Find/Make Time to Write
Finding and making time to write isn’t always an easy feat, but we are going to give you some suggestions, things to think about and finally some tips to help you out. Let’s get started!
Set Up
The first thing you need to do is some set up work. Don’t worry, it’s not going to grueling or hard. You should have some of this completed already, but if not, this is where you need to start.
Think First
Here is where you want to think about your writing and get some things prepared for your writing time. Ask yourself some questions and begin working toward your dreams of a successful writing life.
Questions to Ask:
- Why are you writing? (Your why is very important and will help you stay focused as you continue your writing journey)
- What is it that you want to achieve? (Do you want to write, just to write? Do you want to be a successful content creator? A book author? Or is this more of a hobby you don’t want to lose in the midst of all the other items taking up your time? Find your specifics.)
- Where do you see yourself as a writer in the near and far future? (Think months and/or years down the road)
- What is it about writing that you enjoy? (Are you creating stories, encouraging others, providing information that is important to you, or is it just a pleasurable pastime?)
- What are you willing to do to get and find the time you need/want for your writing? (We’ll hit more on this later in this article)
These are just a few questions to get you started thinking about your writing. Take the time to answer these questions so you know exactly where you stand with your writing. Let’s continue forward.
Goals
Your writing is important to you and you would like to succeed at it, so you need to set goals. Goals that are obtainable, yet give you a challenge are perfect. You want be sure you can hit your goals, but not make them so easy that your talent is wasted. Give yourself the challenge you need to be motivated and give you the sense of achievement.
Goals can take however long you believe you need to take, but you don’t want to set a goal for a year from now and leave it as that. You may not get to that goal if you don’t have a plan for achieving it.
Take that one-year goal and break it down to monthly, weekly, and even daily tasks to complete. That way you have a way to track your progress and even know that you where you are in completing that year goal at any given moment.
This works with any longer time-framed goals. If they are monthly, break them down to weekly and daily tasks and the same for weekly. You will always know where you are with your goals by creating steps to completing them.
Once you have your goals you can head onto the next step.
Deadlines
With your goals, you want to set deadlines for each one. There is no greater motivation than hitting a goal on or before a deadline. When do you want those goals to be achieved? Yes you may have created a goal for a year, a month, or even next week, but what day and even what time do you want those goals to be completed by.
Don’t leave your goals to a date range to be completed. That’s how procrastination seeps in and then you’re on past your general deadline with the feeling of guilt and sorrow for not taking the initiative and getting things done.
Your goals and deadlines go hand-in-hand. Don’t plan one without the other. They work together to help you complete your goals and dreams. Use them as intended.
Running List
Lists are used in nearly every part of our lives and this is no exception. This list can serve multiple purposes so you can focus on one thing at a time, while keeping your thoughts and shiny new ideas around when needed.
When working on one piece of writing, it’s almost impossible not to get the mind running with other possible shiny new ideas and projects. This is where your list comes in handy. You can write down that new idea and save it for later. This will allow you keep track of it along with a quick note and then continue on with your work.
This comes in extremely handy when writing a book or content for articles. Your lists can contain whatever it is that you need to continue your journey in the moment.
If you are writing a book, you can create a list of characters, their flaws, descriptions, actions, and even a list of settings, your progress, your outline or notes for editing.
If you are writing content, you can create a list of running topics, fact checks, links, or as with books, your editing notes and outline.
Use your running lists to suit you and your writing. You’ll be glad you have it nearby when you find yourself stuck or need to reference back to something for editing.
Devices
Usually, devices are frowned upon when working on your writing, but they can certainly come in handy when you are in need of a thesaurus or are away from home.
Have you ever been away from your writing desk and this brilliant idea pops into your head? What about those times when you realize you forgot to add something or just think of a way to end that article you’ve been working on, perfectly?
Your devices will come in handy to jot down those ideas or even work on projects away from home. Using your notes or reminders app and add in a destination or time is a great tool to have when you need to jot important ideas or facts down when on the move.
Timer
One last thing to keep handy while writing is a timer. No matter what you are writing whether it’s a new scene in a book, an article for your blog or another piece of content; you need to make sure you’re getting the proper breaks for your body to stretch and refresh.
Believe me, I’ve spent days where I’m here at my computer for hours on end without eating a thing. I get cramps in my legs and my fingers feel like they are going to fall off. It’s not a good way to get things done. Yes, you may be on a roll and you want to get that amazing run of words down before you take a break; just make sure that you take that break.
