(It’s the middle of August and I’m on a family vacation—and so I’m taking the opportunity to re-release a post from the start of 2024, with just a few minor edits.
Here for the clickbait - but what a great post. Thank you for resharing it. This is an obsession of mine, so much so I wrote a whole book on it and Oliver Burkeman was kind enough to write the foreword. He is so very wise. As is Mason Currey author of Daily Rituals who you also quote - do you follow him on Substack, his subtle maneuvers is packed full of wonderful writing quirks and humour: https://masoncurrey.substack.com/
My issue with all of these kinds of productivity tips is that they assume that the individual has no other pressing family or caring responsibilities that might also need to occur eg getting kids to school, dog walking, elderly relative needing breakfast etc etc etc. I'm sure every working parent would love three uninterrupted hours in a nice clean hotel room every night to work on a novel or an unencumbered slot between 7am and 9am. Ain't gonna happen.
There's a lovely section in John Adam's dairy where he writes out a long reading plan to cover everything---classics, Bible, English authors---in a daily routine along with lots of work. Next he writes something like "Stared out of the window today."
amazing, i tried the 6minute thing today and tore through a bunch of things i'd been avoiding. quite counter intuitive, like so many things, including the Hayek paper that was on my desktop for weeks till today. Thanks!
Fantastic article Paul! I find that I can only get serious writing done in public spaces for some reason. The background noise provides just enough distraction for me to get into the zone, but none of the people I know could get behind working in a noisy environment. I guess it is about knowing oneself at the end of the day. Thank you for the tips. :)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: you are my favourite productivity guru, Paul. I think because you aren't a productivity guru.
I was just thinking about that writers work habits chart last night and here you are posting it again!
Here for the clickbait - but what a great post. Thank you for resharing it. This is an obsession of mine, so much so I wrote a whole book on it and Oliver Burkeman was kind enough to write the foreword. He is so very wise. As is Mason Currey author of Daily Rituals who you also quote - do you follow him on Substack, his subtle maneuvers is packed full of wonderful writing quirks and humour: https://masoncurrey.substack.com/
thanks for the advice! -- I'll check it out.
My issue with all of these kinds of productivity tips is that they assume that the individual has no other pressing family or caring responsibilities that might also need to occur eg getting kids to school, dog walking, elderly relative needing breakfast etc etc etc. I'm sure every working parent would love three uninterrupted hours in a nice clean hotel room every night to work on a novel or an unencumbered slot between 7am and 9am. Ain't gonna happen.
My frustration too. The people tracked are nearly always men with wives.
So Freud slept 5 hours? But he used cocaine and tobacco.
I always remember an interview with screenwriter Paul Abbot where he employed a man to stand over him and make him work. That’s what I need.
There's a lovely section in John Adam's dairy where he writes out a long reading plan to cover everything---classics, Bible, English authors---in a daily routine along with lots of work. Next he writes something like "Stared out of the window today."
Loved reading this again. Thanks
amazing, i tried the 6minute thing today and tore through a bunch of things i'd been avoiding. quite counter intuitive, like so many things, including the Hayek paper that was on my desktop for weeks till today. Thanks!
Fantastic article Paul! I find that I can only get serious writing done in public spaces for some reason. The background noise provides just enough distraction for me to get into the zone, but none of the people I know could get behind working in a noisy environment. I guess it is about knowing oneself at the end of the day. Thank you for the tips. :)