Morning pages, candlelight, tea, all under the duvet in pre-dawn darkness. A short sunrise walk, quick breakfast and sitting down to a creativity themed hypnosis track a friend made for me—and then, before doing anything else, I pull up my current novel manuscript. The perfect morning.
I usually hit the keys at my work desk at around 9am.
Before that I do tones of household chores , and then calmly arrive half n hour before others do at my workplace, so that I get that silence before the humdrum of the day begins. In that silence the only sound I like is me sipping my tea/coffee and my fingers hitting the keyboard.
Thankfully my work desk gets abundant sunshine and has a pretty view, so it makes it an ideal place to start churning out stories. I sometimes do nature walks in the morning, which refresh me and also give me inspiration at times.
I love to get a cup of tea, and then sit down with my journal. A little free writing, and sometimes poetry. First thing in the morning is one of the best and most reliable times for me to write poetry.
So many wonderful comments here! There are a few things I do each day after waking. I read my Facebook memories before getting out of bed (there are usually funny stories or cute pictures and videos of the grands that will start my day with a smile). I wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. My husband makes my tea before I get up, so I usually take medicine with my first glass of ice tea (y'all, I'm an ice tea junkie). After that, it's hit the computer for Substack, school email, and working on whatever assignment, research, or writing project that I have scheduled for my day.
I did try the morning writer thing. It made for one crabby me by the end of the day.
I have tried tried tried to be a writer in the mornings and it isn't happening. I am an afternoon writing person, I've realized. Not that I'm not thinking about writing earlier or throughout the day. But my focused energy is not at its best first thing in the morning. And so... this might be uncouth, but I'm in total favor of using my morning to sweep out the cobwebs with any internet distractions that might creep up during the day. This includes: reading the news (quickly), playing my Wordle, catching up on deeper online stories, sitting with my cats and watching the rain outside my window. And then I always chant/mediate and get on with my day. For me, this works well.
I just read a separate substack article by Chris Guillebeau that talks about managing your energy rather than your time. I think that's where I'm at now! But it is a journey :)
Everyone is different. I read or write when I wake up, but usually I read for one to two hours and have done so for 35 years or more, seven days a week. What I've learned about myself is this: writing starts my day at a fast pace. It revs me up. Reading, however, starts my day gently. I don't know why, but a softer entry point seems to contribute positively to to my overall sense of peace throughout the day.
I try to meditate. I really do. But my thoughts start rushing as soon as I wake up. So I manage five, ten minutes at best. Then I write down the dream I had that night - my dreams are so crazy and outrageous that writing them down makes me laugh, and if I don't write them down I'll forget them. Then I get up, brush my teeth, wash my face, go outside on the balcony for a minute or so to just...I don't know, feel that crisp morning atmosphere. And then I start bugging my husband to make me breakfast.
It's funny - I'm really a night owl, but I do try to get writing done in the morning. I even have a weekday Zoom writer's meetup every M-F from 8-9 am Eastern. Having to start the Zoom helps me focus on my writing for the day. I start with meditation - and sometimes exercise comes before, sometimes after writing. But I also feel it's dangerous to get too precious with your writing - sometimes you just have to fit it in whenever you can.
I so agree about fitting your writing in where you can. When I became serious about writing a book about five years ago, I felt like I could only write in the morning when I am, as a rule, at my mental and physical best. But I now can write in the afternoon or evening, which has given me back my morning rituals before working on a book.
I love to read from one or several books while enjoy my coffee in the morning. Then it’s on to consulting work and on some days, fitness. Late afternoons, sometime btw. 4-6, are my best writing times. This mostly works for me, but I think I could gain an extra hour of writing time now and again if I woke earlier.
Hi Anne, I am not as good as Julia Cameron suggested about writing three pages in a journal as soon as one is up. In fact, I'm inconsistent, so I look forward to reading the comments for some good ideas, specifically for not being distracted. I have a book of poetry that I have been writing for a long time. I need to finish it already; it's about 80 percent done.
