Writing is work … treat it that way

Don’t sit around waiting for inspiration. Make it part of your routine.

That struck me during a visit to Henrik Ibsen’s home in Oslo.

Ibsen sat down in his study to start writing at 9:00am every day. If he sat down after 9:03am, his wife Suzannah would not let him go out for lunch because she said he had not worked enough in the morning. And Ibsen *loved* going out for lunch.

At 11.30am, he put on his hat and coat, went downstairs and walked a half mile down the gently sloping avenue from his home to the Grand Hotel. There he had his own table, complete with cutlery with his initials and a supply of his favorite beer from Germany.

After lunch, he strolled home and worked for another two-and-a-half hours precisely.

Ibsen followed the same routine every day, until he became too old to continue.

Nearly 120 years after his death, he’s the second most-performed playwright in the world.

All by writing for five hours a day … without fail.

If you need support to get into a writing routine, DM me