Sat 24 Jan 2009
What is the beter hour for artistic inspiration?
Posted by echan76 under Books & Authors
c.trejo asked:
I´m a begginer Writer, and i want to know if there is an apropiated or better time in day to work in my texts. If exist a better hour for inspiration.
I´m a begginer Writer, and i want to know if there is an apropiated or better time in day to work in my texts. If exist a better hour for inspiration.
It depends on the individual of course, but the best hour for a night owl (me) is around midnight or 1am. Unless it’s too noisy & chaotic around me - then it’s around 3am.
I find that my mind is most fresh when I wake up in the morning. I keep a notebook and pencil next to the bed. When I wake up, if I’ve been working on a writing project that has me at a place where I’m not able to move forward easily, I find fresh ideas and thoughts come to me upon waking. I also keep a note pad in the car with a pen and sometimes am inspired by music on the radio to write down thoughts. It’s different for everyone, but I would recommend seeing at what point you function better than others. Good luck with your endeavors!
As someone who writes A LOT, (in English Studies Graduate Program), I will give you what little advice I have. First, everyone is different. These things called circadian rhythms make people more alert and more drowsy during the day. Most people write better when they are more alert (which is usually about 2 hrs after you wake up in the morning and then again, about 4 hrs before you go to bed. Everyone is different, though, so this is not strictly the case.) My advice would be to try writing at different times in the day and first see when you feel like writing the most. Then, go back and read some of the things you have written from those times and determine what work from what time was the best. I would also suggest “mood reflective” writing where you write when your feelings most reflect the mood that you wish to resonate in your piece. For instance, if your topic is upbeat, write in the morning (if you feel kind of perky). If you want a more sullen piece, try writing at night, even if you are a bit tired. And always keep a notebook with you for ideas because you never know…an idea can hit you absolutely out of nowhere. And let me tell you, when the Muse visits, sit down and write. Don’t wait. Your work will never be better.
Everyone’s Muse is awake at a different time. Mine tends to wake about 2 am, which is very difficult for me to handle since I am usually asleep.. so I have trained him [the muse, that is] to TRY and wake up a bit earlier, say 9 or 10 pm. I am NOT a morning person, so those times work best for me. I have friends who work best in the early morning hours.. so, you see, everyone has their own style of writing.. their own patterns of work habit.. and their own individual muse. With practise and paying attention, you will discover when you feel the most up to creating. My first book was created completely on my afternoon breaks at the job I had at the time. My second was completed at various hours of the day and night.. while waiting at the doc’s office, waiting for my daughter to get out of school.. waiting, waiting, waiting.. it is quite important to make good use of all your extra moments.. Good luck.