One thing that works is getting to bed early, so I can be up early before the family awakens and distracts me. I love my family, but it's nice to have the solitude.
I wish you great luck in continuing your adventure with writing your novel. I don't think I could write one, but one never knows.
It takes me around 12 minutes (yep, I timed it) from the time I rise, step into my slippers and robe, make an oat milk latte and open my computer to work on my novel for about an hour before my family wakes. Weekends are a different story; I sleep as long as I need to. I usually catch up on Substack from bed, with the coffee that my husband thoughtfully delivers on weekend mornings.
I do like to wake up and just watch the sun rising over the trees and birds awakening. With a few of these moments, I often try to jot down a short poem, the length of a 5 line or so. Even if I don't get back to my writing until later, it helps bring me back to those first moments and feelings. With winter hours coming, I may have to set an alarm to get up just a bit earlier if I want to get ahead the family.
I write my 3 gratitudes for the day. Brings me nicely into reality and what the day brings to me. Receptiveness, listening, open mind….need a daily reminder.
I have a terrible habit of checking my phone first thing. Lately, it's because I'm waiting to hear back on a potential job, and so I feel this urgent need to check it! I remember once doing an experiment with myself where I didn't reach for my phone first thing, and it's actually amazing how much better my day went. And I'm excited to hear about your novel!
I have to brush my teeth, splash water on my face and put in eye cream. The last bit is important because it's the one thing that helps me feel awake. I drink some warm water and if I have 30 ish minutes before my son wakes up, I do some kind of workout, or else it won't happen.
Morning pages, candlelight, tea, all under the duvet in pre-dawn darkness. A short sunrise walk, quick breakfast and sitting down to a creativity themed hypnosis track a friend made for me—and then, before doing anything else, I pull up my current novel manuscript. The perfect morning.
Yes! Sounds perfect!
I usually hit the keys at my work desk at around 9am.
Before that I do tones of household chores , and then calmly arrive half n hour before others do at my workplace, so that I get that silence before the humdrum of the day begins. In that silence the only sound I like is me sipping my tea/coffee and my fingers hitting the keyboard.
Thankfully my work desk gets abundant sunshine and has a pretty view, so it makes it an ideal place to start churning out stories. I sometimes do nature walks in the morning, which refresh me and also give me inspiration at times.
I love to get a cup of tea, and then sit down with my journal. A little free writing, and sometimes poetry. First thing in the morning is one of the best and most reliable times for me to write poetry.
So many wonderful comments here! There are a few things I do each day after waking. I read my Facebook memories before getting out of bed (there are usually funny stories or cute pictures and videos of the grands that will start my day with a smile). I wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. My husband makes my tea before I get up, so I usually take medicine with my first glass of ice tea (y'all, I'm an ice tea junkie). After that, it's hit the computer for Substack, school email, and working on whatever assignment, research, or writing project that I have scheduled for my day.
I did try the morning writer thing. It made for one crabby me by the end of the day.
I have tried tried tried to be a writer in the mornings and it isn't happening. I am an afternoon writing person, I've realized. Not that I'm not thinking about writing earlier or throughout the day. But my focused energy is not at its best first thing in the morning. And so... this might be uncouth, but I'm in total favor of using my morning to sweep out the cobwebs with any internet distractions that might creep up during the day. This includes: reading the news (quickly), playing my Wordle, catching up on deeper online stories, sitting with my cats and watching the rain outside my window. And then I always chant/mediate and get on with my day. For me, this works well.
It’s so important to find what works well for us! I’m so glad you’ve found it. I feel like I’m perpetually searching. :)
I just read a separate substack article by Chris Guillebeau that talks about managing your energy rather than your time. I think that's where I'm at now! But it is a journey :)
Everyone is different. I read or write when I wake up, but usually I read for one to two hours and have done so for 35 years or more, seven days a week. What I've learned about myself is this: writing starts my day at a fast pace. It revs me up. Reading, however, starts my day gently. I don't know why, but a softer entry point seems to contribute positively to to my overall sense of peace throughout the day.
