The Benefit of Routine for the Writer

If you are a very artistic and spontaneous sort of person, you will probably feel like hitting the little cross at the top right of this web page right now, and moving on to another site.

You may be the sort of person who says 'I hate routine' or 'creativity and routine don't seem to go together'.

However, think of all the most creatively talented people you know. How much would they achieve if they never actually applied themselves to regularly and consistently turning up for work?

One historical figure who changed the art world permanently is rightly admired for his incredible creativity: Michelangelo, who lived 1475 to 1564. You can be sure that if he hadn't turned up at the Sistine chapel or his other creative enterprises each day, ready for the routine of working at his craft, no-one would know his name today.

The creative 'muse' is an amazing characteristic of artistic people. However, if you prefer to just rely on waiting for your muse to get you going, it will likely let you down as soon as you get in a funk for any reason.

So how can routine - that daily schedule of working at certain times of day - help you?

• Routine tells our conscious mind that it is now time to focus. This is important in a world which is loudly and persistently trying to distract us. The benefit of routine increases as the habit develops.

• Our sub-conscious mind also benefits from being allowed space. Dreaming, which is what using our sub-conscious mind often feels like, has become increasingly difficult in this busy world. A routine may be just what you need, so set aside time for creative outlet, and not just the methodical, analytical aspects of writing.

Routine doesn't mean you should never aim to write just for the fun of it, of course. The 'creative' side of you is more likely to appreciate spontaneity, and that's okay.

Here are just two points to help you keep to your routines:

1. Part of developing a routine means knowing your own body rhythms. Don't set yourself a morning routine just because your famous author uncle always worked at that time of day. Morning is the best time of day for a majority of writers, from what I can tell, but it doesn't suit everyone.

2. If you work at home, and have children at home, or friends and family who are accustomed to call on you whenever it suits them, you are going to have to ask them to respect your routine.