I get up every day at 5AM (more or less). This gives me a few hours to myself before the work day begins or on weekends when Someone wakes. This precious time is dear that I am by myself, things are quiet, and I get things done without distraction. So far I’ve set up my work day, I’ve attended to the dishes, and I started a load of laundry. Before the flood gates open at work at eight, I can do some writing.
Mornings are when I like to write most. I’ve heard tell many writers did their writing early, either out of discipline or necessity (before their ‘day jobs’ started). That said, I often like to write at the end of the day to finish the day as it were. The Muses et. al. either don’t have regular work hours or they live in a different time zone* that there’s no rhythm to when they pop by to plant an idea into my gulliver. This usually happens when I have no pen and paper to write ideas down, not when I am sitting at the screen waiting for inspiration.
Sometimes my ‘have write something” is doubted by others in the household. After all, it is a hobby I am told. It is one thing to have to do a job but having to do a hobby makes no sense. True enough. The difference between rolling down grass hills (my other hobby) and blogging is I feel I really do have to write – regardless of the contents or quality. It feels as necessary as breathing.
The daylight is enough now for me to put this down and take Harper for her morning walk. Work begins in less than an hour. I’ve done all the necessary ablutions to start the day right – and this includes writing something. Thank you for reading and being part of my morning.
Spo-fans: when do you like to write? Do you have a fixed time of the day to do so? Do you feel a ‘need’ to write?
*Somewhere in Eastern Europe, I imagine.
43 comments
January 25, 2021 at 7:33 AM
Lori
I for one am very glad that you write. I enjoy your posts. Have a wonderful Monday!!
January 25, 2021 at 9:09 AM
Urspo
I for one am very glad you read my scribblings.
January 25, 2021 at 8:04 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I do feel a need to write but luckily, that need is easily fulfilled by writing any old kind of fluff or crap. That’s why blogging is a perfect hobby for me. I don’t have a fixed time for writing — just whenever I can work it in to my day or evening.
January 25, 2021 at 9:09 AM
Urspo
As always you have a most sensible approach to things. 🙂
January 25, 2021 at 8:05 AM
Alicia
I too am glad that you make time to write and that I found your blog. I try to write when inspiration hits, which is not easy working a full-time job from home. In the morning when I get up, I pretty much do what you do, tidy up the kitchen, feed and walk the dog, throw in a load of laundry, make my bed and then I try to sit and at least comment on other’s posts if not actually write one of my own. It is hard to find the time, but writing is a necessity. I also keep a handwritten journal and it’s even hard to find time to write in that one as I’m lazy when it comes to writing, I think much faster than I can write. Have a great week!
January 25, 2021 at 9:10 AM
Urspo
I am very glad to have you as a Spo-fan Alicia. I write in my paper journal every evening before bed, obliging myself to write something/anything.
January 25, 2021 at 8:35 AM
Bob Slatten
I do it when the mood strikes, though I do have weekly staples that can be done ahead of time, at any time. I enjoy it. It’s a place to let me spout my opinions and thoughts and likes and loathes.
January 25, 2021 at 9:11 AM
Urspo
That is what makes writing for me so lovely; you say it well
January 25, 2021 at 8:39 AM
anne marie in philly
when I damn well feel like it, and no need to do it.
January 25, 2021 at 9:11 AM
Urspo
I wouldn’t want you to do it any other way.
January 25, 2021 at 10:17 AM
anne marie in philly
SMOOCHES! 🙂
January 25, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
Always in the mornings. Although I did once write a horror short story late at night, which frightened the life out of most of those who read it.
January 25, 2021 at 9:12 AM
Urspo
I often read serious writers like yourself are more often than not ‘morning writers’ before they do the rest of the day. I try to imitate this apparently efficacious notion.
January 25, 2021 at 9:09 AM
Old Lurker
I do not have the urge to write that frequently, which is for the best. It is too time consuming, the end product is mediocre and there is little demand for what I offer.
January 25, 2021 at 9:13 AM
Urspo
From what I read in your comments, others do not find it mediocre and I often see ‘demand’ for you to put out more.
I agree though one should only write when one feels an itch to do so.
January 25, 2021 at 9:28 AM
Parnassus
It will come as no surprise to you that I do most of my writing and editing in the evening. Imagine if I had to do any writing this morning–the street in front of me and the two side streets on either side were all being dug up and worked on simultaneously. The din was not to be believed!
–Jim
January 25, 2021 at 9:54 AM
Urspo
Yikes that sounds no good !
I have always heard the word ‘din’ linked with ‘awful’ as in ‘awful din”
as compared to an ‘ok din”? 🙂
January 25, 2021 at 9:52 AM
edyjournal
There’s a chance I’d be in a psych ward, prison, or the grave if I did not write.
January 25, 2021 at 9:55 AM
Urspo
It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good; all three places are good from which to write.
