Full-time writers, how many hours per day do you spend writing?

jasperd · 12-26-2012, 01:30 AM

Incuding anything that pertains to writing.

I'm just curious.

phantasy · 12-26-2012, 01:40 AM

I wish I could tell. My first drafts are bare-bones, just trying to get a feel for the chapter. 2500 words isn't the hard part. It takes me a couple of hours but I know its all over the place.

Dialogue guides the story and is probably easiest for me. I spend hours editing and fixing, inserting more information throughout the novel. I go back to the outline and add more important information. Then I go back to the chapters and switch out words and phrases.

LBlankenship · 12-26-2012, 02:08 AM

When I'm in the groove, about six. In two-hour blocks.

FOTSGreg · 12-26-2012, 02:34 AM

Including my day job, 10-12 hrs per day except on weekends and holidays when it drops to 2-4 hrs/day (yeah, I actually get paid to write).

Susan Littlefield · 12-26-2012, 02:37 AM

With my day job, anywhere from 3-6 hours a day. With my creative writing, anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 to 2 hours, depending on the day, but I don't creatively write every single day.

WillSauger · 12-26-2012, 02:44 AM

Define "full-time".

I get about 4-6 hours a day of writing, about 2-3 hours reading. And that's between college and side jobs.

jasperd · 12-26-2012, 02:58 AM

By full time I mean able to support yourself from writing alone.

Beachgirl · 12-26-2012, 06:19 AM

Anywhere from 8-12 hours per day, seven days a week. That includes writing, editing, reading, researching, and marketing (blogs, twitter, writing groups, etc.).

!MeMa! · 12-26-2012, 09:25 AM

it took all the day from me!!!
i mean i write for about a 2 hours per day, but somehow i feel like am possessed by the protagonist and the novel in general all i think about is the novel and how can i keep my own emotion and what i think about it away

WeaselFire · 12-26-2012, 05:08 PM

40 hours a week. Anything less is part time.

Jeff

VoireyLinger · 12-26-2012, 05:48 PM

My schedule is dictated by my kids' schedules. I write when they are at school or in bed. I get 6 to 8 hours of work time, 4 to 6 of which is actual writing/editing. The rest is various business and promotion stuff.

ChristinaLayton · 12-26-2012, 05:58 PM

Oh, I don't make a living off my writing. I wish. For me writing is just a hobby. Entertainment. Just trying to get these characters' adventures outta my mind so they stop nagging me, constantly telling me to write what they're doing.

But yeah, I am a full time writer, if you're talking about how many hours one spends writing, because I don't have a job, and I write 6,000-8,000 words a day. Sometimes I do 1,000 words every hour, sometimes those 1,000 words take me 30 minutes to do. It all depends. So it's anywhere from 3-6 hours a day for 6,000 words. Depends on how energetic I am at the moment and how fast I type.

Barbara R. · 12-26-2012, 06:01 PM

I "rest" between books. But when I'm actually writing one, it's 6-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.

12-26-2012, 01:30 AM	#1
jasperd practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 264	Full-time writers, how many hours per day do you spend writing? Incuding anything that pertains to writing. I'm just curious.

12-26-2012, 02:08 AM	#3
LBlankenship Space cadet Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Near Washington, DC Posts: 623	When I'm in the groove, about six. In two-hour blocks. __________________ DISCIPLE a hard fantasy romance Available at all major e-retailers Part II on sale NOW! Samples at my book blog: Disciples of the Fount • Writing blog: Notes from the Jovian frontier • Twitter: LBlankenship_sf Creative Services for self-publishers: covers, ebook formatting, and more

12-26-2012, 02:37 AM	#5
Susan Littlefield Tell it like it Is Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: With my cats Posts: 7,479	With my day job, anywhere from 3-6 hours a day. With my creative writing, anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 to 2 hours, depending on the day, but I don't creatively write every single day. __________________ Susan Please visit my website: http://www.susanlittlefield.blogspot.com/

12-26-2012, 02:44 AM	#6
WillSauger The Beast I Worship. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 3,639	Define "full-time". I get about 4-6 hours a day of writing, about 2-3 hours reading. And that's between college and side jobs. __________________ Don't Fear Failure. "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn" -- Alvin Toffler.

12-26-2012, 06:19 AM	#8
Beachgirl Gave up trying to be good Join Date: May 2012 Location: By the clear blue sea Posts: 1,446	Anywhere from 8-12 hours per day, seven days a week. That includes writing, editing, reading, researching, and marketing (blogs, twitter, writing groups, etc.). __________________ BookStrand * Amazon Blog * Twitter AW Library WIPS: Legends & Myths 2: Reaper's Redemption Shifter Sanctuary: Leashed The Devil's Triangle: Sink or Swim

12-26-2012, 01:40 AM	#2
phantasy Let me tell you a Story... Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 174	I wish I could tell. My first drafts are bare-bones, just trying to get a feel for the chapter. 2500 words isn't the hard part. It takes me a couple of hours but I know its all over the place. Dialogue guides the story and is probably easiest for me. I spend hours editing and fixing, inserting more information throughout the novel. I go back to the outline and add more important information. Then I go back to the chapters and switch out words and phrases.

12-26-2012, 02:34 AM	#4
FOTSGreg Today is your last day. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 7,002	Including my day job, 10-12 hrs per day except on weekends and holidays when it drops to 2-4 hrs/day (yeah, I actually get paid to write).

12-26-2012, 02:58 AM	#7
jasperd practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 264	By full time I mean able to support yourself from writing alone.

12-26-2012, 09:25 AM	#9
!MeMa! figuring it all out Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Salalah, Oman Posts: 70	it took all the day from me!!! i mean i write for about a 2 hours per day, but somehow i feel like am possessed by the protagonist and the novel in general all i think about is the novel and how can i keep my own emotion and what i think about it away __________________ if you want to make a difference in life, EDUCATE A CHILD @MeMa4ever1<<<< follow me!

12-26-2012, 05:08 PM	#10
WeaselFire Benefactor Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 956	40 hours a week. Anything less is part time. Jeff

12-26-2012, 05:48 PM	#11
VoireyLinger Angel Wing Fetish Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern US Posts: 1,108	My schedule is dictated by my kids' schedules. I write when they are at school or in bed. I get 6 to 8 hours of work time, 4 to 6 of which is actual writing/editing. The rest is various business and promotion stuff. __________________

12-26-2012, 05:58 PM	#12
ChristinaLayton Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 452	Oh, I don't make a living off my writing. I wish. For me writing is just a hobby. Entertainment. Just trying to get these characters' adventures outta my mind so they stop nagging me, constantly telling me to write what they're doing. But yeah, I am a full time writer, if you're talking about how many hours one spends writing, because I don't have a job, and I write 6,000-8,000 words a day. Sometimes I do 1,000 words every hour, sometimes those 1,000 words take me 30 minutes to do. It all depends. So it's anywhere from 3-6 hours a day for 6,000 words. Depends on how energetic I am at the moment and how fast I type.

12-26-2012, 06:01 PM	#13
Barbara R. Old Hand in the Biz Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 1,010	I "rest" between books. But when I'm actually writing one, it's 6-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. __________________ Barbara R. http://barbararogan.com/blog/ www.barbararogan.com www.nextlevelworkshop.com

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