--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write in the afternoon, from about 12…" description: "\"I write in the afternoon, from about 12 until 6 or 7. I use an upstairs room as my office. Once I get going I keep at it, and it usually takes about si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/lee-child-980_afternoon_i-write-in-the-afternoon-from-about-12-u_1934903.jpg" --- # I write in the afternoon, from about 12 until 6 or 7. I… ![“I write in the afternoon, from about 12 until 6 or 7. I use an upstairs room as my office. Once I get going I keep at it, and it usually takes about six months from the first blank screen until 'The End.” quote by Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/lee-child-980_afternoon_i-write-in-the-afternoon-from-about-12-u_1934903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/lee-child-980_afternoon_i-write-in-the-afternoon-from-about-12-u_1934903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/lee-child-980_afternoon_i-write-in-the-afternoon-from-about-12-u_1934903.jpg) > “I write in the afternoon, from about 12 until 6 or 7. I use an upstairs room as my office. Once I get going I keep at it, and it usually takes about six months from the first blank screen until 'The End.” [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes disciplined writing schedule and long creative process to finish a novel. **In simple terms:** Writes daily, takes months to complete a book. Key Takeaway Maintain consistent writing routine. Themes writing discipline creativity process Mood focused determined Type creative professional When to use this quote - daily writing - editing - publishing Key Concepts novel writing time management Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain momentum? - What strategies aid in overcoming writer’s block? A Different Perspective May cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I write every morning. Two hours. Then I take a break and become my own secretary for a few hours. If I am "hot"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-write-every-morning-two-hours-then-i-take-a-break-and-become-my-own/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“I don’t write in the morning, my brain isn’t up to it yet, I don’t write in the afternoon, I’m too sad, I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douard-lev/i-don-t-write-in-the-morning-my-brain-isn-t-up-to-it-yet-i-don-t/) [Édouard Levé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douard-lev/) > [I've always been one to arrive early for work; preparation is a big part of how I work, and I like to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/i-ve-always-been-one-to-arrive-early-for-work-preparation-is-a-big/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [In football there for a long time, I knew even if it was a bad day, a bad day at the office, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/in-football-there-for-a-long-time-i-knew-even-if-it-was-a-bad-day-a/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [People are going to move in and out of their office, and they're going to move up or get fired. All kinds of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/people-are-going-to-move-in-and-out-of-their-office-and-they-re-going/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) > [Office going on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/office-going-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people talk about running for office, but what are you going to do when you get there? It's about service -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrine-brown/a-lot-of-people-talk-about-running-for-office-but-what-are-you-going/) [Corrine Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrine-brown/) > [Doing a series of 'Facejacker' takes about nine months. It's pretty intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayvan-novak/doing-a-series-of-facejacker-takes-about-nine-months-it-s-pretty/) [Kayvan Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayvan-novak/) > [“When things don’t happen right away, just remember: it takes 6 months to build a Rolls-Royce and just 13 hours to build a Toyota.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/when-things-don-t-happen-right-away-just-remember-it-takes-6-months/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [The bearing of a child takes nine months, no matter how many women are assigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bearing-of-a-child-takes-nine-months-no-matter-how-many-women-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It takes me three months of research and nine months of work to produce a book. When I start writing, I do two pages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-furst/it-takes-me-three-months-of-research-and-nine-months-of-work-to/) [Alan Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-furst/) > [Don't be hard on yourself! You just had a baby. It took nine months to get there, and I believe it takes nine months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-lee-nolin/don-t-be-hard-on-yourself-you-just-had-a-baby-it-took-nine-months-to/) [Gena Lee Nolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-lee-nolin/) > [It takes six months to get into shape and two weeks to get out of shape. Once you know this you can stop being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/it-takes-six-months-to-get-into-shape-and-two-weeks-to-get-out-of/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Most actors, unless they're big movie stars and can carve out huge chunks of time to focus on one movie that takes six months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schiff/most-actors-unless-they-re-big-movie-stars-and-can-carve-out-huge/) [Richard Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schiff/) > [It sometimes takes 6 months or more after you've written and recorded it before you can start to enjoy the experience of singing the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shultz/it-sometimes-takes-6-months-or-more-after-you-ve-written-and-recorded/) [Matt Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shultz/) ## More by Lee Child > [“Reacher got to them on the plane. He put them out of action and stole their wallets.” “On the plane?” “He broke Lozano’s fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/reacher-got-to-them-on-the-plane-he-put-them-out-of-action-and-stole/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“A maintenance dose. It would keep her asleep all night. It would keep her warm, and gentle, and relaxed, and at peace, and cradled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/a-maintenance-dose-it-would-keep-her-asleep-all-night-it-would-keep/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“It had maroon paint and exposed brick and scarred wood, and a chalkboard menu about ninety percent full of things that don’t really belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/it-had-maroon-paint-and-exposed-brick-and-scarred-wood-and-a/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Spread love and understanding,” Reacher said. “Use force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/spread-love-and-understanding-reacher-said-use-force-if-necessary/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“or especially fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/or-especially-fragile/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Now they broke my toothbrush, I don't own anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/now-they-broke-my-toothbrush-i-don-t-own-anything/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“The Zip Code is about the size of Chicago. With five people. But hey, welcome to Wyoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-zip-code-is-about-the-size-of-chicago-with-five-people-but-hey/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“You got to imagine your memory is like an old bucket, you know? Once it’s filled up with old stuff there ain’t no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/you-got-to-imagine-your-memory-is-like-an-old-bucket-you-know-once-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“foreign legal systems. So I made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/foreign-legal-systems-so-i-made/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all-i-ever-hear-like-new/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Writing is showbusiness for shy people. That's how I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/writing-is-showbusiness-for-shy-people-that-s-how-i-see-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“OK, Finlay, let’s get it done,” I said. “I don’t have an address because I don’t live anywhere. Maybe one day I’ll live somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/ok-finlay-let-s-get-it-done-i-said-i-don-t-have-an-address-because-i/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He changed his final wad up at the train station. Which was a sad place now. There were homeless people and disturbed people hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-changed-his-final-wad-up-at-the-train-station-which-was-a-sad/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“They had come for us in the night. Hey had come expecting a lot of blood. They had come with all their gear. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/they-had-come-for-us-in-the-night-hey-had-come-expecting-a-lot-of/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He hauled the right-hand guy next to the left-hand guy, close together, shoulder to shoulder, and he picked up the heavy box like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-hauled-the-right-hand-guy-next-to-the-left-hand-guy-close-together/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) [Explore all 306 Lee Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## More Afternoon quotes > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-vieira/honestly-i-m-living-my-fantasy-it-s-being-with-my-family-preferably/) [Meredith Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-vieira/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Sunday afternoon is for papers and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-haslam/sunday-afternoon-is-for-papers-and-writing/) [Nicholas Haslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-haslam/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? And the day after that, and the next thirty years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-ll-we-do-with-ourselves-this-afternoon-and-the-day-after-that/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Imagine you are walking down a leafy path…The sun is receding, and you are walking alone, caressed by the breezy light of the late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/imagine-you-are-walking-down-a-leafy-path-the-sun-is-receding-and-you/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/) Ban Johnson > [Sometimes in the afternoon sky the moon would pass white as a cloud, furtive, lusterless, like an actress who does not have to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/sometimes-in-the-afternoon-sky-the-moon-would-pass-white-as-a-cloud/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) Browse all 1,085 Afternoon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write in the afternoon, from about 12 until 6 or 7. I use an upstairs room as my office. 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