Time Management for Writers

I haven't written a post on goals this year, nor one on cleaning your writing workspace. Today, I'll give you a few thoughts on one goal we should all strive to achieve. Time Management. 

Some writers are full-time professionals who write for a living. Most are pretty good at setting work-writing hours, as it's a necessity.                 

Many others are part-time writers or hobbyist writers. It seems more difficult for them to set times to write. Some are moms still raising their children. I don't need to list all the tasks they must do on a daily basis, or the interruptions they deal with. If you've been there, you understand. Others have full-time jobs and must fit writing time around that big responsibility. 

Sometimes, writers think about writing more than they actually sit down and pump out the words. The ideal situation might be the retired person who suddenly has lots of time to write. Or do they? Most retired people I know end up with a full schedule between exercise classes, daily runs or walk, an increased social life, medical appointment and more. Suddenly, they realize there is not as much time for writing as they'd hoped. 

One key to finding time to write is to make it a priority, rather than squeeze it in around all the other things in your life. If writing is important to you, don't look for the time to pursue this love of yours, create time to write, make it a habit. To do that, you'll need to decide just how important writing is to you.   

One way to find a time when you're not pressured is to get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later. That would give you some quiet time. Yes, it would also cut your sleeping time, but an hour might not be really detrimental. 

Set aside a certain time of the day that is to be your writing time, a time when you are not otherwise always occupied with something important. 

Take a notebook with you on your daily commute. Sitting on a bus or train is empty time. Why not use it to write? Do a writing exercise or observe those around you and describe them. Or start a piece and continue working on it with every commuter time. 

One hard truth we might all need to own up to is that we waste a whole lot of time in our day. You do it. I do it. We all do it. Not purposely, but we might be filling the dishwasher and hear something on tv that interests us, so we go sit down and watch. Who knows for how long? This is only one example. No doubt, you can think of others. 

If you are a determined writer, you'll make time to pursue your writing. Rather than grab snatches of time here and there, try to create a set time. You might need to give up something to be able to find that time, but again, if you are passionate about writing, you can do it.