You love books. You love words and characters and escaping into new worlds. And even more than that, you’d love to write the stories that others escape into. Maybe you have dozens of good ideas, but can only manage to scribble a couple notes on the back of your hand between diaper changes. Maybe you don’t have a bestselling idea (yet), but think that if you could just find the time to write a little bit…
Here are five suggestions to help find time to write. Remember to make time to do the things you love.
1. Join a Writing Group
Joining a writing group forces writers to submit writing on a regular basis through self-imposed deadlines. Plus, there is the added benefit of forming a writing community, connecting with other writers, and talking about books and ideas. Groups can act as a support center when writers get stuck. Advertising for a writer's group in the local paper or at the college often works because there are so many other writers in the same position.
There are also writing classes online like the Gotham Writer’s Workshops or writing forums like the ones at Zoetrope: All Story.
2. Develop a Schedule
Keeping track of how days are spent is also beneficial. This could include noting the moments when even a few minutes of writing could be fit into the day. During the commute? Right before bed? Some writers wake up an hour early or skip their favorite TV shows.
Writers should find a time, preferably a half hour at the least, and make a date to write during that time every day. Some writers even write in the car because it is the only place they can be alone. Eventually, the pages begin to accumulate.
3. Practice with Writing Prompts
Sometimes, especially if time is limited, it’s hard to jump into a new chapter or a finish a perplexing story. Short writing exercises will jump-start a writer's creativity and help to produce new material.
Writing prompts or exercises can be found in writing guide books like John Gardner’s On Becoming a Novelist or Writing True by Sondra Perl and Mimi Schwartz. The Southeast Review also offers a 30 day Writing Regimen with prompts sent via email every day for a whole month.
4. Inspire Yourself
Finding inspiration doesn’t mean sitting alone at a desk and waiting for the mythical muse to appear. Writers need to be actively involved in the inspiration process. Some artists find inspiration at art museums or concerts or the theater. Others can sit on a park bench and spend an hour “people watching” to get inspiration for a certain character, for example.
One of the best ways to find inspiration is to read more. Read, read, read. Any writer will give this same advice. Being surrounded by favorite books can often make a writer want to write more.
5. Start a Blog
For writer who don't have time to dedicate chunks of time to their craft, or for those experiencing writer's block, a personal blog can act as a great motivator. Like journaling, blogging allows writers to clear their heads by getting their thoughts on the page, therefore leaving room for better ideas to surface.
This will also help writers get to know their style and voice. After a few entries in a personal blog, writers should re-read the entries and take note of what they do well. Do they write in a humorous tone? Is the writing stronger when the author writes about something they are passionate about? Once the writer knows what they do well, they should keep doing it.
Overall, finding time to write takes discipline, passion, and talent. The only way to develop these skills is to continue making time for writing on a regular basis.
Penny Zang - I am a college instructor and writer with an M.F.A in Creative Writing (Fiction). My Masters Thesis was a collection of linked short ...
