My schedule is as erratic as my writing. Sometime I have to do it early morning before work sometime I might be up with a glass of Scotch in the early hours.

Do you write at the same time? If so, at what time do you find easiest?

I find my brain is generally more energetic first thing in the morning but my imagination is a little more vivid at nighttime so it's swings and roundabouts for me.

Goodness I could never write after I'd had a drink (though often times I've wished that wasn't the case!).

For me my best time's afternoon. I try to sort emails and admin in the morning and then get stuck into the writing after lunch.

I imagine it's a very personal thing though - and you should stick with whatever works for you.

Nik.

Oh yeah, I admit everyone is different. I am interested in other people's preferences.

Does anyone else have a drink while writing? I was reading Stephen King's memoirs and during his battle with alcohol and drug addiction he drunk an awful lot while writing (he says he can bearly remember writing Cujo). I'm not saying I drink to that excess but I find it does no harm if it's late in the day (it helps me in fact ).

Of course. Great book isn't it?

I'm not saying drinking while writing's a bad thing - just that it doesn't suit me!

Nik

Morning's best for writing for me, and evening if I've had a good break in the afternoon and the house is empty. But the basic time is whenever I can.

Alcohol - hm - can be useful if it's disinhibiting one needs (i.e. first drafts, and certain kinds of blockedness) or if I'm very tired but need to get something done. But I've never pinned down the right amount, (one glass of wine?) after which I go woolly-headed and can't think clearly. And ruthless stone-cold sobriety for all forms of revising.

Emma

I write whenever I can, usually as soon as I get home from work, and most of the weekends. My most creative times come the moment after I switch off the PC…

As for drinking – there was a time when I didn’t think I could write without having a few glasses of wine. Thankfully I've got over that now, but there have been moments when I've come across something I have absolutely no recollection of writing – and more often than not it was pretty good!

Dee

I write first thing in the morning, as soon as I wake up. I find that's the best time - when you're alert and clear-headed and the rest of the day hasn't touched you yet.

The only thing I've ever been able to write after drinking are emails and text messages. Goddammit.

Any time really that I manage to get some peace and quiet but the best ideas seem to flow either when I'm out walking (which is a pain) or late on a night before sleep.

Some of my best stuff has been written 'drunk', though whether that means writing in the early hours when I'm barely awake, or writing late at night when I should have given up, or, writing when I'm under the affluence, is open to question. It's when the guards are down, essentially.

Dee said about the power writing when you're drunk can have, and how it can seduce you into believing that's the only time to write, but it's dangerous territory, very seductive.

There's no question that it frees the mind, the imagination, the fingers, but as Emma says, totally useless when it comes to editing.

Nik, have you actually tried 'writing drunk'? You seem dead set against it, but honestly, have you ever tried it?

Zoe

For me, it's early morning, two hours from 5-7 am, before I get the kids up. Sometimes a quick hour after they're in bed, but that's my only time with my partner, so only an hour - or all evening whenever he's out. I always soak in the bath before bed and write at least a para or two in my head which I jot down in bed. Weekend mornings are the best, as everyone but me likes a lie-in, so I often get up at 5 or 5.30 and by the time they are up at 9 or so, I've done half a day's work. I also like trains. I often vounteer to do schools visits for work because it means a few hours on a train with a notepad and nothing to disturb me. Bliss!

I sometimes fantasise about what it would be like writing without a full-time job and young kids. But as it is, the what-time-of-day-is-best question doesn't really arise. You write when you can!

Rosy

I'm trying to get up early (5AM) to get a couple of hours in before work - any tips for doing so Rosy? I love early mornings but I find I am so busy that even when I try to get an early night it's gone 11PM / 11.30PM by the time I actually get into bed.

Zoe, yup I have tried it. It just doesn't work for me. Ends up sprawling and silly. I'm not suggesting it's no good full stop, just that it isn't for me. I need a clear head.

Plus if I'm drinking then that means that I've finished work - which means that I definitely won't want to be writing!

Nik.

My most creative times come the moment after I switch off the PC…

So true.

I try to write in the mornings, to feel that I've achieved something by midday...but very often this feels like a chore. Am trying to switch to writing in the evenings, when I tend to be more relaxed, and reading/editing the next morning instead.

Late at night - often with a glass or two of wine, a can of beer or a whole pot of tea. I like to stop a lot and think, so pouring tea or searchig for corkscrews works for me. Not too drunk though - just mildly tipsy. Sober when editing and revising though. Has to be dark, for some reason. I think it is force of habit - I've always had to write after someone has gone to sleep, after work or after something else. It tends to come last in the day. I have tried early morning, but I'm foul and stupid before 10am.

DrQ: - this time of year is OK, 'cos it's light. And I like mornings. But winter is tougher. And it's true I'm dead on my feet by 10.30 p.m..

Rosy