January 25, 2021 at 10:18 AM
Sam
I’m a fan of those early hours as well for writing. I’m home all day along on Saturdays, so after I putter, I like to do some work ahead writing as well. .
January 25, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Urspo
lovely !
January 25, 2021 at 10:53 AM
jefferyrn
I write when something strikes me. But I need solitude at the same time. Often things go unwritten because of this requirement.
January 25, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Urspo
I know that experience.
I too write best in quiet
January 25, 2021 at 12:59 PM
rjjs8878
I no longer feel compelled to write a post. Most of mine are done while on conference calls, which may help explain why they are not written well.
January 25, 2021 at 8:33 PM
Urspo
Clever!
You could title these “notes from a conference”
January 26, 2021 at 6:40 AM
rjjs8878
Spo – good idea
January 25, 2021 at 1:59 PM
Steven
I wish I had the time to do writing myself. Keeping up with commenting on blogs and maintaining the photos on my own blog I feel already take up too much time. I may cut back my posts to three days a week. I’ve realized this with the extra caretaking I’m doing the last 2.5 weeks. But I’m up at 5:15 AM and love the early mornings by myself. But I wish the sun was up at the same time. C’mon Summer get here fast.
January 25, 2021 at 8:33 PM
Urspo
Writing should not be tedious but a joy; you keep taking your photos.
January 25, 2021 at 2:00 PM
Will Jay
Perhaps writing is not your hobby, but it is your vocation. A wise friend defined vocation as “…that without which life seems incomplete.”
January 25, 2021 at 8:34 PM
Urspo
Wow. By that definition yes writing is my vocation.
My practice of Medicine is my occupation.
January 25, 2021 at 9:40 PM
Will Jay
Yes. There is no shame in having a good and satsfying day job to pay the bills. Consider Somerset Maugham, Charles Ives, or any number of dancers, or visual artists. Imagine how much poorer our lives would be if they didn’t respond to their call.
Please keep writing, for it is part of your work to be done.
January 25, 2021 at 4:16 PM
mcpersonalspace54
I would prefer to write the first thing in the morning, as I get up at 5:15. But after walking my dog for a two mile walk, and a quick cup of coffee, it is time to start teaching class at 7:30. I can go days and days with no idea what to write, then something just strikes me. I enjoy reading your blog!
January 25, 2021 at 8:34 PM
Urspo
An I enjoy reading yours; we make a good couple.
January 25, 2021 at 4:41 PM
David Godfrey
I have made writing a habit, like breathing or walking it happens. I feel off if I don’t do it. Most of my blog writing is done on weekends, Saturday after my morning walk, Sunday afternoon. Professional writing sometimes has to be done, when it has to be done, but the best is in the morning when I am inspired, two hours today after my walk.
January 25, 2021 at 8:35 PM
Urspo
Quite sensible and well done!
January 25, 2021 at 4:54 PM
Gigi Rambles
Way back before the pandemic began I was usually up before five – mainly because I liked to get to the office early to read the paper and have my coffee in quiet before others came in and wrecked the quiet. These days find me getting up around six to have my coffee and read the paper before starting work. Most likely, I would prefer to write in the evening when I had/have something to say but by the time the evening rolls around I am tired and The Husband is home and wants to chat – hence the very sporadic posts from me. If I were to get serious about it, I would need to set aside my paper (but never the coffee) for later in the morning and write then.
January 25, 2021 at 8:35 PM
Urspo
The solution seems to be to be rid of The Husband and keep the coffee.
January 25, 2021 at 6:38 PM
Todd Gunther
Whenever I can find the time these days: Saturday afternoon some weeks or Sunday morning when I’m on a noon deadline. No, no fixed time to write. Yes, I feel the need to write.
The Muses can be such bitches!
January 25, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Urspo
Have you met The Skanks? They can be mean drunks.
January 25, 2021 at 8:02 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I do feel a need to write, but in the past that feeling was stronger. Once, I awoke and went to the kitchen for a drink of water. As I turned around, I spotted pencil and paper on the kitchen table and suddenly needed to write. I wrote half a short story. The next night, I did the same thing. I dreamed a short story.
Writing occurs randomly when I write fiction.
January 25, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Urspo
good for you !
January 25, 2021 at 9:52 PM
Pipistrello
I’m another pleased that your creative urges are too strong to resist! Anthony Trollope published endless books and held down a Proper Job all the while, just by having your same discipline. For myself, I’m as lazy as all get out and just play about on a blog when the mood takes me, so that’s the sum total of where any writing takes me, so I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘need’. I have discovered that even that, though, requires a bit of shush about the place before I can properly collect my thoughts, else it moves at glacial speed, but it can be any old time of the day or night really.
January 26, 2021 at 7:25 AM
Urspo
I like your way as it makes for a classic hobby viz. ‘when in the spirit’ I will do some. My hobby is making shirts – which I haven’t had the spirit for in over a year (rather I make masks). Writing for me is different, a vocation I have learned from the comment mentioned earlier.