Our schedules oftentimes aren’t our best friends, and during our busy periods, it can be hard to make time for the hobbies and things that we enjoy doing. I relate strongly to this! Back when I was in high school, I used to write while I was in the middle of class just to get my ideas out on a document. Now, with a busy schedule, it can seem complicated to maximize writing time because we often feel like we have a lot on our plates. Still, as someone who’s had busy schedules a lot, I figured out a way to do it so that I could maximize my writing time the best. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you figure out how to make time for your writing passion and actually enjoy it!
(affiliate disclaimer: Some links on this post are affiliate links, meaning that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you).
1. Establish Clear Goals
One of the most important steps is to break down your writing into specific, manageable goals. One way you can do this is through the SMART goals framework. SMART stands for “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.” This is a goal-system you’ve probably heard about a lot in school, but even if you’re not familiar with it, the idea is to take your basic goal and reframe it in a way that will follow the SMART guidelines.
Breaking down a project into smaller, manageable chunks is a really good way to get yourself started. For example, if your goal is to write 1,000 words every day or complete a chapter a week, this is more manageable than thinking about the fact that you have to write, say, 100,000 words for a whole book.
Also, if you’re like me and at any one time may be writing several books or have several writing projects going, prioritization is a good way to help. Focusing on the ones that you find more important or easier for you in that moment is a good idea as well. For example, I’m currently writing Book 3 of my series, The Fallen Age Saga but I’m also working on a different WIP entirely. I set goals to distribute my writing time between the two so I can stay on-task for both.
2. Create a Writing Schedule
Creating a schedule can seem hard, but the way to do this is to analyze your current schedule. Let’s just say you go to work every day. From 9 AM to maybe 6 PM to account for when you get home, you’re at work. After dinner, maybe you’ve got some free time from 7 PM to 10 PM or whatever time you happen to have. This free period is prime time to actually work on your writing.
However, some of us are productive at different times. I personally find that my writing gets better later at night and since I was younger, I’ve found myself staying up to 3 AM to write my books. Now, most people are more productive throughout the day, so try to find your sweet spot when it comes to timing.
You should treat writing as an important part of your schedule if you want to get serious about it and really maximize your writing time. You should allocate blocks of time for your writing process and you should stick to it as much as you can.
3. Minimize Distractions
Another important thing you should do to maximize your writing time is to minimize any potential sources of distraction. This is why it’s important to have something like a dedicated space for your writing. If your desk in your home office is where you find you’re the least distracted, go there to write. I wouldn’t suggest writing on your bed or in front of the TV, as those places can be pretty distracting.
Make sure to keep this space decluttered so that you’re not focusing on the mess around you. Now, if you thrive better in a messy space, then by all means, do what works for you. Personally though, I found that having more items on my desk made my productivity less.
4. Try the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is often associated with studying for exams or getting your homework done, but its main idea is to get you productive for periods of time, allotting breaks in between to keep you focused for that period of time without burning you out.
I have used the Pomodoro Technique a lot in the past. Basically, the base version of it has you working for 25 minutes then taking a 5 minute break for a full hour before you take a 15 minute break. You can find timers on YouTube that help you stay on-schedule. You can also adjust the timing blocks depending on what’s best for you.
The Pomodoro Technique is honestly a great productivity tool, so I definitely recommend it if you’re struggling to stay on-task.
5. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Don’t underestimate the power of technology in helping you with your writing. Sometimes, when I’m on the train and I don’t have my bulky gaming laptop with me, I’ll use the Notes app on my phone to just jot down ideas for my story. If I like what I’ve written, later that day, I’ll go and rewrite it with more detail on my laptop.
If you find that your hands get tired from a lot of typing, try to use voice-to-text software to help you get your thoughts and ideas down. It’s a great way for those days when you just can’t bring yourself to type up words.
If you’re like me and you find that world building can get pretty intense for your story and you want a more organized way to store all your writing ideas, lore, and notes, then check out this article where I cover 10 of the best world building tools for authors!
6. Keep a Notebook on You
As a writer, I always make sure to have at least one notebook near me at all times. Although I love technology and I love the digital world, sometimes, I just want to use plain paper and pen. I personally have a bit too many notebooks because every store I go to, I collect notebooks like Pokemon cards, but having one is more than enough.
My notebook is pretty much where I jot down story ideas, world building concepts, lore ideas, and character sketches. I even draw in them sometimes to give myself a way to get the things I see in my mind out on paper. I also have different notebooks dedicated to different worlds, stories, and series. I go a bit in-depth on this part, but just having a notebook makes me feel like I have a place to store my ideas.
You can get notebooks realistically anywhere, but you can find a ton over on Amazon as well. You can check out Barnes & Noble or Renaud Bray for my Quebecois readers out there. I personally found A TON of notebooks from Renaud Bray.
7. Stay Motivated
Writing is not a simple task, and I definitely understand that staying motivated can be hard. God knows how many times I’ve hit blocks and walls while writing. To be honest, I sometimes stay stuck on a story for more than a month, which is never fun.
I’ve talked about overcoming writer’s block in this post, but beyond just that, finding other people to write with, rewarding yourself for completing goals and tasks, and keeping track of your progress are all great ways to stay motivated. We all love a little reward for our hard work, so set up a system so that you can feel happy every time you finish your goal for the day.
8. Be Flexible
If you have a busy schedule, it’s important to remember that you should stay flexible with your writing. Life happens and it can be a little unpredictable. A lot of the times, it doesn’t really wait for our schedule to free up. In that case, don’t stress yourself out and feel like you’re going to lose a ton if you miss a writing day or fall short of your goal. Even if you only write ten words, that’s perfectly fine. Adjust your goal as you go and work around whatever happens in your life.
Also, if you suffer from intense procrastination (like me lol), then what you want to do is adjust your goal to fit around this. If you find yourself putting off writing, then maybe your brain just isn’t feeling it today. That’s perfectly fine and you shouldn’t feel pressured into your hobby. Take breaks, adjust and regroup!
And before you go, be sure to check out my series, The Fallen Age Saga and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get updates on my works, books, projects and more!