The question I get asked most often when giving talks to readers' groups is 'how do you find time to write'?
In this day and age it's easy to feel overwhelmed by everyday life without the added pressure of writing a book or short story. So just how do you apply the BOSFOK (bum on seat, fingers on keyboard) principle?
The answer is by scheduling the time you have.
Don't try and fit your writing into your 'spare time.' There's no such thing, especially if you work full time in order to support your family. Study your schedule and designate time when you can concentrate on your writing, but don't be too ambitious. For example: If you are a morning person try getting up half an hour earlier and using that time to write. Some writers prefer to work of any evening while the rest of the family watch TV, others dedicate weekend afternoons as their time to write. Choose whatever works best for you, and stick to it.
1. Use a timer when doing research--it's very easy to become distracted, especially when searching the Internet. A timer will help make your time at the computer more productive.
2. Limit the amount of time you spend answering and sending emails (unless they are to your editor), and reading on line newspapers and blogs.
3. Think about what you're going to write BEFORE you sit down in front of the computer, perhaps while ironing, or mowing the lawn. When you do sit down at your desk, you'll have the next few pages worked out, plus you will have freed up time in which to write it.
4. Make use of downtime--those tedious journeys on the bus to work or sitting around waiting for appointments. Carry a notebook and write while you travel or wait. If you spend a lot of time in the car driving from place to place, invest in a voice activated voice recorder.
5. While you're watching your children play in the park, work out the next scene or think through a problem. When you sit down to write, the words will generally flow.
6. If your children have an essay to write use the time they are sat quietly to work on your novel.
7. Don't try and write while the TV or radio is playing in the background, it will only distract you.
8. Instead of taking an hour to eat lunch, use part of the time to write.
9. Invest in a netbook computer--most are no bigger than a sheet of A4 paper, are lightweight and relatively inexpensive.
10. Use an answering machine to screen calls during your 'writing time.'
11. But most of all, set yourself a writing goal. It could be something as simple as entering one writing contest in the course of a year. And remember; if you write 250 words a day--the equivalent of one page of A4, in a year you will have written 365 pages or approximately 90,000 words--enough for a full length novel. Whatever your goal, stick to it, as it will take the pressure off.
Time management is all about common sense. It's a matter of understanding your commitments and knowing how you work best, and using that information to achieve your goals.
Victoria Howard is the author of two romantic suspense novels, The House on the Shore, a finalist for the 2009 Joan Hessayon Award, presented by the Romantic Novelists, Association, and Three Weeks Last Spring, a 2009 Pushcart Nominee.
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Great post, Victoria, and so true! Making time is so necessary, even with everything in our lives so very 'busy'. For me, I write a To Do list each Sunday evening, for the coming week- of course, things come up, so the revised to do scribble each morning helps, but having that Sunday list all clear before going to sleep Sunday night really helps focus on what I need to do versus what I want to do.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Victoria - too often aspiring writers think that the writing is secondary to other tasks - it needs to be a priority. You have to commit yourself to doing it just like you would any other job.
ReplyDeleteThese are all good ideas. But I also like to assure emerging writers that even if they aren't at their keyboards pounding away, they can still be working toward their goal. For a writer, everything is research. As long as they view other activities as being possible fodder for their writing, they shouldn't feel guilty if they don't commit words to paper on some days.
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