Over the years, readers have often asked about John Grisham's writing routine—where he works, how he structures his day, how he's stayed diciplined over decades of writing.

What follows is a detailed look at the habits and best practices he returned to throughout his career.

Find a Dedicated Space

John Grisham uses a refurbished cabin on his property in Virginia. Choose a quiet environment where you can come to write every day.

Eliminate Distractions

The cabin has no phones, faxes, internet, or music. Remove any access to social media, email, or any other distractions before you start writing.

Pick a Consistent Time

John Grisham writes 5 days a week starting at 7am. 7am-10am is usually his most productive writing time. Find a time that works with your schedule and stick to it every day.

Start with an Outline

Before starting, he outlines each chapter, writing a few sentences for each to make sure pacing and chapter length is consistent.

Set a Daily Goal

John Grisham writes 1,000-2,000 words a day. Set a goal that works for you. If you write 200 words a day, that’s 1,000 words a week. Do that for 2 years and you’ll have a novel.

Revise as You Go

As John Grisham starts writing, he continues to adjust the outline, adding notes as he goes.

Keep Your Routine Consistent

He starts writing each day at the same time, working on the same computer, and drinking the same coffee out of the same cup.

Find your Balance

Every year on January 1, John Grisham starts with the goal of finishing the book in six months. Find a balance that works for you to find your inspiration between writing.