{"id":445,"date":"2016-02-04T09:30:13","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T09:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/?p=445"},"modified":"2022-05-30T15:41:25","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T15:41:25","slug":"time-to-write","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/articles\/time-to-write","title":{"rendered":"Finding Time to Write in Your Busy Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time. That elusive substance we all need more of (even as we waste it on browsing funny cat pictures). Unless you’re a full-time writer, I bet you struggle to find time to write besides having a day job, a family, or both.<\/p>\n

So how do we squeeze in consistent, quality writing time?<\/p>\n

If They Can Do It\u2026<\/h2>\n

Stephen King<\/strong>\u00a0wrote\u00a0Carrie<\/em>\u00a0while he was still teaching English to high school students. He would go home at night and place his notepad on a board on his lap, because there was no room for a desk in their mobile home.<\/p>\n

William Golding<\/strong>\u00a0was one up on King, and wrote\u00a0Lord of the Flies<\/em>\u00a0while his students were quietly completing the assignments that he would give them to do.<\/p>\n

Margaret Mitchell<\/strong>, author of\u00a0Gone with the Wind<\/em>, wrote while she cleaned her house. Apparently, she kept a notebook under her apron and would scribble between chores.<\/p>\n

John Grisham<\/strong>\u00a0was still a busy lawyer in a law firm before his second book,\u00a0The Firm<\/em>, became a blockbuster and allowed him to turn to full-time writing. He would arrive at his law office at five in the morning, six days a week, and work on his writing.<\/p>\n

\u2026 So Can You<\/h2>\n

These stories can inspire even the busiest of people. They teach us one thing:<\/p>\n

When you make writing a priority, nothing can stop you from doing it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don’t underestimate this first and critical step, though. You must make a sacred pact with yourself:\u00a0“I am a writer, and I will find the time to write.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Repeat that mantra to yourself every day. Do it even if it feels foolish. Speaking out the words gives them power, gives you the power to act on them.<\/p>\n

Getting in the right mindset is only the first step, though. Here are some others:<\/p>\n

Break it Up<\/h2>\n

Let’s look at the numbers.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • If you find the time to write\u00a0only 250<\/strong>\u00a0words every day (the average well-spaced page), you will complete the first draft of a full-length novel in only\u00a0one year<\/strong>. Let that sink in. How many years have you been dreaming about writing a novel? Stop dreaming, and start writing that daily page.<\/li>\n
  • If you manage to write\u00a0500 words<\/strong>\u00a0every day (two pages), you’ll complete that first draft in\u00a0six months<\/strong>, and still have six months to edit it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In other words, small numbers add up. Writing a book is a marathon, and the most important thing to remember is that\u00a0every step counts<\/strong>. Every step, every word you write takes you closer to your target.<\/p>\n

    Don’t underestimate the power of small numbers.<\/p>\n

    Also, don’t choose a daily word count that would tax or discourage you. Keep it mild and manageable, and concentrate on hitting your daily target.<\/p>\n

    Find Time to Write Everywhere<\/h2>\n

    You can’t know when you’ll stumble upon 5 minutes of free time. It could be during lunch at the office, while waiting for an appointment, or while stuck in the bathroom.<\/p>\n

    Use these 5 minutes to write. Keep a notebook with you at all times, and forgo that round of Homescapes or Facebook in favor of jotting down a good sentence.<\/p>\n

    Your sprouts of spontaneous writing will encourage creativity and prime your mind for writing. When you sit down for a full writing session, they’ll supply a springboard into your work.<\/p>\n

    Make Use of Either End of the Day<\/h2>\n

    Are you a morning person? Wake up half an hour earlier than you’re used to, and use that time to write. Night person? Put off your bedtime for another 30 minutes, and use\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0time to write.<\/p>\n

    (Long-lunch person? No problem. Write as you eat.)<\/p>\n

    Defend Your Writing Time Like a Lion<\/h2>\n

    When you find some time to write, use it for writing. Turn off the internet, turn off your phone, turn off your family and work and tiredness, and\u00a0write<\/strong>. Always remember:<\/p>\n

    Every word you get out on the page is a little victory. That’s what writers do.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    And if you manage to do it, too, then you are a true writer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","categories":[23,24],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/445"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/refiction.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}