--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am working on a book or a story, I…" description: "\"When I am working on a book or a story, I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no one to disturb you, and it is cool or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ernest-hemingway-83_book_when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i_1832425.jpg" --- # When I am working on a book or a story, I write every… ![“When I am working on a book or a 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.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ernest-hemingway-83_book_when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i_1832425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ernest-hemingway-83_book_when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i_1832425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ernest-hemingway-83_book_when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i_1832425.jpg) > “When I am working on a book or a 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He writes early at dawn to avoid interruptions and benefit from the cool, quiet atmosphere. **In simple terms:** Write early to avoid distractions and stay focused. Key Takeaway Start writing at first light. Themes discipline routine focus Mood calm focused Type advice practical When to use this quote - authoring - creative writing - morning routine Key Concepts productivity environment habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment affect your creativity? - Can you adapt this habit to your schedule? A Different Perspective May be impractical for night owls or those with early commitments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Daily work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-work/) [Every morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-morning/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i-write-every-morning-as-soon/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after the first light as possible. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i-write-every-morning-as-soon-2/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i-write-every-morning-as-soon-3/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“When I am working on a book or a story I write every morning as soon after first light as possible. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/when-i-am-working-on-a-book-or-a-story-i-write-every-morning-as-soon-5/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Write the best story that you can and write it as straight as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/write-the-best-story-that-you-can-and-write-it-as-straight-as-you-can/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I write every day. I don't have a writing schedule. I write when I feel like it. Fortunately, I feel like it all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-bunting/i-write-every-day-i-don-t-have-a-writing-schedule-i-write-when-i-feel/) [Eve Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-bunting/) > [When I am writing a novel, though, then it's usually three or four hours a day. Ideally, right after lunch until three or four,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-graham-jones/when-i-am-writing-a-novel-though-then-it-s-usually-three-or-four/) [Stephen Graham Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-graham-jones/) > [It is by sitting down to write every morning that he becomes a writer. Those who do not do this remain amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/it-is-by-sitting-down-to-write-every-morning-that-he-becomes-a-writer/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [I don't go to an office, so I write at home. I like to write in the morning, if possible; that's when my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/i-don-t-go-to-an-office-so-i-write-at-home-i-like-to-write-in-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [One ritual is that I don't speak to anyone before I write in the morning. 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It's a very easy, lovely life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-forster/i-write-in-the-morning-i-walk-in-the-afternoon-and-i-read-in-the/) [Margaret Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-forster/) > [“It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/it-is-by-sitting-down-to-write-every-morning-that-one-becomes-a-writer/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. 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