We’re All in This Together: Making Time to Write Post #1

If you’ve been reading my blog since the beginning, you know that a big theme I have is “making time to write.”  I always learn a lot from hearing about how other busy writers make time to write. No matter what stage in life, no matter what other jobs or responsibilities we juggle, we all have one thing in common: WE WRITE.

Writing is our passion, so we will find a way to make it happen, even when it’s hard.

EW Clark

YA Author

Ewclark.net

Writing has a clear place on my priorities — but it’s not the number one place, and for me that’s critical.  I always have a long list of undone things, imperfect things, things that only I can do.  For me to feel good about my writing time, it needs to be appropriate relative to those responsibilities.  I set aside two or three blocks of time each week — a total of about 10 hours.  It’s not as much as I used to do, but it’s more productive because I’m more settled in that time.  I’m also an evening reader; I read for my critique partners at night, and also read my own work in the evenings, making notes on my e-reader.  As things change in my life — and nothing ever stays the same for long — the time I dedicate to writing changes, and the days on which it’s routine changes.  That’s okay with me — adaptability is as valuable to me as persistence is in my writing, and both are traits that serve other areas of my life, too.

Romelle Broas

www.romellebroas.blogspot.com

I have a full-time job as a dental hygienist, young kids who are active in sports, a rigorous triathlete schedule, church ministry, and household chores. It’s impossible for me to make time to write so I FIND time.

I found that as long as I have a notebook and pen handy, I can utilize the little time that I have to my advantage.  Here’s where I find those nuggets:

– During my lunch hour

– While I wait in the parking lot to pick up the kids from their activities

– At half time, between innings, or intermission at their sporting events

– As a passenger in a car or on public transportation

– After the kids are tucked in at night or a few minutes before my bedtime (I am not a morning person so waking up early to write is not an option for me).

Even if I don’t have time to write, I at least think about what I am going to write.  This is done during my workout routine. Afterwards, I pour out my thoughts and ideas on paper during my stretches. As soon as I get home, I spend a few minutes typing out my notes without wasting a moment on thinking. So you see, every down-time, rest or waiting period is an opportunity to write.

Want to see my writing places? I posted pictures below:

http://romellebroas.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-desk.html

Donna L. Sadd

Author of “LUCCI- The No Smoochie Poochie”

Children’s picture book and Amazon children’s eBook

http://donnalsadd.wordpress.com

Two things…I get up at 4:00 am. This buys me a good 3 hours, to write, catch up with emails and schedule social media, before the house wakes up. Secondly, I’ve found that making a commitment to some sort of writing challenge, like my current #AprilPrompts, forces me to find time to write a piece every day. Usually, the creative juices then flow to other writings.

Hannah Holt

Children’s Writer

www.lightbulbbooks.com/blog

I have four children under the age of seven, and my nearest family member lives 600 miles away. To find writing time, two of my friends have agreed to do kid swaps with me. I write every other Tuesday morning and for about an hour on Wednesday. Kid swap friends are the best! I also work a few nights each week but try to balance spending time with my husband. Balance is elusive. I keep telling myself I’ll have more time to write in about four years, but I have a suspicion I’ll only ever have a much time as I make right now.

Elizabeth Parker Garcia

http://elizabethparkergarcia.com

I am a teacher, so I try to protect my summer vacation writing time by limiting obligations. I research and make notes during the rest of the year. Sometimes, if I enter a contest or participate in a class or workshop during the school year, I am better able to ask my family for a Saturday to commit to writing. Small projects like this keep me inspired and keep me from getting rusty.

Many thanks for these great tips for making time to write! Stay tuned to tomorrow’s post full of more ways to make time to write.