Set a time when you need it or better yet, find an app or program that has sprints built in. My favorite is 4thewords.com. You can use it for writing books, articles, or whatever. You can create folders for your writing, with subfolders for each chapter or article within a subject/month so you can keep them organized. That’s not even the best part!
This site is a game and writing in one. You use your writing to fight monsters and critters throughout the land to help NPC within the game. Each monster has a set number of words or minutes you need to write in order to defeat it. Choose a 20 minute monster and once it’s defeated, take a break. Choose another 10 – 20 minute monster and then take another break. The choice is yours, but it’s fun and will give you the writing and breaks you need to hit as you journey along. It’s great and here’s a code to try it for a month free! Code: OSUBW81786
Find Time To Write
Finding time to write may be easier than you thought if you take a little bit of time to think about your day/week and how you use your time.
The first thing is look at your day/week and see where you can fit in even a little bit of writing. Now this may not be ideal for everyone, but for others, it works great. When looking at your day and week, find those times where you have nothing going on and can fit in some writing time.
One way to do this is to keep track of your tim each day for a week or two. As you go through your week, find where you are using your time and where you can discover minutes to fit writing in. Below is a list of some basic areas you can fit in time to write:
- Get Up a Bit Earlier
- Stay Up a Bit Later
- Cut Back on Screen Time. (Use your favorite shows as rewards for getting your writing done or watch one episode rather than three or four)
- Breaks/Lunch (Use your breaks and lunch hour to get some writing in)
- Wait Time (Any time where you are waiting for a longer bit of time can be used for writing – in a line, in a waiting room, in a doctors office, picking up your kids, while riding public transit, etc.)
- Use Voice Recording (whenever you can’t use your hands, but can set an app to record, use it to verbally write, then when you have the time later, transfer it to your document. Sitting in rush hour traffic is a good example as long as you are still paying attention to your surroundings.)
Make Time to Write
Here you are literally forcing yourself to make the time to write. You’ve looked at your schedule and you have a larger time period coming up where you have nothing planned or vacation time. whatever the case may be, you plan to take this time to get some much needed writing complete without distraction or worry for anything but your writing.
Writer’s Retreat
A writer’s retreat can be a paid endeavor and traveled to with other writers where you complete workshops and fun with other like minded writers. Or you can do a DIY writer’s retreat to a destination of your choice by yourself or with a writing friend.
The point is that you are away from home in a place where you can focus on the one thing you scheduled this time for – writing. With either direction you are gaining the time and experience you need to get your writing complete whether that planning, getting all the words in, or scheduling in more time. Here you have no distractions, no other commitments vying for your time, you just have you and your writing.
It’s a great time and you can get so much hashed out in that time, you’ll feel so good about your writing direction that you come back feeling amazing and ready to tackle anything that comes your way. You know exactly where you’re going with your writing and it’s one less thing you need to worry about.
Day Trips
If you don’t have enough time to devote to a retreat, but can get away for the day. Find a place you like to go where you know you can get some work hashed out and go there. Even if it’s just for a few hours or half an hour of uninterrupted time. You can get so much done when your mind is not preoccupied with all the things going on around you.
Find a park, a cafe, the zoo even. A place where you can people watch perhaps and get some writing done without distraction.
Tips
If there is no way for you to get away from your home for even a little while, check out our posts on creating the perfect atmospheres at home for you to ‘get away’ for a while. Here are a few more tips for you as we close up this topic:
- Cut Back on Personal Distractions (these are distractions you perform yourself: checking social media, watching one more episode of your favorite show, checking email, or any other task that takes time away from your writing and goals)
- Try to Limit Unavoidable Distractions (these are distractions you can’t necessarily control completely, but can try to prevent for a period of time: project or tv time for kids/spouse, notifying those that would contact that you won’t be available during a certain time, preoccupying pets with their favorite treat or toy, etc)
- Take a Break When Needed (Don’t be upset or worried when life get so far in the way that you need to step away from your writing for a bit longer than expected. You are doing this for you and it’s what’s needed to get you back on track. Take the time you need and head back in when you are at your best.)
- Self Care (Don’t forget to take care of yourself during your writing time. We as writers sit for long periods of time and though we’ve talked about taking breaks, you need to make sure you’re staying healthy and getting the exercise and nutrition you need to keep you going. So don’t forget and take care of yourself!)
Final Thoughts
Finding and making time to write can be difficult, but if you take the time to really think about how you use your time and where you can fit in some time to write, you will see there are areas where you can excel and move forward even if it’s a little bit of time.
Answer the questions, discover your free time, and plan writing retreats/day trips to keep you motivated and on track with your writing no matter where you are or how much time you have available. Good luck and happy writing!!
