--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a…" description: "\"I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of breaks). My goal is 2000 words when I sit down to write and usually, I hit that, though it c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg" --- # I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of… ![“I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of breaks). My goal is 2000 words when I sit down to write and usually, I hit that, though it can take anywhere from 3-7 hours to get there. I usually know the basics of where the story is going, but the specifics just sort of come to me as I…” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg) > “I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of breaks). My goal is 2000 words when I sit down to write and usually, I hit that, though it can take anywhere from 3-7 hours to get there. I usually know the basics of where the story is going, but the specifics just sort of come to me as I write.” [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent, timed writing sessions with breaks boost productivity and allow ideas to emerge organically. **In simple terms:** Regular short bursts of writing help reach word goals. Key Takeaway Schedule focused writing blocks with breaks. Themes creativity discipline productivity writing process Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel drafting - blog posts - academic papers - creative brainstorming Key Concepts habit formation flow state goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do breaks affect your creative flow? - What schedule maximizes your writing output? A Different Perspective May not suit writers needing long uninterrupted focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is total grunt work. A lot of people think it's all about sitting and waiting for the muse. I don't buy that. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/writing-is-total-grunt-work-a-lot-of-people-think-it-s-all-about/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I rarely sit down to write something. I usually have an experience and relate it to somebody and go, 'There I connected some dots,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/i-rarely-sit-down-to-write-something-i-usually-have-an-experience-and/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Most of us forget the basics and wonder why the specifics don't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/most-of-us-forget-the-basics-and-wonder-why-the-specifics-don-t-work/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/it-is-necessary-to-write-if-the-days-are-not-to-slip-emptily-by-how-2/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [Sometimes you just have to write some days off, and I know that's a terrible thing to say, but it's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vogue-williams/sometimes-you-just-have-to-write-some-days-off-and-i-know-that-s-a/) [Vogue Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vogue-williams/) > [The cool thing about writing is that there is really never a typical day. Sometimes I get a rhythm going and head off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/the-cool-thing-about-writing-is-that-there-is-really-never-a-typical/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/it-is-necessary-to-write-if-the-days-are-not-to-slip-emptily-by-how/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [I write five, six days a week. The thing is capturing the voice. I feel like I've been perfecting one voice - in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/i-write-five-six-days-a-week-the-thing-is-capturing-the-voice-i-feel/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“The main thing is to WRITE. Some days it might be 2000 words. Some days you might tinker with two sentences until you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-k-madigan/the-main-thing-is-to-write-some-days-it-might-be-2000-words-some-days/) L.K. Madigan > [I don't want to overplay the diary's significance, but it's a really helpful batting aid. It's not an obsession because I don't spend more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-don-t-want-to-overplay-the-diary-s-significance-but-it-s-a-really/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [W.S Merwin says "after three days of rain" and I write "After Twelve Days of Rain." I like his quietude. I admire his ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorianne-laux/w-s-merwin-says-after-three-days-of-rain-and-i-write-after-twelve/) [Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorianne-laux/) > [I start out to write five days a week, and then it runs to six days and finally seven. Then, eventually, that wave of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-start-out-to-write-five-days-a-week-and-then-it-runs-to-six-days/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I'm very finicky about when I'm in the right mood to write. So most days, I find some excuse not to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-m-very-finicky-about-when-i-m-in-the-right-mood-to-write-so-most/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [I think about my films for a long time, maybe years, but I write them in days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-kashyap/i-think-about-my-films-for-a-long-time-maybe-years-but-i-write-them/) [Anurag Kashyap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-kashyap/) > [One day, I can come up with 50 content ideas, and I'm like, 'Boom, I want to do this idea, this idea, this idea.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/one-day-i-can-come-up-with-50-content-ideas-and-i-m-like-boom-i-want/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) ## More by Nicholas Sparks > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) [Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More Basics quotes > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Sometimes we think that the more expensive brands will be more effective. Sometimes if you stick to the basics, that's what really matters. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/sometimes-we-think-that-the-more-expensive-brands-will-be-more/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [As hundreds of millions of Chinese have improved their standard of living, this has put enormous pressure on natural resources, raw materials, and food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/as-hundreds-of-millions-of-chinese-have-improved-their-standard-of/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Move quickly. Sound, calm mind. Be light in body. Have a clever mind. Master the basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/move-quickly-sound-calm-mind-be-light-in-body-have-a-clever-mind/) Gogen Yamaguchi > [After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/after-almost-exactly-three-hours-we-rolled-into-a-small-hole-of-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“When life gets confusing, go back to the basics. The rest is noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-shelasky/when-life-gets-confusing-go-back-to-the-basics-the-rest-is-noise/) [Alyssa Shelasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-shelasky/) > [We have to stick to basics. Sometimes, you expect that miracles will happen, but it does not work out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/we-have-to-stick-to-basics-sometimes-you-expect-that-miracles-will/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) [Browse all 345 Basics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of breaks). My goal is 2000 words when I sit down to write and usually, I hit that, though it can take anywhere from 3-7 hours to get there. I usually know the basics of where the story is going, but the specifics just sort of come to me as I write.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas Sparks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-time-with-lots-of-breaks-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-time-with-lots-of-breaks-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/nicholas-sparks-93_basics_i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-t_145614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I write 3-4 days a week, 4-5 hours at a time (with lots of breaks). My goal is 2000 words when I sit down to…” — Nicholas Sparks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nicholas Sparks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I write 3-4 days a week,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-time-with-lots-of-breaks-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-write-3-4-days-a-week-4-5-hours-at-a-time-with-lots-of-breaks-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```