10 secrets of working on your works of the best writers in the world

Even the world’s most famous writers sometimes couldn’t bring themselves to work. Lack of inspiration, bad mood, unresolved problems, conflicts with family and friends are the most common reasons that could affect their writing.

Yes, even Pushkin and Gogol lived not only by their works, they were, first of all, people with their own desires and needs.

Of course, many writers would never have achieved such heights if they followed their desires and devoted most of their time to idleness.

On the contrary, they were looking for a source of inspiration, creating certain conditions in which they wanted to create. Each writer had his own secrets that helped him tune in to work. They will be discussed in this article.

10 Jean-Paul Sartre – 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening devoted to work

Jean-Paul led a wild life. He liked to attend social events, was fond of alcohol, drugs.

His personal life was also not quite ordinary. The writer lived with two women: his wife and mistress at the same time.

Despite all this, Sartre was a very disciplined man. No matter what happened, every day he devoted 6 hours to work, 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening.

Nevertheless, such a lifestyle could not but affect his creative abilities. Soon Jean-Paul could not work without drugs. He was taking a stimulant that was officially approved in France. The dose was much higher than allowed.

By the way, Sartre lived to be 74 years old, he did a lot. There were about 50 people at the funeral ceremony. People loved his work and wanted to say goodbye to the great writer.

9. Haruki Murakami – get up early and work 6 hours straight

The works of this Japanese writer are read all over the world. It’s not only interesting, it’s trendy. Haruki Murakami’s secret is simple, he also prefers to work 6 hours a day.

The most “effective” time of day is morning. Previously, the writer led a nightly show on television, smoked a lot and did not limit himself in food. He soon realized that with such a lifestyle, it was impossible to create. Then he became interested in healthy eating, began to run, go to bed early and get up early.

The secret of his success is in a strict daily routine. He admits that in order to be in time, it is necessary to observe the daily routine. When Haruki Murakami changed his life, inspiration began to visit him much more often. The writer calls this special state “flow”.

8. Honore de Balzac – withdrew from the world

Honore de Balzac loved a beautiful life. To support himself, he often had to sell works that he had not even begun to write. When the time came to hand over the novel, the writer began to create.

All he needed was detachment from the world, a good crow’s pen, and smooth paper. At such moments, he did not want to see anyone, locked himself in the room, closed the curtains, lit candles.

In complete seclusion, he could work for two days without rest and breaks. Coffee helped him stay alert, Balzac was very fond of a strong drink.

7. Mark Twain – constantly smoked

Mark Twain also had a secret. He could not write if there were no cigars. He smoked all the time. The figure of the writer could hardly be distinguished in the thick puffs of cigarette smoke. He chose the cheapest cigars, they smelled disgusting.

Most people know him exclusively from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but Twain created many more interesting things. The topics he touched on were often banned by censors, so they are not very popular even now.

6. Agatha Christie – dictated the text to the assistant

Agatha Christie never considered herself a great writer. She was an ordinary housewife, and writing books is nothing more than an interesting hobby.

She came up with fascinating stories while doing housework. She was especially “inspired” by washing dishes. Agatha Christie even joked that when she washes dishes, she has a desire to kill someone.

The woman suffered from dysgraphia. She made mistakes, did not finish the words, so she used the services of an assistant, Agatha Christie dictated the text to her.

5. Anton Chekhov – wrote in absolutely any conditions

Surprisingly, Anton Pavlovich could work in any conditions. Playful children, music, conversations of relatives – nothing interfered with him.

If he did not have time for something, he could ask to wait for him. At that time he himself was finishing a play or a story. The presence of a stranger did not bother the writer at all.

His acquaintances even joked that noise was a necessary condition for Chekhov’s effective work. Indeed, Chekhov possessed a very rare feature. Many people can concentrate exclusively in silence.

4. Vladimir Nabokov – wrote excerpts on cards

Vladimir Nabokov preferred to work not in his office at his desk, but in the back seat of his car. A shoe box replaced the table, and instead of paper, he used special cards. On each of them he wrote a separate part of the work, and then shuffled them.

He easily changed parts in places, added something. Nabokov’s original manuscripts were placed in a small box.

When the work was ready, his wife Vera took over. The woman took the cards and retyped them on a typewriter. By the way, Vladimir, known to the general public for his novel “Lolita”, loved his wife very much, so this work is nothing more than the author’s fantasy.

3. Fyodor Dostoevsky – spoke the text aloud

Before writing the text on paper, Dostoevsky spoke it out loud. He walked around the rooms, often even at night, and muttered. Once he scared the hell out of a footman. Then Fyodor Mikhailovich was visiting his friends at the dacha. He thought about his new novel Crime and Punishment, walked around the rooms and talked about the murder. The footman seriously thought that Dostoevsky wanted to kill someone.

Finished works Fedor Mikhailovich took to the editor on his own. He did not trust the couriers, he was afraid that the manuscript would be lost. He treated drafts with disdain. Dostoevsky did not keep them, he preferred to destroy them immediately.

2. Nikolai Gogol – wrote standing up, slept sitting down

There are many legends about this great writer. He was seriously ill with encephalitis. The disease did not pass without a trace, he often lost consciousness, fell into a lethargic sleep. Gogol was very afraid that he would be buried during such a faint, and then he would wake up. Therefore, he never went to bed, he always slept sitting up.

He preferred to work standing up. When there was no inspiration, he asked to put carafes of water in every room. He himself began to walk around the house, after 10 minutes he drank a glass of water. He walked quickly, so that the wind began to “walk” around the house.

Also, another secret of his was rolling bread balls. Thus, Nikolai Vasilyevich calmed down, tuned in to work.

1. Alexander Pushkin – painted portraits in the margins of drafts, drank lemonade

To concentrate on work, Alexander Sergeevich painted portraits in the margins of drafts. Female figurines, animals, portraits of acquaintances – Pushkin did a good job.

The writer also asked the servant to bring lemonade. This is also Pushkin’s secret, he couldn’t work without lemonade.

Of course, lemonade at that time was completely different than it is now. Pushkin also mentioned lemon water with sugar in his works. Some of his heroes were also crazy about this drink.