Where Writers Work

Kat Turner

The most important element of my writing process is having a two-hour block of time set aside to work with minimal interruptions. I’m not sure why two hours is the magic number, but it seems to be, so I roll with it. Going into a writing session, I have to have a clear idea of what I’m about to focus on, whether that’s drafting, revisions, edits, copy edits, or ancillary material like blurbs or synopses. Setting the intention and making a plan from the outset helps tremendously with focus and time management, as I’m only able to productively work on one project at a time. Then, I work toward a specific endpoint. That may be finishing a shorter piece or chapter or writing a set number or words. My typical rotation for drafting is one shorter word count day (800-1,200) followed by a longer one (2,000-3,500), then a day off, then repeat. Once I’m in the groove, I just buckle down and go, making sure to hydrate along the way.