When and how much to write?

Doesn't matter what others do - the question is - when do you want to write, are able to write.

This is the question to ask yourself. Literally, go look into the mirror.

This is before many other questions you will have noticed, such as what am I going to write about?

This is deliberate.

First you need to decide when.

Many writers have set times which they stick to religiously and if it works for famous published authors, who make their living from writing, it can work for you.

So first decide if there is a time of day - every day is preferable - that really suits you.

Jeffrey Archer writes like this.



5:30 arise
6-8 write
8-10 break for food walk gym whatever
10-12 write
12-2 break for lunch newspaper walk the dog whatever
2-4 write
4-6 break
6-8 write
8-10 break
10 bed

That is 8 hours writing, every day, which is why he is a prolific publisher of books, short stories, who knows what. I read a book of short stories of his in fact many years ago. Excellent. If your interest lies in short stories, I would recommend you give him a look. I will try to find the book and add a link for anyone interested. Also need to see if my father still has the book as I didn't read them all. I think its this one.

Jeffrey Archer Short Stories

Anyway the key is discipline i.e. a daily time set aside, stuck to, each day until the book is done. Take a break then but not until you can see your book on Amazon for sale with your name coming up in black and white. What a buzz. What an achievement. That is one of the things that drives me, makes all the work so worthwhile, that sense of accomplishment.