Toni Morrison was a world-renowned novelist and was honored with a Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize for Literature, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Toni Morrison’s daily routine was a testament to her passion for writing and commitment to making time for it, even with a busy schedule. Following her lead, aspiring writers can find inspiration and a roadmap for making writing a priority.
Inside a day in the life of Toni Morrison
Key takeaways
- Morrison valued writing time and found a way to fit it into her schedule, even with a 9-to-5 job.
- She sought out uninterrupted writing time but often had to make do with small pockets of time.
- Morrison had a humorous outlook on her limited writing space, comparing it to Emily Dickinson’s.
- She recognized that the demands of life and work would always be present, but she didn’t let them stop her from writing.
Mornings
Morrison rose at 4 a.m. to get some writing time before her 9-to-5 job started.
Her favorite daily thing to do was drink a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise. “For me, light is the signal in the transition,” she explained. “It’s not being in the light; it’s being there before it arrives. It enables me, in some sense.”
She also made time for writing between work hours and weekends. Despite the demands of her day job as senior editor at Random House, Morrison was determined to pursue her passion for writing. Morrison would always start by writing longhand on a yellow pad, after which she’d type it on the computer and print it out to mark up her changes. “I’m not picky, but my preference is for yellow legal pads and a nice number two pencil,” she revealed.
Afternoons
In the afternoons, the author continued working her 9-to-5 job and used her spare time for writing. Her determination and commitment to writing are a testament to her passion for the craft.
Evenings
In the evenings, Morrison likely devoted more time to writing. She made the most of her limited writing time during the week or on the weekends, using it to pour her thoughts and creativity onto the page.
