Finding Time to Write…

This post first posted a while ago, but in the midst of the holidays where writing can take the backseat to the busyness of the season, I thought I would post it again as encouragement for all you aspirings out there!

I really love to write. I do. But sometimes in the midst of life (i.e. sick kids, being a wife, running errands, the NEVER-ENDING-LAUNDRY, etc, etc, yada, yada) I don’t write. I write blog posts and guest posts and to do lists, but I never make time to write for me. To write out the characters in my head. And this post is about making time/finding time to make sure I write for the fun of it.

Keep your laptop open (or pen and notebook) handy during all those mundane tasks. You know the tasks — making dinner, folding laundry, washing dishes (only be carful with the whole laptop/water thing. Write during the little breaks here and there. Yes, it can be frustrating not to be able to finish a scene (or a sentence), however, think at the end of the day when you are dead-dog tired you will have XX many words written instead of nada and you can sleep instead of trying to think about all the reasons you like writing better then sleeping.

Don’t underestimate the power of the “potty break”. Yes, I’m going there. Instead of surfing your phone or browsing a magazine, get a few more words written. If you’re a mom this may be the only few quiet moments you get in a day (and by quite I mean you can lock the door — can I get an amen?)

Think about your WIP when you aren’t working on your WIP. This can be a little hard sometimes — like when you’re trying to type up a press release or read How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the 800th time this week — but with a little practice you’ll be able to multitask with the best of them. The reason you think about your WIP (work in progress) when you’re not necessarily working on it is because when you are ready to work on it you’ll fly through a scene instead of getting three words down before you realize that the hamburger is burning. . . again.

Create a rad playlist. And listen to that playlist when you aren’t working on your WIP. It’ll keep you motivated. I have certain songs that throw me into a scene and I can’t wait to get back to writing it. You can create a playlist from the songs you have on iTunes (and purchasing the ones you don’t have access to), you can create a playlist on playlist.com or Spotify, or (I think you can do this) you can create a playlist on youtube. PS I do have a Spotify account and there are playlist for my current WIPs. I’d love it if you shared your playlists! I love discovering new music.

Carry a notebook with you at all times (when out of the house). I’ve already covered being in the house with your laptop or notebook pen with you, and now I’m covering the one that everyone covers — carry a notebook with you at all times. I love driving, and I hate driving. I love going on long drives, however, when it comes to in town traffic — hate it. So my notebook is a God send when it comes to traffic. When you’re stuck in it, pull out your notebook and jot down your thoughts. Stuck at a red light? Do the same. I used to study this way in college. It’s the only way I got through. Note: It’s never ever ok to write while in a moving car. These are examples of when your car is stopped, not moving (of course when I am moving and there’s a scene I have to get out now, I put Siri to work writing me a note). It’s also nice when you’re stuck in a check out line to whip out your notebook and write furiously — give those around you something to talk about (the crazy lady taking notes — that would be you).

Whatever your method of madness stick with it! Sooner or later you’ll be holding a finished product in your hands. And then it will be time for the re-writes!

Do you have any tips for finding time to write? I’d love to hear them!

Some of my favorite writing resources:

Writer Mama by Christina Katz — this one is more for the non-fiction writer but great nonetheless.

Pen On Fire by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett — this is one that I had interlibrary loaned this one time and never got a chance to read beyond the first 30 pages, but those first 30 pages were amazing.

The stuff on this Pin Board — stuff from around the web that I’ve penned (I’m always looking for more rad articles so if you have one, send the link my way!)

And this amazing article on “The Daily Routines of Famous Writers”

And my current favorite all-time tweet that is tacked above my computer:

Secret to writing: You write. You stop dreaming of writing. You stop talking about writing. Stop wishing you were writing. And you write. –@JonathanGunson