Behind the Bestseller: A Conversation with Megan O'Connor About Her Writing Routine

It’s the kind of question that pops up every time a new title climbs the bestseller list: “How does she do it?” In a world where we’re all juggling Zoom meetings, grocery runs, and the occasional existential crisis, the answer feels like a secret sauce worth stealing. I sat down with Megan O'Connor, the author whose latest novel has been the talk of every book club from Brooklyn to Boise, to find out what really fuels her pages.

Setting the Scene

Megan welcomed me into her sun‑lit kitchen, a place that looks like it was designed by a Pinterest board titled “Cozy Writer’s Den.” Between the potted herbs and the vintage typewriter (yes, she still types the first page of every draft on it), she poured us both a mug of chai—spiced just enough to keep the conversation warm without turning it into a tea‑time lecture.

“I’m a night owl who pretends to be a morning person,” she laughed, tapping the mug. “My routine is a compromise between the two.”

That opening line set the tone for our chat: practical, a little self‑deprecating, and always honest.

Morning Pages: The Ritual That Works

The 20‑Minute Warm‑Up

Megan swears by a practice she calls “morning pages,” a term coined by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way. In plain language, it’s a daily habit of writing three pages of whatever comes to mind, no editing, no judgment. The goal is to clear mental clutter and make space for the story you really want to tell.

“I set a timer for twenty minutes, open a fresh notebook, and just write,” she explained. “If I’m stuck, I write about the fact that I’m stuck. It’s like a mental floss.”

I tried it once before a community reading event, and the result was a half‑finished poem about mismatched socks. Still, the act of getting words out of my head made the rest of the day feel lighter.

Why It Matters

The beauty of morning pages is that they’re low‑stakes. There’s no pressure to produce a masterpiece; the only rule is to keep the pen moving. For Megan, this habit is the warm‑up before the real work begins, a way to transition from “I’m a person” to “I’m a writer” without the drama of a full‑blown creative block.

The Myth of the 3‑AM Burst

Reality Check

Every writer’s myth includes a “3‑am burst”—the magical hour when the world is quiet and the muse whispers. Megan admits she once tried it, only to find herself staring at the ceiling, half‑asleep, with a cat that decided the keyboard was a personal runway.

“I realized I was more productive when I respected my own rhythm,” she said. “If I’m a night owl, I write at night. If I’m a morning person, I write in the morning. The myth is just that—a myth.”

Structured Flexibility

Instead of forcing a specific hour, Megan builds “flex windows” into her schedule. She blocks out two‑hour slots on her calendar, labeling them “creative focus.” If a window falls at 10 p.m. one day and 7 a.m. the next, she rolls with it. The key is consistency, not the clock.

Balancing Life and Drafts

Community as Anchor

Outside of writing, Megan runs a monthly reading circle that meets at a local indie bookstore. “Having a community that talks about books keeps me honest,” she says. “When you hear what readers love—or hate—you get a compass for your next story.”

I nodded, remembering the last time I organized a discussion on The Nightingale. The energy in the room was palpable, and the insights we gathered later seeped into my own reviews.

The “No‑Phone” Zone

One of the most decisive habits Megan shared is a daily “no‑phone” zone. For an hour, she turns off notifications, puts her phone in another room, and lets the silence settle. This isn’t a digital detox for the sake of it; it’s a tactical move to protect the fragile flow of ideas.

“If I’m constantly checking messages, my brain never fully commits to the story,” she explains. “That hour is my sanctuary.”

What Readers Can Take Away

Small Steps, Big Gains

If you’re looking to emulate a bestseller’s routine, start small. Pick a ten‑minute slot each day to write something—be it a journal entry, a scene, or even a grocery list in prose. The habit builds momentum, and before you know it, you’ll have a collection of raw material ready for polishing.

Embrace Your Own Rhythm

Don’t chase the 3‑a.m. myth if it feels forced. Identify when you feel most alert—whether that’s after a morning jog or during a late‑night tea break—and protect that time. Your routine should serve you, not the other way around.

Community Is a Two‑Way Street

Join a book club, start a reading challenge, or simply share a paragraph with a friend. The feedback loop fuels both your writing and your love for reading. As Maya Patel, I can attest that the most rewarding moments often happen when the conversation moves from the page to the living room.