The Paris Review ran a series of interviews with successful writers. The one thing they had in common was a fixed, immutable writing schedule. A schedule impervious to deaths of family members (some will take offense to this, but writers aren't necessarily nice people--I grew up with one).
I'm reminded of an alt.writers post from the annals of USENET.
"... My opinion is that if you want to be a good novelist, start by being a bad novelist, not by becoming a good magazine article writer. Start at the top and work down -- don't start at the bottom and work up.
On the other hand, I know people for whom "start small" has worked. But it doesn't for me."
I'm reminded of an alt.writers post from the annals of USENET.
"... My opinion is that if you want to be a good novelist, start by being a bad novelist, not by becoming a good magazine article writer. Start at the top and work down -- don't start at the bottom and work up.
On the other hand, I know people for whom "start small" has worked. But it doesn't for me."