How to Find the Time to Write
One of the most common question asked at the socials is how to find the time to write. It’s hard! Most of us have a full-time job or school. Some of us have small children. All of us are busy. So, how do we find that butt-in-chair time to get something written?
There isn’t one answer for everyone. (Are you sensing a theme?) But a lot of authors have talked about this before. One of the most common answers is scheduling a time, carving time out of our busy days to sit down and write. Some use lunch hours, some write at night when everyone has gone to bed, or very early in the morning before work. The moral of the story is that you need to intentionally plan time or else time just slips through your fingers, not knowing where it went.
The other thing is releasing the idea that you must write every day. Or every week. Some people swear by writing every day, that by not doing it, they lose the thread of their story. That may be true for some people, but it doesn’t have to be true for you. Maybe you can do one or two weekday evenings and a weekend day. Maybe you’re too tired after work, or have to tackle dinner and kids’ bedtimes and all that. By the end, you’re wiped. You gotta do you.
The point of this post is to say if you don’t prioritize your writing, it’ll be the last thing you ever have time for. That means taking a look at how you spend your days and see where writing can slot in. Otherwise, life gets away from you.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take a break. You’re not at your best when you’re burnt out. Sometimes there isn’t anything in your life that can be dropped right now. That’s okay! You’re not any less of a writer because you’re listening to your needs.
And remember, writing doesn’t always mean clicking away at a keyboard. All that daydreaming you’re doing about your characters while you’re washing dishes is writing! All that is “pre-work” and it counts. Some writers consider sitting down at the computer (or notebook) just transcribing and the real writing happens in their heads as they go about their day. Don’t let a lack of word count discourage you.
You’re a boss and you can totally do this thing! Go forth and write!
Do you have a question you’d like answered? Shoot me an email!
In addition to running the OWC, I am a freelance editor and writing coach. Check out my website if you're interested in learning more!