When is a good time to write? Early morning before the rest of the family awakes? Noon, during your lunch break? Evenings, after the day’s activities are behind you?

Most authors know that inspiration can hit at any time, and not always when it’s the most convenient. Have you ever struggled for hours in front of your computer trying to come up with the perfect cliffhanger only to have it hit you at three in the morning, waking you from a dead sleep with no pen and paper close by and you’re too tired to get up and write it down? Or, perhaps you’re in the middle of a business meeting and your mind wanders to your latest manuscript, then suddenly the writer’s block that plagued you for the last two weeks is gone and all these ideas pop into your head. What do you do? Our creativity can peak at the oddest times, but there are ways to work around it. Don’t fight the urge to write. Losing a few minutes of sleep is worth getting up and writing those thoughts down. Getting them out of your system just may give your mind the rest it needs. Keep a notepad and pencil on your nightstand so you’ll be prepared for those middle of the night mind forays. When you’re stuck in a meeting or in class, getting up out of your chair to write down your thoughts isn’t what I’d recommend. However, you might be able to inconspicuously sneak a few words on paper, or wait until you have a break. A small notebook is a must-have tool, just don’t get it mixed up with your homework or business paperwork, and don’t allow your writing to cause inconsideration of others.

There is a season for everything under heaven, including writing.

Can you think of other times the urge to write may happen? While grocery shopping? When driving to and from work or school? During a phone conversation? Sometimes we can excuse ourselves long enough to jot down a phrase or two, but often we can’t. As Christians, we need to ask God to help us remember the ideas we get. Praying before we sit down to write should become a habit. As we learn to listen to God, we’ll hear Him tell us WHEN to write, and how we can retain those ideas when we aren’t able to put them onto paper.