Let’s be honest: the “best” time to write is usually whenever you finally stop procrastinating by organizing your spice rack or watching YouTube episodes of The People’s Court (my obsession). However, if you want to work with your brain instead of against it, I find different projects definitely thrive at different hours.
First thing in the morning, before I’m fully awake, there’s this brief window where my brain hasn’t started sprinting through the day’s to‑dos. If you’re working on a novel, that’s the moment to grab. At the crack of dawn, the world is still quiet and no one needs anything from you yet. Your mind is still clear and rested. Grab this time before you jump into that nasty housework, business spreadsheets or remember that you need to pick up eggs and a side dish for the night’s dinner.
The “Early Bird” writer
I’ve found I can get real writing done before my thoughts start jumping from one task to another like they always do, and that early haze makes slipping into a fictional world feel almost effortless.
The “Late Morning” blogger
Blog posts are the “business casual” of writing. They need to be punchy, clear and organized. The late morning—somewhere between your second coffee and your first hunger pang—is the sweet spot. Your analytical brain is fully awake, meaning you can actually spot a run-on sentence before it hits the three-mile mark. Plus, the looming threat of lunch serves as a great natural deadline to keep you from over-editing. What time is it now? 11:07 a.m.!
The “Night Owl” short story
Short stories are all about mood and punchy emotions. The late-night hours are perfect for this because, frankly, we’re all a little more dramatic after 11 p.m.
When you’re slightly tired, your “inner critic” finally gets exhausted and goes to bed, leaving you free to write that weird, experimental ending you’d usually be too shy to try at noon. Add a little splash of brandy to round out your evening and you’re all set!
The weekly vibe
• Tuesday–Thursday: Great for the heavy lifting. You’ve shaken off the Monday blues but haven’t checked out for the weekend yet.
• Saturday mornings: Ideal for a “writing date” with yourself before the errands take over.
• Sundays: Perfect for low-stakes plotting or just staring at a blank page and calling it “contemplation.”
The truth? Your muse is notoriously unreliable, so don’t wait for her to show up. Pick a time, guard it like a hawk and remember: even a bad page is better than a blank one. At least you can’t edit a blank page!
My writing booth. 