One of the questions I’m most frequently asked as a full-time author is what my work routine looks like, so today I thought I’d give you a small glimpse into my writing life.
Today is National Coffee Day, which is the perfect day to talk about my routine. I am absolutely NOT a morning person and would be completely lost without my morning cup (okay, two cups) of coffee. I drink it straight-up black and as much of a dark roast as I can find. We are totally sold on Mystic Monk Coffee, which is made by Carmelite monks living in a real live monastery. It’s heads and tails over store-bought coffee, and since coffee is my go-to in the morning, we splurge a bit.
How about you? Coffee? Tea? Something else?
I’ve never been much of a breakfast person and really just want to get a jumpstart on my day, so I generally grab an Atkins shake and get to it. While I sip my first cup of coffee, I get online and check my email, Twitter and Facebook, as well as touching base with my Upwork clients, as I’ve had a side gig editing ever since my husband had a double stroke a few years ago. Since getting paid advances and royalties in writing is feast or famine, editing pays the monthly bills.
I sorta-kinda have an office. We really try to keep it ALL office, but it needs a serious declutter right now because…well, I have grandkids. ‘Nuff said. I usually work in an armchair in the corner of the office, though I do have a desk I sometimes use but which I currently can’t even find because of the mess.
After my first cup of coffee, I plan my day on a paper planner because I’m visual and love stickers. I try to keep my to-do list to the top three items of the day, though sometimes I go beyond that. I also have a daily gratitude statement and note if I have any Zoom meetings or anywhere else to be.
At that point I’m off to the races. I try to get my new words written in the morning when I’m fresh, although I’m at the end of a deadline right now, so I’ll take any words I can get, fresh or otherwise. Sometimes I write longhand and other times I type straight into my laptop. Later in the afternoon and often into the evening, I’ll work on editing projects. I work six days a week and rest on Sundays. I admit I do NOT currently have a good work/life balance. It’s something to which I aspire, but right now, it is what it is.
So, what about you? Are you a morning lark, a night owl, or like me, some sort of perpetually exhausted pigeon? Comment for the opportunity to win an autographed copy of the Rocky Mountain Family book of your choice and a Dare to Dream sticker (US only).
Deb’s next Harlequin Love Inspired, Their Unbreakable Bond, will be out December 27th.
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
I am a morning person! I’m a teacher so maybe that’s why? Coffee is the first need of the morning!
I don’t drink Tea or Coffee. I tend to get up normally by 7am although next week with daylight savings starting may not happen. I have 2 cats and one tends to be quite noisy and likely to jump on me if I don’t get up. I do better in the mornings. Often need a nap in the afternoon. I am the exhausted pigeon.
I am a morning person. I usually get up by 6:00 and I cannot wait to drink my hazelnut coffee.
I’m a night owl! I’m often going to bed about the time some people are getting up! Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m becoming more of a night owl! I used to be a morning person, but when I became Mom’s caregiver, she was definitely NOT a morning person! So, I adapted to her. Now that’s she’s gone to her heavenly home, I’m even more of a night owl! I stay up til 11 most nights (though I’ll admit to a few midnights and 12:30ish, too) reading! I, too, am an editor/proofreader, and when I do those jobs on the computer, or my insurance business and on the computer, then I relax by reading on my Kindle (lots of ARC’s) or sometimes a paperback. I like to drink black coffee in the morning (or water), and hot tea in the afternoon!
I am a tea drinker in the morning (and any other time of day that calls for it, lol). If I had to pick one I would say morning person because I appreciate being up and at ’em when I have to, but I find that I am most productive in the afternoon. I don’t know what that would be called.
I’m a ‘depends on the day’ person, though I like perpetually exhausted pigeon where that fits too. I seemed to accomplish the most when I was a morning person but I generally don’t go to sleep until 3 am anymore so don’t get up until 8. Like you, I’m a dark roast coffee person but 3 pots a day. I’ve cut that down almost in half in the last few years. I’m with you on the clutter. Actually my daughter is visiting from out of state and has found my desk again for me (I don’t like to admit how long it’s been missing!) which will be handy with the editing job I am working on right now. I use paper & pen as well as typing into the computer. I can’t seem to break from the physical act of writing totally myself. My kids (19 & 31) claim it’s my age and, okay, they may have a point!
