The Morning Writing Myth (And What Actually Works)
There's this idea floating around that real writers wake up at 5 a.m., drink black coffee in silence, and crank out 2,000 words before sunrise.
That's not what finished my book.
Here's what actually worked.
When did you start believing you needed the perfect morning routine?
When my coach Andrea told me I needed a system.
At the time, I had all the notes for my book. All the prep work. The ideas were there. I just kept saying I didn't have time.
She didn't tell me to try harder. She told me to build a system.
That's when I started thinking I needed the "perfect" routine.
What did you think a serious writer's routine looked like?
Long, uninterrupted blocks of time.
I assumed full-time writers could wake up whenever they wanted and write for hours.
Meanwhile, I'm waking up before work. So I figured I was behind.
That belief slowed me down more than anything.
What does your real morning actually look like?
Alarm at 5:40. Backup at 5:50.
I cycle first and play my Steam Deck at the same time.
Two reasons:
Video games force problem-solving and reaction. By the time I sit down to write, I'm alert.
Then I write for 30 minutes to an hour.
That's it.
If the session feels weak, I still showed up. And a little bit of something adds up over time.
Some days I won't feel it. There's always tomorrow. I don't beat myself up anymore.
Do you use word count goals?
No.
Outside of essays or contests, I never chased numbers. My goal is to tell a good story.
Four hundred solid words beat 2,000 forced ones.
What slowed you down the most?
Depression.
It was heavy for a while. It still shows up sometimes, but it's leaner now. I have more direction. More self-worth.
There were days I genuinely couldn't write. That's real.
The other thing: no outlines.
Once I started outlining, everything changed. Writing became following a recipe instead of guessing what happens next.
When did it finally click?
Around Chapter 4 or 5 of Druids of Mawre Grove.
I saw how fast small efforts stacked.
It's the same with working out. Reading. Learning.
Tiny reps. Daily.
That's where growth happens.
What do you say to someone who says they don't have time?
Either:
Figure out which one it is.
Then commit.
If finishing a book matters to you, you'll find a way to make consistent progress—even if it's small.
Why split morning and evening work?
Morning is creative energy. That's the real work: writing the book.
Evening is support work:
After a full workday, I'm tired. So I don't force deep writing at night.
Different energy. Different tasks.
That split changed everything.
What does "sustainable" mean to you now?
Whatever you can do today, you can do tomorrow. And the next day.
Not planning to do it. Actually executing.
Consistency over intensity.
What transformation do you want for your students?
I want you to finish your book.
Not start it. Not outline it. Not talk about it.
Finish it.
I want you to see it's conquerable—because it is.
The Truth About the Morning Writing Myth
You don't need:
You need:
That's what actually works.
Build Your Own Sustainable Writing System
If you've restarted your book more than once…
If you're waiting for "the right time"…
If you feel stuck in planning mode…
It's time to build a routine that fits your real life.
Inside my writing course, I'll help you:
You don't need a perfect morning.
You need a system that works.
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