Anthony Trollope's Daily Routine

Anthony Trollope wrote 47 novels, including the Barsetshire and Palliser series, while holding a senior job at the Post Office. He is also credited with bringing the pillar box to Britain. His hook was the clock: he wrote with his watch in front of him and asked 250 words of himself every quarter of an hour.

In An Autobiography he explained that an old groom, paid £5 a year extra, brought him coffee so he was at his table by 5:30 AM throughout his years at Waltham Cross. He spent the first 30 minutes rereading the day before's work, wrote for 3 hours, dressed for breakfast and went to his Post Office work. Afternoons ended with whist at the Garrick Club before dinner. In winter he rode to hounds at least twice a week, and on those days he was out of the door early and fox hunting all day.

It suits anyone with a day job and a book in them: 3 focused hours before breakfast add up, and he reckoned the habit could produce 3 novels a year. Post Office hours, meals, bedtime, Sundays and the hunting days' timings are our estimates.