Finding Time To Write

Often, the biggest challenge to a writer is simply finding the time in a busy life to actually write. One of the first things you need to consider is how much time do you need or want to devote to writing? Once you answer that question, you can look at your typical day and see the times you might be able to write.

If you commute by train or bus to your job, you can use that time to write a few words. At work, you can write during your breaks. That’s easy to spot, but there are other times that might not be so easily found. Waiting to see a doctor can give you a few minutes. If you use your phone or tablet, you can keep a spot in the cloud for your work. That would make it easy to find your writing and add to it wherever you are. To do that, just list the activities of a typical day and note down the times you start each activity. Once you do that, you can see the down times much more easily. I use excel to do that. Then just figure out how to incorporate writing into that down time.

You could turn off the TV and write. I admit, I write while listening to the TV, but that’s me. If you need to, turn the set off. Write. If your favorite show is on, watch it, but when it is over, turn off the set and write. It’s easy. Look at your day and see where you have down time and spend that time writing. If you can, try to arrange your day so that you have relatively large blocks of time where you can write. As I said, write during your commute, if you aren’t driving. I don’t recommend writing while driving. You can dictate, but make sure you keep your driving as your main focus. You could also dictate while you prepare dinner or even your breakfast.

The trick is to find the down time that you can use, but often you can plan your day to make time to write. Get up a half hour early and write before you need to get ready for work. That works well for me. I write my journal entries while drinking my morning coffee. I move on to the current project after that. I usually can spend some time working on the current project, in this case revising a work I wrote last November during NaNoWriMo. On the days that I work, I try to write the journal entry before work starts and do the revision after work. I sometimes have to sandwich my writing in between family obligations, but I look for open time to write and use. That works well for me. It might not work as well for you, but give it a try. You never know. 

About pebblepup

I am not one who is comfortable talking about myself but here goes. I enjoy writing, family history, and reading. I decided to do this blog because I wanted to try something new. I decided to make it a weekly blog because I wasn't sure that I could keep up with a daily one, and monthly seemed like I was writing a magazine. I think I did ok with my choices. You'll notice that there are not a lot of graphics on my site. That's because there are graphics plastered everywhere on the Internet and those sites sometimes take forever to load. This blog is a place where you can kick back, relax and be ready to be amused. At least I hope I willbamuse you. This blog is on a variety of subjects from my ficitional cat agency, the FFL, which is monthly, to instructional blogs to editorials, which are my opinions only. I admit that I don't know everything and could be wrong -- I frequently am. Now, stop reading about me and read what I have to say!