I’m a night owl but life has made me a morning person. Coffee first then on with the day. I have a general plan but nothing is set in stone. Thank you kindly
You’re busy!
I’m a decaf morning mocha x2 first thing with my Bible reading. Afternoons I have a pot of Yorkshire Toast & Jam tea.
Looking forward to your new release!
I am a morning person, and I do need my coffee first thing in the morning, I can also stay up late doing things , but not too, too late like I used to. :) I enjoyed reading about your routine, thank you for sharing. Thank you for the chance of your great book. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
I am definitely a night owl and usually need at least one cup of coffee in the morning.
Something in between
I am a perpetually exhausted pigeon, lol! Since my husband and I have legal guardianship of our 7-year-old granddaughter, I have to get up early so I can get her to school now. I usually just stay up because if I go back to bed for a couple of hours, I just feel even more tired during the day or feel like I’ve wasted my day.
My coffee of choice is whatever dark roast I happen to have. I buy a bag of beans at Costco (Sam’s Club) to grind at home, it’s SO good! I admit, I am a coffee snob and can’t stand the pre-ground stuff. Thanks for telling us the brand of coffee you like, I checked out the website and am going to buy a bag to see what I think of it. I like that it’s roasted right there by Monks. Funny thing too, one of my favorite local places to buy beans is called Sleepy Monk. It’s a bit spendy, but oh so worth it!
I liked getting a glimpse into your writing life. Thanks for sharing about it, I like to know what happens “behind the scenes” :-) Have a blessed day/week!
That’s so interesting! As for me, I’ve usually described myself as a night owl, but these days I’m also feeling the perpetually exhausted pigeon (lol). What I’ve found with routines is that, truly, they’re all about discovering what works for you, and for the season you’re currently in. Thus, I’ve found that for my writing project, it works to write the first draft longhand. And even though, yes, I’ll have to type/dictate it later to my laptop, the words just flow easier that way.
Also, yay for coffee! I’m wishing you all the best with your current project and deadline :)!
In my dreams I’d be a morning person. When we’ve had to get up before the sun rises to go to the airport or some such, I love it so much. And my father has never slept past 4 am in his life. But alas, it’s just not to be for me!
You and me both! The only time I’m wide awake is when I’m trying to sleep. And right now with some nagging health problems (for which I’m getting major surgery next week) I nap nearly every day. And animals are the best alarm clocks!! My otherwise antisocial cat Dab wants his daily belly rub first thing.
Mmm! I love hazelnut, but only as an occasional treat. I wish I could get up at 6 am and be functional.
Me, too. I can’t seem to wind down at night and often work past midnight. Fortunately, I work at home and can set my own hours. My 16 hour days just look different than most.
You sound so much like me, Trudy, although I stay up later. I didn’t know you were an editor. I love helping authors! I occasionally drink hot tea at night.
Afternoon is my sag time. I have to fight through fatigue but usually come out strong on the other side. What kind of tea is your favorite?
My brain works better on paper, so if I have the time, I write longhand. That also gives me the opportunity to edit as I put the pages into the computer. And yeah, okay, I may be a dinosaur. My grandkids think so.
I’ve had times in my life when I was working a day job that I had to be a morning person. Was never any good at it, though.
I’ll have to look up that tea, as I’ve never heard of it before. Sounds great! Decaf wouldn’t work for me, LOLOL.
I always enjoy hearing how morning people manage their days. Glad to hear you start with coffee!!
You and me both, Patricia. You know, now that I’m thinking about it, for some reason I’ve always had the notion that it’s “better” to be a morning person. I wonder why that is? Nights are good, too, right?
I hear you!! Are you able to get everything done you need to in the afternoons?
Your life sounds similar to mine. My youngest daughter just took on the legal guardianship of my 13 year old granddaughter, so now Joe and I watch both grandkids. My granddaughter is doing public school this year just as soon as she gets out of quarantine (my daughter current has COVID) so I’m not sure how my life will change then.
I actually think writing longhand gives you an advantage because then you can edit as you type it into the computer. And I totally agree that routines change with the season of life you’re in. I think I fight against change instead of welcoming it, something I need to work on.
