How do you effectively divide your time between work and the online writing proj

1. 87

   Mel Carriereposted 10 years ago

   How do you effectively divide your time between work and the online writing projects you engage in?
   
   Time management is increasingly becoming an issue for me. I work 10 hour days at my regular job and I am up at five to work online. What are some of your strategies?

   replyreport
2. 88

   jponiatoposted 10 years ago

   Unfortunately, work, family, and farm responsibilities all cut into writing time.  For me, it is a bit seasonal, I'll write more in the winter when there is less to do on the farm.  I still have my "day" job, where like you I put in (up to) 10 hours a day.
   
   The real question is, what do you give up in order to make time for writing?  For me, that's TV time.  When the rest of my family is unwinding in front of the TV at the end of the day, I (if I want to be productive, which for sure isn't always) will open up my laptop and research, edit, or write.  Sometimes in my office in another room to cut down on distractions, sometimes in the living room with them.  It just depends on how far into the creativity zone I want to get.

   replyreport
3. 76

   CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years ago

   More and more it's becoming difficult to find time to devote to writing for me.  I was writing every day, but I started getting really busy.
   
   I started tracking my time.  Now I keep a timer and devote so much to this or that so I can get everything done in one day.  Sometimes that doesn't happen, but I strive to reach a goal.  I try to keep the goal within reason also.
   
   Sometimes I have so much else going on, I just give up and don't get on here at all like this past weekend.  I just found time now on Sunday afternoon.

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Mel Carriereposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Crafty. For some reason I couldn't comment back on my own hub today, but I appreciate your comment and this advice. I definitely need to work in some hub pages time.

      replyreport
4. 87

   MizBejabbersposted 10 years ago

   I don't. Work is my priority as far as my non-family time goes. I write when I can, and I don't when I can't -- and I don't feel guilty about it. I have no illusions about being known as a great writer, so my output is sporadic. That is why I have so few hubs and my score fluctuates so much. I try to read a hub or two and comment some each day. When I write a hub, I'd rather spend three days or more to make a good hub rather than bang out a hub a day that doesn't satisfy my standards.

   replyreport
5. 0

   sheilamyersposted 10 years ago

   There's just not enough hours in the day for me when I work a regular job and have to clean house, shop, etc. At first I thought I could write at least a few hubs a week, but it's not working out. So for now I've dedicated Saturdays as my hub writing day. My goal is to write and publish a hub before I do anything else. So far, so good.

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Mel Carriereposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You are fairly speedy. I doubt I could crank one out in a day with all the other stuff on my plate. Thanks!

      replyreport
6. 59

   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   My online writing is my work, except for housework for which I take breaks from my writing when I cannot get it done at mealtimes.

   replyreport
   1. 87

      Mel Carriereposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As for me, I would be looking for every little excuse I could to avoid the housework. I would never have writer's block.

      replyreport
   2. 59

      The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Are you saying that all that you do is write??

      replyreport
   3. 87

      Mel Carriereposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh no, I work ten hour days away from home, but I think that if I did stay home and write I would avoid housework like the plague if I could help it.  Of course my better half would have something to say about that, I'm sure.

      replyreport
   4. 59

      The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Under 'housework' I include shaving, washing clothes, etc., anything that definitely NEEDS to be done.

      replyreport