I try to meditate. I really do. But my thoughts start rushing as soon as I wake up. So I manage five, ten minutes at best. Then I write down the dream I had that night - my dreams are so crazy and outrageous that writing them down makes me laugh, and if I don't write them down I'll forget them. Then I get up, brush my teeth, wash my face, go outside on the balcony for a minute or so to just...I don't know, feel that crisp morning atmosphere. And then I start bugging my husband to make me breakfast.
It's funny - I'm really a night owl, but I do try to get writing done in the morning. I even have a weekday Zoom writer's meetup every M-F from 8-9 am Eastern. Having to start the Zoom helps me focus on my writing for the day. I start with meditation - and sometimes exercise comes before, sometimes after writing. But I also feel it's dangerous to get too precious with your writing - sometimes you just have to fit it in whenever you can.
This is lovely! I like the idea of having a group you can hop online with every morning, to get your writing going.
I so agree about fitting your writing in where you can. When I became serious about writing a book about five years ago, I felt like I could only write in the morning when I am, as a rule, at my mental and physical best. But I now can write in the afternoon or evening, which has given me back my morning rituals before working on a book.
Marie Forleo says 'create before you consume' (consume in the context of phone-checking; emails, messages, and the like).
I like it, also. I like reading in the morning when my head is more clear and not in 50,000 other places.
I like breathing into my day.
I like knitting a couple rounds, connecting mind to body.
I like writing, but this is not a practice I have made habitual. Yet.
I love to read from one or several books while enjoy my coffee in the morning. Then it’s on to consulting work and on some days, fitness. Late afternoons, sometime btw. 4-6, are my best writing times. This mostly works for me, but I think I could gain an extra hour of writing time now and again if I woke earlier.
Sounds like a lovely day!
Hi Anne, I am not as good as Julia Cameron suggested about writing three pages in a journal as soon as one is up. In fact, I'm inconsistent, so I look forward to reading the comments for some good ideas, specifically for not being distracted. I have a book of poetry that I have been writing for a long time. I need to finish it already; it's about 80 percent done.
One thing that works is getting to bed early, so I can be up early before the family awakens and distracts me. I love my family, but it's nice to have the solitude.
I wish you great luck in continuing your adventure with writing your novel. I don't think I could write one, but one never knows.
Thank you, Beth! And yes, getting to bed early is key.
It takes me around 12 minutes (yep, I timed it) from the time I rise, step into my slippers and robe, make an oat milk latte and open my computer to work on my novel for about an hour before my family wakes. Weekends are a different story; I sleep as long as I need to. I usually catch up on Substack from bed, with the coffee that my husband thoughtfully delivers on weekend mornings.
Sounds like a great routine!
I do like to wake up and just watch the sun rising over the trees and birds awakening. With a few of these moments, I often try to jot down a short poem, the length of a 5 line or so. Even if I don't get back to my writing until later, it helps bring me back to those first moments and feelings. With winter hours coming, I may have to set an alarm to get up just a bit earlier if I want to get ahead the family.
What a lovely way to start the day!
I write my 3 gratitudes for the day. Brings me nicely into reality and what the day brings to me. Receptiveness, listening, open mind….need a daily reminder.
I used to list gratitudes each day and it so helped. Somehow over time, I forgot to do these. I'm going back to this practice. Thank you!
So nice. I used to do a gratitude page daily, and for some reason stopped. Maybe this is the reminder I need!! Thanks!
I have a terrible habit of checking my phone first thing. Lately, it's because I'm waiting to hear back on a potential job, and so I feel this urgent need to check it! I remember once doing an experiment with myself where I didn't reach for my phone first thing, and it's actually amazing how much better my day went. And I'm excited to hear about your novel!
I have to brush my teeth, splash water on my face and put in eye cream. The last bit is important because it's the one thing that helps me feel awake. I drink some warm water and if I have 30 ish minutes before my son wakes up, I do some kind of workout, or else it won't happen.