Late Night Writing
Lesson 1 of 10 from the 200 Words-a-Day Challenge
In July 2023, I embarked on a challenge of writing—and sharing—at least 200 words a day. I was attempting to break through some resistance to sharing my writing, so the word-count wasn’t the point. The true crux of the challenge was the sharing/posting of what I wrote.
Thanks to
for spurring me on because this little daily task taught me a lot about myself, my creativity, and my writing practice. Over the next few weeks, every other day, I’ll share one of my top ten lessons learned from the challenge in the hopes they will support you and your practice as well.Following the pattern and the practice of the month-long challenge, I’m delivering these 10 lessons learned as micro-essays of at least 200 words.
Late Night Writing
Having done long stints of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages during various times in my life, I know that early mornings have been prolific times for me historically. But I’m not much for waking early anymore, especially now that I’m self-employed and have command of my own schedule. That’s not to say I sleep late. Simply that my mornings are designed for gentle waking—necessary for this HSP—and for enjoying a leisurely coffee and breakfast with my husband. It sets the tone for my day. And besides, I have the flexibility to write whenever I want.
Going into the challenge, I wanted the micro-essays/prompts to be available to readers early each day, ready to support their writing practice even if very early in the morning. That meant I needed to write a day ahead. No problem.
During the challenge, though, my situation changed mid-month. I was away from home during the last half and my caregiving circumstances were not generally conducive to writing, mornings or daytime. That left me with nighttime writing, often midnight or later.
Surprising to me, I created some good stuff in those wee hours, and I enjoyed doing it. My mind was often tired, so it didn’t have the energy to evoke the voices of resistance and doubt that plague me at other times of the day. Now, this was an unexpected perk.
Lesson #1 of 10
If you tend to write at the same time each day, and especially if you’re facing resistance, feel uninspired, or are stressed, try mixing it up by writing at a different time of day or night. You may be surprised by the breakthroughs.
Honestly I know I write well in the late night hours, but even this far out from having a "regular job" I still get up early, if only to walk my dog before the rancid heat sets in. I've considered maybe going back to bed after our morning walk, and getting up later to stay up later to write. Dunno how that might work, but I think you've inspired me to give it a shot! At least try it out a few days a week, maybe!
Gina, it's fascinating that you found a new flow in writing late at night. Less internal energy to fight, resulting in more creative freedom, is something to take note of!
And, funny timing. Yesterday, I wondered whether my wee-hours writing schedule would continue if all other things in my life were neutral. Would I revert to my 20-something designer days when I stayed up late creating stage worlds and hand drawing lighting plots after NYC commutes and painting scenery all day? Going from night-owl to many-hours-pre-dawn has been a slow process due to building circumstances: living in the sweltering tropics with neighborhood mosques amplifying prayer times at 4am, then day jobs, then care-giving, back to day job.
One plus of the late-night stint is a less fixed stop time - other than sleep. I know I could not do it now. I'm too spent by the end of the day job slog, so it's morning or never for the moment. But I do wonder if, at heart, I am still that night owl. Maybe, since I start between 2 and 3am, I can pretend. I do often hear our resident bard owls while writing at that hour. The owls, passing trains and screeching cats keep me company.