Tips for Late-Night Writers

I know, I know, all the best professional authors say to write in the morning... But let's be honest with ourselves. We're mostly high school and college students here. Many of us get our best work done between the hours of 9pm and 1am. So... if you fall in the category of "late-night writers" (which I certainly do), here are a few tips to get the most out of your midnight writing sessions without driving yourself or anyone else insane!

1. Be Prepared. If you plan to write late into the night, chances are you'll want to crash straight into that bed the moment you finish. But you can't do that unless you've prepared for bed ahead of time. Before you sit down to write, take some time to change into your PJs, remove your makeup, read your Bible, brush your teeth--whatever it is you do before you go to bed at night. Then, when you've made that pesky wordcount, you're ready to sleep.

2. Be Considerate. If you share a space with others, be they your family or your roommates, take them and their bedtimes into consideration. If you like to listen to music or podcasts while you write, use earbuds, and if you're worried about light pollution, use a desk lamp or reading light so as not to disturb your housemates. This is another good reason to prepare for bed ahead of time--this way, you're not stumbling around your living space at 2am looking for your hairbrush and waking up light sleepers.

3. Be Kind to Yourself. Humans are not nocturnal. Our circadian rhythms dictate that we sleep when it's dark outside, so at some point, even the most inspired writer should go to bed. To make your late-night writing routine easier on your poor little brain, consider the following:

• Avoid sugar and caffeine during your late-night sprints.
• If you use electronic devices while writing, put them on nightlight mode so the blue light doesn't keep you up.
• If you listen to music while writing, pick something quiet and calming that won't amp you up right before bed.

4. Think About Tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow morning? If you have to get up early for church or class, then keep that in mind the night before. The average young person needs 8-10 hours of sleep per night. I know what you're thinking: "I never get that much sleep!" Well, that might explain why you're tired all the time. When we don't get enough sleep, we build up a "sleep deficit." We have to get all those hours somehow. So if you do intend to put in three hours of sleep tonight, give yourself extra time in bed over the weekend or whenever you can. Paying of the sleep deficit isn't a replacement for a normal, healthy sleep schedule, but once again, we're students. We're extremely busy, and if we want to prioritize our writing, we might have to de-prioritize our bedtime. Just keep in mind the possible consequences.

Hopefully these tips help you be your most productive self during those midnight sprints!