Summary

Stephen King adheres to a disciplined writing routine, starting early with a set of rituals, writing 2000 words daily, and maintaining this schedule without exceptions, exemplifying a strong work ethic that has contributed to his success as a writer.

Abstract

Stephen King, a prolific author with a vast array of novels and short stories, follows a meticulous daily writing routine that has been instrumental in his success. His day begins early with a glass of water, tea, vitamins, and an organized workspace. King commences writing between 8 and 8:30 AM, aiming for 2000 words or six pages of 'clean' writing, which includes editing and formatting. He isolates himself from distractions by turning off his phone and internet. King's work ethic is characterized by consistency and discipline, as he maintains this routine regardless of circumstances, such as holidays or personal celebrations. Post-work, he enjoys leisure activities, having earned his downtime through dedicated work. His routine, while rigorous, serves as a testament to the notion that hard work and discipline are key to achieving excellence in one's craft.

Opinions

King's routine emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving writing success.
The ritualistic nature of his pre-work routine is seen as a method to mentally prepare for the creative process.
King's preference for an early start and isolation from modern distractions highlights the value of focused, uninterrupted writing time.
The goal of producing 2000 words of edited work daily showcases a commitment to both quantity and quality.
King's routine is acknowledged as being intense and potentially unfeasible for part-time writers or those with other jobs.
The author of the content suggests that while one may not adopt King's routine in its entirety, incorporating elements such as daily writing or reading can be beneficial.
King's unwavering dedication to his craft, even after achieving fame and wealth, is presented as an inspiration and a lesson in work ethic for writers and professionals in all fields.

Stephen King’s Writing Routine Proves Why He’s The Best

“Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.”― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

With over 61 novels and 200 short stories under his belt and undoubtedly being one of the most celebrated writers of his time, Stephen King has proved why deserves all the fame and recognition, time and again.

With Books like The Shining, Pet Semetary, The Green Mile, and his most recent novel The Institute, Stephen King keeps raising the ante and is a great role model not just for fiction writers but also for freelancers and non-fiction writers.

However, he isn’t a god gifted writer. No one is. Just like any other skill, Writing takes tonnes of practice, consistency, and discipline.

Today, even after acquiring the kind of fame and money most can’t even fathom, Stephen King still hustles like he’s broke. He has a strict writing routine, which he follows to this day. No excuses, no exceptions.

In his non-fiction book On Writing: A Memoir by Stephen King, he opens up about the routine that led him to success and other tips that’d be great for new and aspiring writers.

To make his routine simpler, I’ve divided King’s schedule into three parts:

Pre-Work
Work
Post-Work

PRE-WORK

King Likes To Have His Desk Organised Before He Starts Working

King starts his morning quite early since he starts writing between 8–8:30 AM. Every morning, he has a glass of water and a cup of tea (King doesn’t drink coffee, so if you’re a coffee drinker and are planning to follow his work schedule, I’m sorry) and takes his vitamin pills.

He makes sure he is in the same seat every day, and his papers and desk are arranged the same way every day.

He explained in Lisa Rogak’s book, Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King, “The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon.”

Once he’s done with his morning routine, King sits down to do what he excels at- writing.

WORK

Stephen King Makes Sure To Type Two Thousand Words Each Day

As mentioned above, King tries to start working between 8–8:30 AM.

Here’s what you may not like if you’re planning to follow Stephen King’s routine. He keeps his phone and the internet switched off until he’s done working for the day.

He prefers to play some music when he’s writing (he said he likes to listen to iconic bands like Metallica and Anthrax when he’s working), and writes a total of 2000 words or 6 pages every single day.

He says he doesn’t give up on his quota of 2k words or 6 pages daily until there’s an emergency. If not, then he makes no exceptions be it his birthday or Christmas.

“No. I mean, there’s real life, I could be working away, and something comes up and you have to get up … but mostly I try to get the six pages in.”- Stephen King in a conversation with George R.R. Martin.

He tries to get a ‘clean’ work of 2000 words each day.

‘Clean’ being an edited and formatted piece of work by King’s standards.

POST-WORK

King Enjoys The Rest Of The Day When He’s Done Working

He usually finishes writing by 11:30 AM to 1:30 AM. After this, he’s free to do anything he likes-naps, family, reading, or watching The Red Sox games (he has earned this leisure time).

One thing to note here is that more than his routine which clearly shows his hustle, he follows it every day. He has the discipline to wake up and follow the same rigorous routine each day.

Obviously, his routine isn’t ideal for most part-time writers because they have another job along with writing and working this rigorously isn’t possible for everyone.

However, there are some things from his routine that you should inculcate in your daily routine. Like, writing or reading daily. If not for four hours, an hour a day maybe. Or his dedication to the craft even after acquiring so much wealth.

There’s so much not just writers but everyone can learn from King’s work ethic. To be the best, you need to work harder than everyone else in the room. And, there’s no one better than Stephen King who proves this statement right.