The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Writers

Advice from some of the most successful, highly effective writers of our times. And perhaps the most financially successful writers in human history!
So here they are, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Writers:

1. First Light

“When I am working on a book or story, I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no one to disturb you and it is cool or cold and you come to your work and warm as you write.” – Ernest Hemingway

2. Daily Quota

Stephen King sticks to a daily writing quota of 2000 words, not stopping until the quota is met.

3. 70-hr Work Weeks

“When I’m working on a novel, I work 70-hour weeks.” – Dean Koontz

4. Short Breaks

Dan Brown keeps an hourglass on his desk and takes short breaks from writing every hour to do push-ups, sit-ups and stretches.

5. Consistency

“I write at the same place, same table, same chair, with the same cup and type of coffee. The same computer has produced the last fifteen books. The books are written from August to November, from 6 a.m. to noon, five days a week. Old habits die hard.” – John Grisham

6. Sleep on It

When writing the challenging middle of a book, Janet Evanovich takes a pad and pen to bed and writes down her thoughts before going to sleep. Then in the morning, she knows what to write.

7. Clarity

“I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing—to be clear. I have given up all thought of writing poetically or symbolically or experimentally, or in any of the other modes that might (if I were good enough) get me a Pulitzer Prize. I would write merely clearly, and in this way establish a warm relationship between myself and my readers, and the professional critics—Well, they can do whatever they wish.” – Isaac Asimov