Finding My Writing Time

One of the questions I'm often asked is, "When do you write?"

The honest answer is whenever inspiration and opportunity meet.

Some days I write first thing in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and a clear mind. Other days it's late in the evening when the world has quietened and it's easier to step back into seventeenth-century Scotland.

I've learnt not to wait for the perfect moment. Writing is about showing up, even if it's only for half an hour. Some sessions produce thousands of words, while others are spent researching a single historical detail or rewriting one paragraph until it finally feels right.

Every writer works differently. I've discovered that my best writing happens when I've recently returned from a research trip. Standing in the places where my characters walked gives me a fresh perspective and often unlocks scenes that have been waiting to be written.

For me, writing isn't about finding time—it's about making time. Every page brings me one step closer to sharing my stories with the world.

— Rose Campbell Smith
The Saltwater Storyteller