Haruki Murakami, interviewed by the Paris Review, passes on some trade secrets:
When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 am and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind. But to hold to such repetition for so long — six months to a year — requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.
I’m a morning person, and would prefer to keep going until midday. But otherwise, this seems reasonable.
(H/t: Daily Routines)
How about How to Combine Sport with Writing with Children? They stick a spanner in your works.
@Blognor Regis: Nice one, Cyril!
How to Combine Sport with Writing – play American Football and do your writing during those interminable committee meetings.
I don’t think this would work for me but feel free to give it a go! My problem, of course, is that I do the writing but I’ve never got around to adding the sport.