Wednesday, October 15, 2014

How to Make Time to Write

I've said before that if you wait around to have time to write that you'll never find it. You have to make time. However, sometimes that's easier than others. Life gets busy sometimes and when things in your life change it can throw off any rhythm you've fallen into with your writing.

Over the last few month's I've graduated with a BA in Psych, bought a house, and started a new job. For those of you who follow my blog I'm sure you've noticed that I haven't been posting as regularly as I used to. I fell out of my rhythm, and it's gotten a lot harder to make time to write. But, I'm working on getting my groove back.

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Below are some tips I've been using to make time to write with my increasingly busy schedule.

1. Use what's going on in your life to inspire your writing, like blogging about how to find time to write when your life seems to be getting busier.

2. Schedule time to write. Put it on your "To Do" list every day, and set reasonable goals, like write for 30 minutes or even just 15. It's more important to write a little every day than to knock out a large chunk of words. You want to be able to accomplish the goals you set.

3. Make sure the time you do have to write is distraction free. Don't multi-task writing and catching up on your favorite TV show. Devote whatever chunk of time you set aside for writing for just writing.

4. Be flexible. Life changes, schedules change. If you can't write for your 30 minutes at your normal time try to fit it in later in the day or adjust your schedule for the next day. Don't give up just because you missed your usual writing window.

5. Don't give up. If you fall into a slump where you haven't gotten any writing done for a while, it's never too late to start up again.


I hope these tips help. If you have any advice to share on how to make time to write please comment below.


2 comments:

  1. You have so much going on as I hardly feel in a position to comment, but if it helps anyone - I write first thing in the morning, in longhand in a notebook, only putting it on the PC later in the day, editing as I go.
    I hope the new job and house are going well.
    IT seems to be put off - witness how I STILL haven't been able to sort out this Wordpress glitch as they don't have a help centre and am still commenting as anonymous, but I'm sure you know it's Lucinda.

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    Replies
    1. Lucinda, it's good to hear from you. Sorry it's taken me forever to respond, but like I wrote above life has been a little crazy lately. I like your idea of writing in a notebook. I might have to try that.

      Hope to hear from you again soon.

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