I love listening to and read about the habits of other writers. The creative process is endlessly fascinating to me. Every time I hear/read writers talk about their habits I’m half hoping to hear the mess I see in my own working life replicated elsewhere. I often find myself frustrated that we seem to be living in a time of increasing optimisation. That if we somehow perfect our habits and routines, we will reach some kind of creative output utopia.
Well, I call bullshit.
So here are my list of habits that I have read at some point or other is ‘bad’ for me as a writer/creative.
I don’t write every day
As a single parent, sometimes earning immediate income trumps writing. As a carer, sometimes I have been up half the night. Some days everyone else’s needs are just so urgent that by the time everyone is sorted, all I can do is lie in a bath and stare into space.
I read while I’m writing (mostly)
Ever heard writers say they don’t read while they’re writing incase they adopt the voice of that author? When do these people read??? I have occasionally had to take an enforced break from reading when I have been on a mad book deadline. But it’s very temporary and I hate every moment of it.
I read every kind of genre
Romance, fantasy, the latest ingenue lit fiction, cookbooks, nerdy and niche non-fiction, literary memoir, YA, poetry, crime, prize lists, occasionally a bit of sci fi, fucked up short stories and rereading the entire Agatha Christie back catalog. I like variety. I think reading across genres makes for better writing craft.
I do not tidy my desk/house or empty the kitchen sink/washing machine before I write
Cleaning is boring. Writing is more interesting. The only exception is the first day my kids are back at school after a holiday (that has become a weird ritual).
I don’t get up super early to write (mostly)
I have a disabled teen who doesn’t fall asleep until 11.30ish. I can’t go to bed early, so I can’t get up very early. Sometimes though, if the cat wakes me up at 5.30 and I can’t stop thinking about what I am working on, I will sit down and write.
I don’t stay up late to write (ever)
Umm, as above - I’m lucky if I get to bed at 11.30pm. I am NOT staying up any later than that.
Sometimes I write all day
It’s totally ineffecient - I have read all the things about how after 3-4 hours our brains are too tired blah blah blah. But sometimes I can’t get my head out of my book so I just keep going. I can’t help it! If you are waiting for an email response from me that is very delayed…. this is probably why.
Sometimes I write for 20 mins
Sometimes all I have is 20 mins and you know what - it is surprising how much you can get done in 20 mins. Do I love this way of writing? No. Is it sometimes necessary? Yes.
I do not have a strict writing routine
As illustrated above. If I needed to stick to a strict routine to write, I would have written zero books.
I do not have a killer morning routine
I look at my phone when I wake up. I often eat just toast for breakfast. I drink instant coffee. Sometimes I go back to bed to read. Tech bros would shudder at my morning habits. The most effecient thing about my mornings is the 5-10 minutes of light exercise I do while my HRT gel is drying and I’m stupidly proud of this meagre habit.
I do not have an empty inbox
There is no point - the emails just keep coming. I will not share the number that is currently on my Mail app because I am certain some of you might go into heart failure. Ahh fuck it - its 8805 (*whispers* the number on my laptop is 119,422).
I talk about what I’m working on
With my writers group, my boyfriend and my agent. I’m not superstitious.
I like film as much as I like books
There I said it. I read a lot but I also watch a LOT of films. I think it has shaped me as a storyteller (as did my years as a photographer). The cinema is my happy place. Films defined my childhood even more than books did.
I listen to more books than I read
I have a busy life, so without audio I wouldn’t get to read nearly as much as I would like. I read and cook/clean/fold laundry/walk/run errands. It makes life so much more fun! Sometimes if I have loved an audio book, I buy myself a hard copy, so I can do a closer read on paper.
I’m a binge reader
Last summer I discovered Abby Jimenez and listened to all her books one after the other (whoops!). Sometimes I get on a particular bent and can’t stop reading around that topic or a particular narrative style. I just go with it rather than fight it. I couldn’t care less about balance.
I hate being told what to read
I have written about this before - but I am a selfish read so I am not into book clubs.
I don’t count how many books I read in a year
I suppose I could probably figure it out…. But I really don’t care. I don’t even write the titles down anywhere.
Somehow with all these shitty, ineffecient habits I have managed to get a whole lot of work done.
It is easy to think we need a perfect routine, to follow certain rules, have a huge amount of time and excellent habits to be a writer. But all we really need, is to sit down and get some work done, however imperfectly we make that happen.
Forget optimisation. You are a writer, not an app.
I would love to know what are things you do that go against advise for writers/creatives?
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What a great read, I’m also fascinated by other writers’ habits and processes. Thank you for this insight into yours!
I heard that - I think it was Steven Pressfield - sits at his desk every single day at 9am to write (I wonder if that’s still true!)
Anyhoo, I tried that once, I mean for about 3 or 4 consecutive days, bored the shit out of me to be so punctual and available to my work, so I soon rebelled against it and never looked back.
Also, I think that kind of discipline is so masculine, my body just isn’t into it.
Thank you for sharing such a human post! It’s a breath of fresh air to read a piece that feels both vulnerable and confident. The world needs to hear more stories like this that showcase our humanness and our real reality shared with an unapologetic voice. Well done ❤️❤️❤️