One of the things I often get asked in interviews is what a typical day in my writing life looks like and the short answer is that there isn't really a 'typical' day, as it depends what I have on my to do list. Some days, contrary to the title, I'm not even at my desk.
I generally spend at least one morning a week down at the Lido and unless there is something urgent that needs doing, I tend to spend my time there doing administrative tasks, such as book reviews, blog posts and social media posts. If I don't have any of these to do (a rare occurrence!) I do any editing I've been asked to do for other people.
Other days, if I want to write a particular scene on location, I'll pack a notebook and pen and take myself off to immerse myself in the right place to write. Whilst I don't do this very often, I do find it an incredibly useful thing to do. When I was writing Unforgettable I had to rely mostly on my memories of the various places I set the story in. However, I did write one of the sections set in Blackpool Tower Ballroom in the Ballroom itself and as Beth Chatto Gardens was the inspiration for the garden Tom meets Grace for the first time, it was easy enough for me to get there to write that scene. With Folly it was the chapter where Will proposes which I wrote on location, in Springmead Gardens in my home town.
However, most of my writing is done at my desk in my study. Typically, I take my son to school and once I get back home I make myself a cup of coffee and settle down to work. Typically, the previous day, I have left my writing in the middle of a piece of action and have precise notes about what happens next. The reason I do this is that it makes it much easier for me to dive straight back into the piece, rather than having to think about what I'm going to write. If I'm struggling, I might top my coffee up or have an early lunch, but often, particularly if I'm writing a first draft and it's going well, I work through until about 1-1:30pm, at which point I'll grab a really quick lunch (often this is a sandwich I've prepared the night before) and a cold drink, then make myself a cup of tea and crack on again. If I have editing to do, the afternoon are when I tend to do it, as I find I'm much more creative in the morning and once I've got that bit done, I can concentrate on other things far more easily. If I don't have editing to do, I'll write a bit more and then plan the following day's writing. This can often involve writing up to 500 words of notes and include any specific phrases or dialogue I want to use. If I have any time left after that, I use it to do any last-minute research needed for the next day's writing or to think ahead about any plotting that is still needed for the rest of the book.
Once it gets to 3 o'clock though, it's time to go and collect my son from school. If, for any reason, I haven't managed to finish what I wanted to achieve during the day, I either do a little bit more once he's home, or more usually, I catch up after he's gone to bed. On a good day, I can get anywhere between 2,000 and 5,000 words written. However, if I get stuck, I find the best solution is to go for a walk, clear my head and think about whatever plot knot I am trying to unravel. It's a very rare occasion when this doesn't work!
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