My author’s say I’m an editor, and I say I’m a proofreader! lol!! I’ve been told I find things no one else finds, so I’m happy! I, too, love to help authors with their books! It also works with my other job as an insurance agent. I like pairing people up with the coverage to meet their needs! Especially since I come at it from a different angle, after dealing with insurance companies from the doctor’s offices I used to work in!
I’m definitely a night owl married to a morning person for 53 years, so I guess we’ve made it work! I usually feel better later in the day for some reason, so I put off going to bed.
Hi Deb! This German American is a morning person. My mom was a nurse and went to work at 7. Then as a teen I worked in a bakery and my shift started at 5:30 am. As a high school teacher, I had to be to work by 7:10. Old habits die hard. Even in retirement I pick up my granddaughter at 7:50 to drive her to school 4 days a week. For Germans coffee is the elixir of life. Been having 2 cups with cream every morning since I have been 16. Best wishes.
I’m pry am neither night owl or a morning lark. I get up around 8am then in the afternoon I need a nap and go to bed between 9pm and 11pm.I love your books I have read most of them.
I’m the same way, Winnie. I feel better in the evening so I am able to get more done. My hubby is also a night owl but he worked very early hours for many years.
I remember as a kid wondering how anyone could like coffee. Now it truly is the elixir of life. I can’t imagine starting a day without it!
Thanks for the kind comment on my books. I’m also a napper. It sometimes helps me get more done with my day.
Hi, Deb!
I am definitely Team Night Owl (Hoot, Hoot)! Although there is something special about being up before the hustle and bustle, the pull is just too strong to stay up late reading or watching a movie.
I am a coffee drinker but I prefer the medium roasts. The dark stuff makes me think of toast that didn’t make it out of the toaster in time. My wife got me started early in our marriage on having a coffee maker and brewing at least a pot a day. I’m with you on coffee mugs. Anything less than 16 ounces is just an insult to the system and 20 or 24 is better.
There was an old Beverly Hillbillies episode where Granny was talking to a doctor who asked her if she drank alcohol. She said only a thimbleful for medicinal purposes. The doctor said that was fine. Then Jed said “You haven’t seen Granny’s drinkin’ thimble,” and he held up this thimble-looking cup that was easily 30 ounces or more. So in our house, we have the standing joke about needing a drinking thimble for our coffee. I got my wife a giant ceramic mug that holds almost a whole pot. On the side it says “Hail to the Queen.” It’s too big to handle as a drinkin’ thimble but it does hold the title for sure.
I understand about clutter. A work surface in our house is a place where nothing that I need rolls away. Some of them are pretty precarious, LOL.
I’m not a morning person and also have to have my coffee in the morning!
perpetually exhausted. I do drink tea, but not to the point the caffeine makes a difference over the course of the day.
I am NOT a morning person. Night owl for sure, which makes me a perpetually exhausted pigeon during the day LOL
I love your story about your wife’s cup. How awesome! And I’m sure she agrees to be hailed as the Queen! The clutter I’ve got right now is crazy. I’ve really, really got to get a handle on it.
Me, too. Doesn’t matter when I get up…coffee first!
That, I think, is why I’m a coffee drinker. I don’t know what I’d do without the caffeine.
Funny how you can fight your way through the day and then pop up at night. I’ve never figured out why that is.
Thank you so much for sharing. I used to be a morning person. I would get up at 4:30am so I would had time to do devotions and Bible reading before I went to work. After I was hurt and became disabled, it has become so easy to be a night owl. God bless you.
I’m a night owl but sometimes still up early so it’s odd sleeping. I don’t really have a drink except water, milk, & Coke.
I’m for sure a night owl & always have been & love Tim Horton’s coffee.
I’m a night owl/perpetually exhausted pigeon. I go to bed at 2 am and get up at 10 am. I require coffee first thing and throughout the day. I usually drink 2 or 3 cups. I also pop chocolate-covered espresso beans and drink iced sweet tea with lunch.
I tend to be most productive in the morning and then will sometimes get a second wind in the evenings to accomplish tasks.
I’m a mix of night owl and perpetually exhausted pigeon!! 😬 I definitely need my coffee dose in the morning and early afternoon to keep me up!!
Thanks for the chance of the giveaway!❤️
I am a night owl, I like to stay up late
I like the quiet of the night when everyone else is in bed and the energy and productivity I have in the morning. SO, I guess I am tired often because I don’t get enough seep.