What Is The Morning Writing Effect? • Hacker News Board

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#11

Post by nikolatt » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 11:09 AM UTC

sqs wrote: post #3

My first question was about how writing prose differs from writing code. The post covers this: > despite being apparently similar activities (both mostly involve slinging text), the temporal timing of software development & writing are strikingly different. Thinking back, I don’t recall early-morning programming being a trend among programmers (programmers are infamous for preferring to come in late and late-night pr…

There was this notion that at night the brain is more tired, meaning it cannot both focus on the code and daydream (or similar). From personal experience, this is at least partially true.

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#12

Post by anorick » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 11:34 AM UTC

sqs wrote: post #3

My first question was about how writing prose differs from writing code. The post covers this: > despite being apparently similar activities (both mostly involve slinging text), the temporal timing of software development & writing are strikingly different. Thinking back, I don’t recall early-morning programming being a trend among programmers (programmers are infamous for preferring to come in late and late-night pr…

I think it works for coding too.

I don't like morning and prefer start coding late. But if I can wake up in early morning and start work in first half-hour, it improve my coding skills: I write better code and do it faster.

But it depends on personal qualities and daily regime very much.

And one interesting thing: it show enhancement only for first times. My current experiment is wake up at 5-5:30 a.m. And in first time I had improvements to my productivity, but now I work like in the past before experiment.

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#13

Post by mark_l_watson » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 11:46 AM UTC

I write a lot: probably average writing 1 book every 1 1/2 year over the last 35 years.

This may be key:

“Yet another version might be that sleep itself is the key: sleep, aside from any resetting, is also responsible for memory formation and appears involved in unconscious processes of creativity.‘

I find the morning is my best work time for either writing or designing and writing software. It seems that often good ideas are just there for the taking in the morning.

That said, I often get the same effect after dinner if I have taken the afternoon off for leisure (e.g., hiking all afternoon).

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#14

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 12:11 PM UTC

sqs wrote: post #3

My first question was about how writing prose differs from writing code. The post covers this: > despite being apparently similar activities (both mostly involve slinging text), the temporal timing of software development & writing are strikingly different. Thinking back, I don’t recall early-morning programming being a trend among programmers (programmers are infamous for preferring to come in late and late-night pr…

[deleted]

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#15

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 12:24 PM UTC

ahussain wrote: post #10

sqs wrote: post #3

My first question was about how writing prose differs from writing code. The post covers this: > despite being apparently similar activities (both mostly involve slinging text), the temporal timing of software development & writing are strikingly different. Thinking back, I don’t recall early-morning programming being a trend among programmers (programmers are infamous for preferring to come in late and late-night pr…

For me, writing prose (mostly short stories, journals, memoirs) is more emotionally taxing. To write well I need to find ways to silence the self-censorship that will inevitably prevent me from expressing the things I really want to say. This often happens when I am in a state approaching mania. Donald Glover says he writes in the morning because it is "closer to dreaming". Coding is primarily a task about cognition,…

[deleted]

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#16

Post by hownottowrite » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 12:26 PM UTC

mark_l_watson wrote: post #13

I write a lot: probably average writing 1 book every 1 1/2 year over the last 35 years. This may be key: “Yet another version might be that sleep itself is the key: sleep, aside from any resetting, is also responsible for memory formation and appears involved in unconscious processes of creativity.‘ I find the morning is my best work time for either writing or designing and writing software. It seems that often good…

Same. I try to get a few hours done before the cruft of the day creeps in. After that, it's a bit of a wash unless I go for a hike, and then the next round has to be after 4:30PM. 2-4 is the worst, but great for being outdoors.

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#17

Post by nwj » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 12:39 PM UTC

If you read this article and found yourself wishing there was more detail about the writing routine of each author, then you might like "Daily Rituals: How Artists Work" [1]. It's a really great small book that goes in detail through the daily routines of many authors and artists.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work/dp/030...

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#18

Post by Sir_Cmpwn » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 12:46 PM UTC

Interesting, though little in the way of hard evidence. I personally write in the evenings, and do an editing pass the next morning. However, I do feel like I write code better in the mornings than later in the day. When I have an hour and a half before I leave for work and I decide to write some code, I've found that I can generally get a lot more done than I expected.

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#19

Post by azag0 » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 1:06 PM UTC

mark_l_watson wrote: post #13

I write a lot: probably average writing 1 book every 1 1/2 year over the last 35 years. This may be key: “Yet another version might be that sleep itself is the key: sleep, aside from any resetting, is also responsible for memory formation and appears involved in unconscious processes of creativity.‘ I find the morning is my best work time for either writing or designing and writing software. It seems that often good…

You might find the book Why We Sleep interesting.

Re: What Is The Morning Writing Effect?

#20

Post by ivanstame » Sat, Nov 03, 2018, 1:25 PM UTC

Not related to writing but I found that I usually solve problems and bugs the first thing in the morning. Always thought that's because I am the freshest in the morning.