Stephen Edwin King is the god of supernatural thrillers and science fiction novels. His literary output includes 62 prolific novels, 5 non-fiction titles, and more than 200 short stories. He even wrote 7 books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. His titles, including the masterpieces Carrie and It, have been adapted into several Hollywood movies. Even the Hollywood movie Shawshank Redemption is based on his novel. So what is Stephen King’s daily routine like?
What makes this writer so good? He certainly has talent, but her discipline, her gratitude, and his passion combine with his talent to create such a writer. Stephen King starts his day with a mental gratitude list. He remembers everything he is thankful for in life, including his family, friends and his corgi named Molly. He tries to be thankful that she doesn’t hurt him because he realizes that everyone in his life is in pain. Then the 73-year-old writer brushes and shaves, before getting down to the essentials: writing.
Lee Child’s daily word count: 2,000 words
Child aims to write 2,000 words a day, though the amount may vary. “Some days I only write two hundred words, but if it’s essential, I’m glad,” author Jack Reacher said in an interview with Record Online. “There are so many things that you don’t see: creating a mood, dealing with a transition. But a typical narrative, I write 2,000 words a day.”
Read More: Lee Child Writing Practice
Mark Twain: 1,400-1,800 Words
If there was a Mount Rushmore for writers, Mark Twain would definitely be there. But he realized that he used to depend on where you were writing. “In 1897, when we lived in Tedworth Square, London, and I was writing the book entitled ‘Following the Equator’, my average was eighteen hundred words a day; here in Florence (1904), my average seems to be fourteen hundred words. per session of four or five hours”.
W. Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was one of the most popular writers of his time and was also the highest paid author of the 1930s. He was orphaned at the age of ten and raised by an uncle who did his best to be an accountant. Maugham went on with his life and wrote quality classics. But even he recognized that there was no formula based on composition. “There are three rules for writing a novel,” he said. “Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
Nicholas Sparks (2000 words)
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most popular novelists and screenwriters. All of her books have been a New York Times Bestseller, selling more than 105 million copies worldwide in more than 50 languages.
Sparks published her first novel, The Passing in 1985 while she was a student at University of Notre-Dame. To date, he has published 19 books. His new book, The Return, will be available in September 2020.
Do you have a writing quota or set timeline? Leave a comment below!
Rafal Reyzer is a full-time blogger, freelance writer, digital marketer, and content manager. He started RafalReyzer.com to give readers the tools and strategies they can use to work remotely and earn money from blogging and freelance writing. His site is a one-stop-shop for writers, bloggers, publishers, content enthusiasts, and freelancers who want to be self-employed, make more money, and create great things.