishing Your Writing Routine:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The internet is practically bursting with content on the writing routines of best-selling authors. But these writers already make a living from the craft. Their schedules often feel completely different from those of aspiring debut authors, who might be juggling a day job and caring for dependents while trying to find any spare moment to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38188,"featured_media":803396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[248],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-803389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-topic-motivation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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