Many writers struggle to find time to write. But by setting achievable goals, carrying a small writing pad and receiving regular reminders to write, the battle to find time can easily be won.
Learn to be a Writer – Carry a Notebook and Pen
Buy two light, easy to carry old fashioned lined notebooks and two ballpoint pens, and take one set with you wherever you go.
Use your notebook and odd moments to think about your writing. It takes five minutes to write a quick character sketch of a character, or to describe a setting. Even if the precise details don’t appear in your final story, thinking about them enriches your narrative and gives you valuable background.
It also keeps the story alive in your mind until you find time to sit and write for a longer period.
Your notebooks can be cheap and disposable, or top of the range. Many writers are intimidated if their notebooks are too expensive, as they feel obliged to produce very important, perfect writing to fit the glossy notebook. This causes performance anxiety and may lead to writer’s block. Other writers love the luxury of an expensive Moleskine or other top of the range notebook.
Unlike electronic equipment, notebooks are not dependent on battery life, they’re easy to replace if they are lost or stolen, and are always accessible. When one notebook is sitting next to your PC waiting to be transcribed into your novel, put the other one in your pocket, purse, bag or the cubby hole of your car.
Write your Novel : Set Writing Goals
Set yourself a SMART goal – Specific, Measurable, Action based, Realistic and Time based. In this case it could be:
Goal: To finish Chapter 1 of your novel three weeks from now.
Specific: to finish the first chapter of your novel
Measurable: Many chapters are around 5000 words in length, but yours may be different. Choose an approximate length, add on a thousand words for leeway, and divide it by 21. Now you have a number of words to aim for. In this case you’ll only need to write around 300 words a day.
Action based: This means you’ll have to write, not just think about writing, and not just talking about writing.
Realistic: Aiming to write 300 words a day is a realistic and achievable goal. Most writers will find that once they’ve written their 300 for the day they’re in the swing of it and want to write more, but reaching a daily goal is very affirming.
Time Based: Aiming to finish in three weeks makes writing Chapter 1 manageable. Make sure that the time scale chosen is realistic. Aiming to finish 5000 words in two days will probably not be an achievable goal.
Write Every Day : Set up a Reminder
Sign up for www.habitforge.com. You enter the details of the new habit you’re trying to form – in this case ‘Writing three hundreds words minimum a day’ and also what the consequences will be if you do adopt the new habit, as well as if you continue in your old ways.
Habitforge will send you a message every day asking you if you were successful in practicing your new behaviour the previous day. Every third day they remind you of the consequences of adopting or not taking up your new habit. It’s a great help for developing the habit of writing.
You'll find more helpful ideas for finding time to write in the article Become a Disciplined Writer.
Need one-on-one tutoring in writing skills? Consider signing up for an Online Writing Course.
Helen Brain - I am a writer and writing teacher, living in Cape Town, South Africa. I published my first book in 1997, and now have over thirty books ...
