E.S. Raye

I’ve been avoiding this topic for a while, but it feels like it may finally be the right time for it: my “daily” writing routine.

I’ll start by saying this isn’t actually my daily routine. I do freelance marketing writing for a living and I also dedicate a substantial amount of time to maintaining this website and blog, my newsletter, and Perseid Prophecies. So really, this is my routine for the days I am lucky enough to have an entire day to dedicate to writing.

10:30 AM: Wake Up

This tends to be true even on the days I’m doing my freelance work. I’m a night owl, have no children, and I work from home and make my own hours, so I tend to go to bed quite late and get up around 10:30.

Then it’s a time for breakfast and a cup of coffee before…

11:00-ish AM: Walk the Dog

Once breakfast is done (for both me and our three pets), I generally like to take my dog for a walk. Well, truth be told, she demands we got for that walk. But it’s a nice way to clear my brain of any sleepy fog that may be lingering after that first cup of coffee.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Get to Work

When we get back from our walk, I pour another cup of coffee and head down to my basement office. Getting started is often the hardest part of my day, and it sometimes takes as much as an hour for me to get focused and working. I find the trick is to actually put my phone down and type something–anything.

And I do mean anything. Even if I delete it a few minutes later, getting something out through my fingertips and onto the screen is often enough to open the dam and get the creative juices flowing.

2:00 PM: Lunch

Since I tend to get up a little later than most, I have my lunch a little later as well. And, of course, more coffee.

2:30 PM: Back to Work

After lunch is my real crunch time. I find I get the most–and the best–work done after I’ve eaten, especially if I was able to get a good foundation for the day started between the walk and lunch. I find I write most effectively and efficiently in the afternoon.

5:00 PM-7:00 PM: Finishing Up

The time of day I wrap up my writing efforts varies. I tend to aim for a word goal of about 2,000/day. Some days I write much more, others I write substantially less. But, since I work from home and my wife doesn’t (and in fact, has a fairly long commute and hours that can change from day to day), a lot of the household work falls to me.

So, when I finish up my writing time depends on if I’m making dinner for just myself or for both of us, if I have a “beer league” hockey game that night and at what time (I tend to play 2 or 3 times a week, so this makes an impact with some regularity), and how successful I’ve been at writing that day.

If it’s been a good day, and I’m humming along with no real reason to stop, I tend to extend the hours to keep the flow going. Similarly, if I’m close to that 2,000 word goal, I’ll make a push to reach it. On the other hand, if it’s been a struggle, I’ll often take the need to make dinner, do the dishes, and feed the pets as an opportunity to get away from the keyboard for a while.

9:00 PM-2:00 AM: To Write or Not to Write

I don’t often write at night, but I have been known to on occasion. Sometimes, when my wife goes to bed and takes the dog with her, I’ll go back down to my office an hammer out a few more pages. Lately, I’ve found that this time of night is great for writing horror. The house is quiet and still, and the sky outside the little window over my desk is dark. It’s the perfect atmosphere to send my brain to some horrific places.

However, most nights, this is my “me” time, when I take the time to do any number of my hobbies that don’t involve me leaving the house to let people shoot pucks at my face.

I play Xbox, I read, I build and paint models while watching TV or movies. And sometimes, if I’m at the beginning of a new writing project, I break down the structure of films in the genre I’m going to be writing. The truth is, while I may not often be actively writing during these evening hours, I find that I solve problems I’ve had during the day and come up with new and fresh ideas for stories late at night. I value this time greatly and am thankful to have it.

So, that’s what most of my writing days looks like. Obviously this won’t work for everyone. People with 9-to-5s, whether at home or in an office, and those with children have their own responsibilities to take care of. And honestly, I am in awe of those that juggle all of those things–I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things I need to, and I don’t have to deal with the rigors of parenthood and a formal work structure.

What do your writing days look like? Let me know in the comments!