Seven Reasons Why I Like to Write Early in the Morning

Mornings have always been my favourite part of the day. Now that I'm freelancing, I find I get my best work done if I start early. I'm still working on my exact routine, tweaking my schedule so that it all fits in sensibly, but starting early suits my nature and my situation very well.

• I love the quiet. The phone won't ring for a bit. There is still milk left for my tea, hopefully. If it's a holiday or a weekend, the teenagers are sleeping. 
• No-one has had a crisis yet. By the time they do, I'm just about ready for a break anyway.
• If someone calls and says "Can I drop the kids to yours for a minute?" or "Help, my car has shut down!" I can say that I'm right in the middle of something, and mean it. That doesn't mean I can't help - Part of why I like freelancing is that I can be there for my peeps. But if my friend turns up and sees my laptop and notes on the kitchen table, they are more likely to keep it brief, and NOT stay for tea after. They learn to respect that 'freelance' does not actually mean 'lying around on the sofa eating chocolates'. 

“He'd heard that writers spent all day in their dressing gowns drinking champagne. This is, of course, absolutely true.”

-Terry Pratchett, Snuff

• Ticking things off of lists before midday for the win! Sending queries and posting wise and informative quotes on social media early in the morning grabs the attention of other productive early birds. 
• It's cool, and the sun comes in at the right sort of angle for creative lighting. My brain works better for long-term projects and retains information longer. If it turns into a beautiful, sunny day, I can get out for a walk later on and feel like I've already been productive. And we all know that a brisk afternoon walk in the sunshine makes us even MORE productive. 
• The cat wants out, having spent a boring night of watching everyone sleep. Later, she comes back in and expects an immediately accessible lap where she can gently insert her claws. Endearing, but distracting. 
• When you stop for a break, your mind tends to stay on the project and you DO get back to it. Because it is much easier to finish up a project, than it is to start one. 

Of course, not everyone is a morning person. I know some freelancers who would rather cut off their own ears than spring cheerily out of bed at six to start working. When is your best time for getting it all done? Is your routine working for you?

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