Some authors weave words like magic, pulling readers into their pages with ease. Often times people assume they have a natural talent for being a best-seller, unaware of the creative rituals each writer has that shapes the way they write, think, and imagine each epic scene. Not one person creates their masterpiece by following the same formula - there's no secret tucked away in some vault that requires a special key to unlock. From Rowling, to King, to Christie - they each have a different routine to help create the stories we love. While their routine might not resonate with your own writing habits, there's something to learn from each one.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Although you can wander into a store and find a shirt or hat that says "One size fits all" - the same doesn't apply to writing. Anybody that takes it upon themselves to pick up a pen and tell a story that's been crowding the back of their mind, is likely to come to a different conclusion than the person sitting next to them. One might be able to bust out a draft for a short story in a few hours, whereas another might need to create a detailed plan before writing the first word.

While every writer has a different process, studying different techniques of successful authors can help inspire you to find your own rhythm. You can test, tweak, and mold those habits into something natural that fits into your unique lifestyle. You might find that you're an outliner like J.K. Rowling, or a go-with-the-flow writer like Stephen King, or maybe that you fall somewhere between the two.

Exploring other people's processes is not about copying their style - it's about figuring out what works for you.

The Plot Weaver: Inside J.K. Rowling's Structured Imagination

To this day, J.K. Rowling has been one of my absolute favorite writers. Obviously Harry Potter is her biggest career highlight and I've always wanted to strive for that same kind of success one day. It's inspiring, yet intimidating - how did she manage to create a world so intricate that her story has transcended beyond just mere pages of a book? And could I ever get close to creating something like that?

Besides having an immense determination (Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before being published by Bloomsbury) - Rowling pretty much outlined everything she'd need to create one of the best series ever written. It took five years of careful planning.

Back in the 90's, Rowling would write by hand, carrying notebooks with her to jot down ideas whenever inspiration struck. It wasn't until she revised her work multiple times that she finally opted to type it up on a computer. She also found that writing in busy cafés helped keep her focused. Although there was noise surrounding her, she still found a way to stay inside her head, where all the creations came to life.

One of my favorite quotes about writing comes from Ernest Hemingway, who stated:
"In order to write about life first you must live it."

Rowling understood this fact throughout her journey, knowing when to walk away from the story when she needed to solve a plot problem. She would focus on daily, ordinary tasks to clear her mind - often realizing the solution after taking a step back. This goes against the idea that you have to constantly be writing in order to make it in the literary world. If you run yourself ragged, you'll eventually run out of creativity, because your mind won't be able to focus.

J.K. Rowling may have taken years to plot out Harry Potter, but her method worked out perfectly. So if you find that you've been working on your debut novel for a while - don't fret! Writing takes time and that's going to be different for everyone.

The Relentless Routine of Stephen King

When I first started getting into Stephen King, it was because I watched a movie adaptation of his book "Dreamcatcher" in 2003. It was such a weird and crazy story, but that's what kept my attention. It was different. It was odd. And it was a reminder that there's an audience for almost everything.

King's approach to writing is far different than Rowling's. Whereas Rowling is all about planning and thriving off inspiration, King finds that consistency works best. No matter what day of the year it is, he always writes. Not only that, but he doesn't outline his work - instead, he focuses on getting words onto paper. His routine is very strict - from the time of day he writes, to the amount of words he aims for in each session.

Stephen King's routine typically begins between 8:00AM and 11:30AM. I have to find myself agreeing with this because it's when the world seems to be the most quiet. People are usually still asleep or just waking up, birds and critters are searching for their morning breakfast, and distractions are minimal. He also prefers to isolate himself in a room where nothing can cause his focus to falter. In 2025, some writers might find it challenging to adhere to his three "rules": no phone, no internet, no interruptions.

Another major habit of the King of Horror, is to read 70-80 books a year. If writing a best-selling series can take five years, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to read other people's works, when you feel like you should be focusing on your own story.

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time - or the tools - to write."
- Stephen King

But again, I find myself in agreement with him. Although I can't say today that I read nearly as much as he does, I remember when I could read three or four books at one time and still manage to fill up half a notebook with my own stories in a single sitting. Maybe he's on to something.

Mental Maps and Murder: Inside Agatha Christie's Process

If you haven't read one of Agatha Christie's books - what have you been doing all your life? The queen of mystery managed to write over 80 books before her passing in 1976 - upstaging both J.K. Rowling and Stephen King with sheer numbers.

While both former examples had strict rituals to help them craft incredible stories, Agatha Christie was more flexible and relaxed. She often wrote whenever inspiration struck. Accompanying her husband on archeological digs meant that she might find herself in a tent, a hotel room, or at the actual dig site. All of these new environments would influence the inspiration for her stories.

Her extensive travels also helped hone an ability to observe different kinds of people and study their behaviors, which in turn, helped create dynamic characters for her murder mysteries. She could sit and mentally plan out possible scenes before ever sitting down with pen and paper.

Structure, Style, and the Space Between

Each author had different habits that brought them to the same success. It didn't matter if they stuck to a strict schedule or allowed their brain to wander until finding inspiration. They merely found a creative rhythm that worked for them and stuck with it.

J.K. Rowling and Agatha Christie both planned out their stories, but did it in a different way. Stephen King wrote religiously every morning without a plan and managed to create incredible masterpieces. Even their writing environments found them in different areas, from bustling cafés to isolated rooms to the desert.

Their habits prove that there's not one, right way to become a heavy-hitter in the literary world. The biggest takeaway from their methods is to be consistent and determined to tell the story in your head.

Try, Tweak, Trust: Applying What Works for You

Now that we've gone over the different ways the Greats have created their stories, experiment with ideas to fit your own life. Have you ever sat at the book store, cracked open your laptop or notebook and written some words? Even if it only lasted fifteen minutes - habits take time! Maybe sitting like a statue, surrounded by strangers feels too intimidating. Do you have a place in the house that can be molded into cozy a workspace?

Personally, I'm more of an eclectic writer when it comes to routine. I take tidbits from each of the mentioned writers. I opt for speed like Stephen King, and write mostly on a laptop instead of taking longhand notes. I don't typically plan like J.K. Rowling, leaning more towards Agatha Christie's mental preparation. If you're not sure what works, try testing out the routine of other writers. If it doesn't work - try a different tactic.

Remember - your writing process doesn't have to be perfect or fit someone else's mold, you just need to find what keeps you writing.