Finding the Time to Write

I’m a busy guy. In addition to my regular forty hour a week job, I have two blogs I write and manage (FreedomRedux.com and TheThriftyNation.com) I have six kids, (we are a combined family; both my wife and myself brought six kids to the marriage) two dogs, a cat, and a rabbit. My wife also owns her own business (an online auction business, americancountryauction.com), so I spend time helping her out when she needs me. In the midst of all of that, I try to find a little time to write.

It used to be much easier; my regular job required my presence for a twelve hour shift but did not have twelve hours of work for me, so I wrote to help pass the time. However, that job ended a few years ago, and the struggle was on to find the time to write. For a short time, I did not write at all. But I soon got the itch to get that pen in my hand again (yes, I still do much of my writing the old fashioned way). Besides, how could I claim to be an author if I did not write?

Here are some of the methods I use that help me get in writing time through my busy day.

Yep, lots of people say this, and it’s true. While I kept saying that I didn’t have time, I didn’t. But when I became determined, I somehow found time.

Having a daily goal can help you stay focused. No matter if you say your goal is 1,000 words daily, a scene for your upcoming novel, or a page for a magazine article, having that daily goal will help keep you focused. Don’t make the daily goal too big; I have found that if the goal is big, I won’t start writing unless I have a big block of time to write in…which probably won’t happen. And if I hit my goal and still have time? I just keep on writing…just in case I don’t meet my goal the next day.

This is simple but effective, and is related to the daily goal. Once you set that daily goal, WRITE EVERY DAY! Consistently plug away at your writing, and no matter how small of a goal you set for yourself, you will make progress. Consider this: if you set a goal of 250 words per day, in one week you will have written 1750 words. In a month, you will have 7600 words…that’s two chapters in an average length novel. And 250 words is nothing…I can do that fifteen minutes.

I leave for work at 7:15am. I get up at 4:30. No, I do not take extremely long showers in the morning (although my wife may disagree on that one). Early morning is the one time in this house when it is completely quiet, and I have can have that laser sharp focus that I need to get something accomplished. Whit no distractions, I can get more done in two hours that I used to get done in that twelve hour shift at my old job. Try to find your own quiet time…lock yourself in your bedroom at night, get up early in the morning…whatever it is, find that time when you can work without distraction.

There are plenty of times through the day where you have just a few minutes to free time. USE THEM!!! Ben Franklin said “Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtues”; use all of the time you have wisely. If you monitor your kids while they are doing their homework, this could be a time to get in a few minutes. Do you ride public transportation to and from work? What about your lunch break? I scarf down my lunch in about seven or eight minutes, leaving me the rest of my one hour lunch break to write.

Using these methods, I have written a novel in less than nine months (I am currently editing the novel). I have also managed to get several magazine articles published in that time, as well as countless blog posts. So give these tricks a try…and if you have some tricks of your own, be sure to let me know about it!

I hope you have enjoyed this article! Have a tip on getting in more writing time? Let a comment in the comment section so that we can spread the word!

Using these methods, I have written a novel in less than nine months (I am currently editing the novel). I have also managed to get several magazine articles published in that time, as well as countless blog posts. So give these tricks a try…and if you have some tricks of your own, be sure to let me know about it!

I hope you have enjoyed this article! Have a tip on getting in more writing time? Let a comment in the comment section so that we can spread the word!