I have a day job on top of writing as a pre k teacher at a local education center. And, on top of that day job, I have a night job as a caregiver for my fiance (hint: I never get to clock out).
It’s safe to say, I’m a busy writer. So, here are my favorite tips for busy writers.
1 Make a schedule
By this, I mean sit down, make a list of all the things you do in an average day, week, month, year. Write down the times, and find a good time to squeeze writing in. Whether it’s after the kids go to bed, first thing in the morning, or on an extra long, public transport commute.
You can do this through a planner, a large desk calendar, a white board calendar, or electronically. Anything will do. Just find what works for you.
2 Stick to your schedule
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought a planner, filled it out, and put it down, never to touch it again. Honestly, if I could just get back the money I’ve spent on planners and calendars, I could probably pay for my wedding.
3 Make time to write
This sounds so simple it’s almost annoying, even to me.
Make time? Like, no one else had thought of that.
But, the truth is that sometimes you haven’t thought of that. Not really.
Replace all that time you spend scrolling social media with writing. Replace the time you spend binge watching Netflix or Hulu with writing. Stop playing Candy Crush until your fingers bleed.
If you can’t make time to write, then you’re going to have to face the music that it won’t happen.
4 Don’t forget to make time for yourself
Now, this goes against what I just said about making time to write, but when you have a hectic schedule, and you’re trying to do more in an average day, you might neglect yourself.
Make sure you’re still showering, eating, and taking time to breathe. It’s okay to have a cheat day, even on writing. Just kick butt on your next writing day.
5 Stop making excuses
When NaNoWriMo began, I honestly thought I was going to be overwhelmed. But, I was able to find time to write anyway. Why?
Because I told myself that I wasn’t allowed to make excuses. I committed to writing an entire first draft in just 30 days.
And guess what. I did it.
6 Ask someone else to hold you accountable.
I know writing is supposedly this solitary profession that dooms you to an eternity of solitude, but I confide in my future wife about every detail of my books.
She knows half the plot twists before I do.
This benefitted me a lot during NaNoWriMo because she would ask to make sure I’d reached my daily writing goal.
You can confide in anyone to help you. A fellow writer is great for this job because you can easily return the favor.
I hope some of these tips help you in managing your time to make not only your writing life easier, but your every day life as well.
Are there any tips you might have for a busy writer? Comment down below!