IWSG - September
It's been ages since I wrote an IWSG post, but it's one of the things I miss most about blogging!
I love that there's now a question every month; I always felt like I was writing the same thing every time.
So, this month's question is:
How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
My honest answer to this is, at the moment I don't. This is one of my major insecurities right now; I'm working 50-60 hours a week, and when I get home I'm so exhausted all I want to do is watch TV. However, I'm determined to change this; I need to get back into the habit of writing in any spare moment I have. If I keep pushing it back, and waiting until I actually want to write, or have a lot of spare time to do so, I'll never get myself back into the habit.
So, my plan is this; I need to manage my time better. I'll set aside time every single day, whether it's half an hour or an hour, purely to write. Anything counts, as long as I'm writing; blog posts, outlines, edits, re-writes. As long as I'm putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) then it counts.
Another method that works with me is setting myself a word count every day; this is why I love NaNoWriMo so much. I'll probably start doing this once I'm back in the habit of writing every day, then I can raise the word-count once I feel comfortable. The trick is to push yourself; don't stay in your comfort zone.
So, what about you? How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
I can't blame you for want to crash and watch TV after such long working days. I'm in awe of anyone who juggles a busy work and personal life and still has a passion for writing and commits to setting aside time each day to do so. Cheers - Ellen
ReplyDeleteYou'll get there - the fact that you're so motivated to do so will really help. I actually think people who have very little spare time get more writing done than those with time on their hands, because you make the time count! Word count goals help and it might also be good to carry a notepad at work, so you can jot down thoughts during breaks and so on. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHabits are powerful things. For me, the key motivator is just having something I love so much I HAVE to write it. (Of which there are FAR too many.) But it is also important to unwind and let yourself have some down time. Best of wishes with the balance! 50 to 60 hour work weeks are INSANITY.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why you're exhausted and have no energy to write. Many IWSG people give excellent ways on how to carve out time to write. Hopefully, something will resonate with you. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteYour work load sounds horrendous. I hope organizing your time will help. Writing can be restorative. Hang on to that thought.
ReplyDeleteall the best,
Jo-Ann Carson
You use the correct word in there: "habit." Writing needs to be a habit, like brushing your teeth or the route you take to work every morning. It needs to become a part of your daily routine somehow, even it's just a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteIWSG September
You work a lot of hours.
ReplyDeleteAim for that thirty minutes a day, then an hour, and soon you'll be back in the groove.
50-60 hours a week is a lot. Be kind to yourself, Laura. Your sheer determination sounds great, though. I'm sure you'll find a schedule that doesn't wear you out.
ReplyDeleteFor me, if I force myself to get just a little bit of writing done each day, there's a snowball effect. I end up writing more than I expected, or I set myself up for what becomes a super productive day the next day.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing timed writing sessions of eight minutes lately. Once I dip in to doing the writing, I often do more than I planned on. Of course, today my prime writing time has been taken up with blogging on two blogs, posting Bible verses in Esperanto and other languages on a Facebook page, and participating in the IWSG blog hop.
ReplyDeleteNissa from
http://myantimatterlife.wordpress.com
Hi Laura
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked it was super hard to write. I had two children to run after as well. Now, at 64, you'd think it would be easier but my challenge today is my health which limits me and the fact that we live in a one bedroom apartment. Plus my grown children with their children are moving back in to go to school. Needless to say, we'll be moving to a bigger place.
As I read your post I wondered if purchasing 'Dragon Speak' would help you. I know it would help me.
Good luck.
Nancy
I think you've made yourself an excellent and doable plan of action. Good luck on it - I'm sure you can do it!
ReplyDeleteNaNoWriMo has always worked for me, too. Another thing that works is carrying a little notepad and jotting down ideas as they pop into my head. Not only does it count as writing, the information is often useful for a WIP.
ReplyDeleteI don't think everyone should set daily writing as a goal. It just doesn't work for all of us. That would include me.
ReplyDeleteI love to write and I write almost every day, just not all in my WIPs. I journal, I do recovery work, I write for volunteer stuff, so I count that as my writing. I have to be in the correct mood to work in my WIPs otherwise it sounds forced. I commend you for doing a word count...I think that would intimidate me :)
ReplyDeleteElsie
co-host IWSG
I worked 24 of the weekend's 48 as a rare blood courier, and I conned myself into writing a page each day by telling myself that I could write at least one paragraph, couldn't I? Shame on me: I lied to myself! :-) Best of luck with your writing!
ReplyDeleteI like your passion. I am going to do the same. Just PUSH until it's done!
ReplyDelete50-60 hours a week of work! That sounds horribly exhausting.
ReplyDeleteMaybe start with 5-10 minutes of writing? That seems like it could fit somewhere.
Best wishes on writing and life!
That's a ton of work hours! I agree with Tyrean; a small amount of writing each day works too. Hang in there :)
ReplyDeleteHope you can get back to it. That's a lot of work hours. I'm writing full time now so I have no excuses.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, and yes, the question is a wonderful addition! I love it. You are working an awful lot of hours, I hope that changes soon. Yes, get out of your comfort zone and write, write, write. I usually love the summer months because there isn't anything new on TV and it's not as distracting, but this summer everything has been distracting! :)
ReplyDeleteLast year because of a very troubling manuscript I just couldn't seem to get into. I took a write 300 words a day challenge. I soon ended up writing more of it and proudly have 10,000 words. It's on break since it's under my Royme pseudonym and I don't intend to start publishing anything under that until Fall 2017 the earliest. If not for taking that challenge I would never have gotten the start I needed to have a baseline. Otherwise I write when it best suits me as with my exhaustion it's not always easy to keep a set schedule. Sometimes I need to get up late, other times I might have to rest in the afternoon or evening. So whenever I am best able now, I use the time jot down the words as close to daily as I can. Glad that you are pushing forward Laura. Keep it up and you'll find time as you get to see the gaps of free time you have as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a long working week! I don't blame you for wanting to be a couch potato. It sounds like you have a good plan worked out - small progress is still progress. Best of luck with it and welcome back! :)
ReplyDeleteIf I worked outside the home for that many hours a week, I'd be vegging in front of the tv too, Laura. It amazes me how you could possibly have any working brain left. So it'll be good if you can catch a few moments here and there. The next WEP challenge is CONSTELLATIONS if that's something you want to do. :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you – it can be hard to find time to write every day. Good for you in setting goals for your writing. I think having a word count goal, like during nanowrimo will be super helpful for you if it encourages you to write more. :)
ReplyDeleteIf I worked that much, I doubt I'd write. But even a little bit of time set aside to write adds up.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of hours in the week to be working. And it seems you're determined to carve out a bit of time for your writing. Using a timer can help get the juices flowing. Star with 10 or 15 minutes... you'd be surprised what you can get done, surprised at how fast those minutes went by and soon you'll be making 30 minutes or more. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a lot of hours. No wonder you're exhausted. Good for you that you're tackling the problem of lack of writing time head on. Starting slow, then building up is sure to get you back on track. Good luck with it!
ReplyDelete