Ian Rankin's Creative Process

Ian Rankin's writing process is marked by a structured routine, often starting his day with newspaper reading and puzzles to gear up for writing. Although he has a dedicated workspace, he finds inspiration in ambient music, creating an atmosphere conducive to creativity. Rankin emphasizes that he operates on a different schedule now compared to his younger days, often only writing a few hours in the day rather than the long stretches he used to do. His current method is less about word counts and more about maintaining a writing flow, often starting formally at midday or later.