When to Write - Morning or Night?

Writing is an activity that is peculiarly dependent on whether you are a morning or a night person, on whether you are a lark or a nightingale. There are people who feel more mentally active in the early hours of the morning. Their thoughts flow more freely and they
are more focused. They are able to pin down a line of thought and dissect it thoroughly. As writers, their ability to express in words the images and feelings they identify with are greatly enhanced.

When the same people try to do the same activities at night, however, they find they cannot think with the same level of mental acuity. Their thoughts become entangled with the events of the day and, since these are more recent and affect them more, they tend to return to them over and over. If they force themselves to write, they find that their production lacks the vigor and clarity of their morning work.

One of the first things you should do if you find yourself in this situation is not to fight your inner nature. If you feel you work better in the morning then you should plan your activities so that your creative work gets done in the morning. The evenings could be dedicated to activities such as research or planning your writing.

Next, you should do a complete outline of the article. If your article follows the standard formula of an introduction, three relevant points, and a conclusion, you should concentrate
your attention on the three points. Depending on the focus of your article, you now need to
find the finer points from your research that can enhance your arguments.

Before going to sleep, you should do a quick mental recap of the main points of your article. Tell yourself that in the morning you are going to write the article and form a mental image of the finished work.

While you sleep, your subconscious will work on the data you have gathered, rearranging the facts so that they strengthen the focus of your article. You will often find that the outline you did the night before does not closely match the article that you have just written. You have probably downplayed some points while emphasizing others.

Your subconscious mind can help you write better articles and, if you write when you are
most productive, you will be a much better writer.

Writer's Block

It can happen to any writer. You are writing fluently, the words are flowing from you in a steady stream and, suddenly, you come to a stop. Or perhaps you have done your research, found the perfect bits of information that will make your story shine but you just cannot start writing. Writer's block is something that can happen at any time. Among the many causes are a lack of research, simple fatigue, self-doubt, or an unconscious desire not to finish the article or story.

Lack of Research

Lack of research is probably the main cause of writer's block. You could have amassed a whole mountain of facts but, if they are not relevant to your focus or angle, you will need to either look for another angle or do some more suitable research. Often, it would be simpler to just follow the former option. This is because you have gathered the information that most appealed to you and you would write a more compelling article if you follow your instinct.

Fatigue

Simple mental fatigue is another probable cause of writer's block. You may have been writing without a break for a long while and your brain refuses to continue. A good indication of fatigue is when you cannot write even though you have adequate facts at your fingertips, all ready to be used. In such cases, you should do something completely different. Go for a walk, talk to friends, or just look at some beautiful photos. This will take your mind off of writing for a while. Meanwhile, your unconscious mind is working away at your article, smoothing out the edges so that you can write it when you return to your desk.

Fear of the New

Writer's block can also occur when you are nearing the end of your work. If you're writing a book, you begin to think of tasks like marketing your work, talking to agents and, in general, dealing with things that you are not familiar with. In such cases, you should stop looking forward, stop predicting the future, and just concentrate on reaching the end of your book. In the words of that wise philosopher Yogi Berra 'it ain't over 'til it's over.' The hardest part of your work is almost over and, if it is good, marketing it should be easier than writing it.

Free Writing

Free writing can be a most effective technique against writer's block. It consists of writing as fast as you can whatever comes to mind. You should not stop to read what you have written or do any editing while you're writing. Just set an alarm for 15 minutes and start writing. Once the alarm rings, you should look over what you have written. Try to find clues that can help you identify the causes of your block and think of possible solutions. Often, the simple act of free writing can help to dissolve any mental blocks you may have been experiencing.