WRITING

When Is Your Best Writing Produced?

Finding the flow day or night

Does it matter if we write at sunrise, mid-day, in the evening, or another time?

My first dozen or so articles came to life at random hours: in the morning, accompanied by a bold cup of dark roasted Peruvian blend, late afternoon after my nature walk, early evening after a quick dinner, sometimes an hour before hitting the bed.

During moments of racking my brain for creativity, I wondered about timing. But what I noticed surprised me: it was less about whether the sun was out or not.

The factors influencing my productivity were more varied — surroundings (sights/sounds), distractions (cell phone/social media), physical setting (at the kitchen table vs. in my bedroom vs. at the public library’s quiet room), and miscellaneous responsibilities (laundry day, food shopping, other errands).

A Matter of Preference

Around my third month, I implemented a morning writing practice. Being the start of my day, I rationalized this is as the optimal time to get my creative juices flowing.

But that method didn’t prevent me from feeling blocked for ideas. Instead, I noticed self-imposed pressure was a source of frustration.

Rather than commit solely to one time of day, I decided on a more organic approach: write each morning (if the vibe arose), and then continue throughout the day (depending on what else I had on my plate).

According to Publication Coach, the best time of day depends on whether one is a morning lark, night owl, or somewhere in between.

Cultivating An Idea

Creative thoughts don’t occupy our minds 24/7. And often those inspiring stories are ones we start, then leave in draft form for some other time. The thing is we need to grow the idea, giving it nuance, and flavor until it has matured — ready for publication.

To be clear: here I’m not implying that you wrack your brain for hours (days even) on an article if you’re not feeling it at that very moment. My suggestion is the concept of letting an idea marinate, even if that means setting it aside to return later.

The key is to jot down a few main points around which to build a compelling story.

Creating A Strategy

It might sound like overkill — formulating a plan for your piece, pre-publishing. But, devising a strategy has multiple benefits. Time management and thought organizing are just two.

In this case, we’re not looking at time of day. Instead, you’ll just focus on your idea. Take baby steps, bullet point it out.

• Main topic — jot a few associated words
• Viewpoint — will it be a how-to guide? Is it a personal experience? What voice are you using for your audience?
• Emotional Reaction — connecting with your readers so that your piece illicits reactions, creates a conversation (think: tapping into their emotions)
• Unique Angle — what fresh angle can you bring to your article? Something that differs from the general consensus

Your strategy might vary from what’s outlined above. What matters most is to organize your thoughts to maximize your creative time.

The Perfect Moment

Everyone knows there’s no such thing as the perfect anything. Our experiences are subjective and each of us views them through a personal lens. Past encounters, cultural practices, societal expectations are but a few factors involved.

Writing is no different. It is influenced by a boatload of things. Looking for the perfect moment to create ideas is futile.

Take a peek at Tim Denning’s analysis on the subject:

The challenge is that we let our genius get lost because we don’t act on it when it’s available to us in the form of brilliant ideas.

Of the many gems he shares, that’s one of my favorites. It reminds me of the 34 draft pieces taking up space in my Medium storage room.

Continue To Experiment

Rolling up on six months of my Medium journey I’m still figuring out my optimal timeframe.

The past three weeks find me crafting poems in the evening hours, and drafting non-poetry articles late morning/early afternoon. Maybe that’ll be how my flow continues.

My current mindset is simple — avoid the pressure. Write when you feel it.

Let’s get the conversation re-started. What works for you? Drop a line with your thoughts and tips.

Lola Rosario is a cultural storyteller raising social consciousness through writing. Follow the beginning of her Medium journey (June 2021) where she recounts her childhood dream of becoming a pilot. Check out her travel blog: https://latrekista.com and her freelance translation/content writing site: https://thirdaccent.com