How do you find the time to write?

[sans_sheriff]

Good afternoon, all. New guy here and wanted to run this thought by all of you. I have an incredibly busy day-to-day life and never seem to find the time to write. Even when I do, I'm usually so drained by work and by playing with/putting to sleep by 3 yo son that I stare at my monitor or notepad and just feel... nothing. Take this afternoon for example. I have the next three hours to myself and for the life of me, absolutely do not have the motivation or desire to sit down and write something. Anything would suffice.

Writing for me is an absolute drug and when I'm firing on all cylinders, it's an incredible feeling. But in this day and age, how do other adults manage to find the time to write? I doesn't matter if it's a blog post or a novel. So I'm curious how you guys/gals find the time to do so.

 

[Harry Leg]

Good afternoon, all. New guy here and wanted to run this thought by all of you. I have an incredibly busy day-to-day life and never seem to find the time to write. Even when I do, I'm usually so drained by work and by playing with/putting to sleep by 3 yo son that I stare at my monitor or notepad and just feel... nothing. Take this afternoon for example. I have the next three hours to myself and for the life of me, absolutely do not have the motivation or desire to sit down and write something. Anything would suffice.

Writing for me is an absolute drug and when I'm firing on all cylinders, it's an incredible feeling. But in this day and age, how do other adults manage to find the time to write? I doesn't matter if it's a blog post or a novel. So I'm curious how you guys/gals find the time to do so.

You never find the time...you have to make the time.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Good afternoon, all. New guy here and wanted to run this thought by all of you. I have an incredibly busy day-to-day life and never seem to find the time to write. Even when I do, I'm usually so drained by work and by playing with/putting to sleep by 3 yo son that I stare at my monitor or notepad and just feel... nothing. Take this afternoon for example. I have the next three hours to myself and for the life of me, absolutely do not have the motivation or desire to sit down and write something. Anything would suffice.

Writing for me is an absolute drug and when I'm firing on all cylinders, it's an incredible feeling. But in this day and age, how do other adults manage to find the time to write? I doesn't matter if it's a blog post or a novel. So I'm curious how you guys/gals find the time to do so.

But you did write something, didnt you!

Youre not alone, plenny of people come here, and post their blabber about not having time to write.

 

[beatrice_dreams]

For me, there are times when it just doesn't happen. It sort of frustrates me that writing actually takes as long as it does. When I do get to get stuck in and get somewhere with it, I'm always shocked by how quickly the time goes by.

The only thing that I can think of that helps me is to create a writing environment that my brain recognises. Just as a way of getting into that 'firing on all cylinders' mode more quickly because you haven't got much time. For me it's being sat comfortably, distractions kept away, and having the right music on.

But sometimes you have to fight for the time, and make it happen.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

However uninspired I feel, I just make it happen. I pick up the pen and write. No excuses, no talking myself out of it, I just get it done whether my brain wants to co-operate or not.

Don't wait until you're in the right mood. The right mood is whatever mood you're in when you find the time to write something. Think of it as a job and it becomes a lot easier.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

I've just realised that sounds quite mechanical. I should stress that the *reason* I force myself to write whenever and however I'm feeling is that the act of writing will move you towards that "inspired", free-flowing state. IE you can't just sit and wait to feel as though you want to write. You have to just write, and that feeling will follow.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BRUTHER!

I force myself to water the garden, feed the dogs, and change oil in the car, cuz its imperative to do it. If youre forcing yourself to write you definitely got nuthin to say that excites you.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Ignore JB, he comes out from under his bridge every now and again to torment newbies.

Welcome to AH

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Ignore JB, he comes out from under his bridge every now and again to torment newbies.

Welcome to AH

Tell him about our EVERY WRITER GETS A TROPHY program. Its based on the Black Studies PhD, almost anything qualifies for a trophy.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Tell him about our EVERY WRITER GETS A TROPHY program. Its based on the Black Studies PhD, almost anything qualifies for a trophy.

Oh hesh up darlin'

 

[sr71plt]

I don't think this was the best time to shush JBJ up, because he was spot on with this one.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't think this was the best time to shush JBJ up, because he was spot on with this one.

And because he is disagreeing with someone you don't like.

 

[lovecraft68]

Good afternoon, all. New guy here and wanted to run this thought by all of you. I have an incredibly busy day-to-day life and never seem to find the time to write. Even when I do, I'm usually so drained by work and by playing with/putting to sleep by 3 yo son that I stare at my monitor or notepad and just feel... nothing. Take this afternoon for example. I have the next three hours to myself and for the life of me, absolutely do not have the motivation or desire to sit down and write something. Anything would suffice.

Writing for me is an absolute drug and when I'm firing on all cylinders, it's an incredible feeling. But in this day and age, how do other adults manage to find the time to write? I doesn't matter if it's a blog post or a novel. So I'm curious how you guys/gals find the time to do so.

I sacrifice other things. Except for football and an occasional sox game, I have not watched television in three years (and honestly don't miss it at ll)

At one point I was in two dart leagues and an eight ball league and karate twice a week, now I'm down to one dart league and Karate once.

If you enjoy writing than you have to do what you have to to make it a priority.

 

[lance gt]

I'll agree with Jimmy on this. RL is hard to put aside and delve into a piece of fiction, but if you have something down on paper, it's better than having nothing and you found some time.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I sacrifice other things. Except for football and an occasional sox game, I have not watched television in three years (and honestly don't miss it at ll)

At one point I was in two dart leagues and an eight ball league and karate twice a week, now I'm down to one dart league and Karate once.

If you enjoy writing than you have to do what you have to to make it a priority.

You make a good point, if you love something youll make time for it, and live to do it.

I doubt that 99% of writers get the part about CANT KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE PENCIL AND PAD. Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly.

 

[litfan10]

John Grisham was a full time practicing lawyer when he first started his writing career and had a family. He made a point of getting up an hour/two hours earlier and that was his writing time.

You want to write, you find the time to write. Writing time is never a waste of time for a writer. If you never have the time to write than writing isn't rejuvenating you enough and it may not be the right thing.

Stephen King was often annoyed when people would come up to him in public settings and when finding out he was a writer would go "Oh, I've always wanted to be a writer" to which he started responding "That's funny, I always wanted to be a brain surgeon." You're a writer or you're not.

Find that niche of time that you can and write.

 

[TxRad]

John Grisham was a full time practicing lawyer when he first started his writing career and had a family. He made a point of getting up an hour/two hours earlier and that was his writing time.

You want to write, you find the time to write. Writing time is never a waste of time for a writer. If you never have the time to write than writing isn't rejuvenating you enough and it may not be the right thing.

Stephen King was often annoyed when people would come up to him in public settings and when finding out he was a writer would go "Oh, I've always wanted to be a writer" to which he started responding "That's funny, I always wanted to be a brain surgeon." You're a writer or you're not.

Find that niche of time that you can and write.

In a way, writing is brain surgery on yourself.

 

[litfan10]

In a way, writing is brain surgery on yourself.

Good point!

I always thought of writing as therapeutic, but yea...there is a lot of messing with the head going on as well.

 

[lovecraft68]

It's also, depending on subject matter a way to exorcise old demons or in some cases, come up with the "ending" an event in life "should" have had.

Sort of like The alternate universes in comic books.

Look at Larson. Supposedly the character of Lisbeth was inspired by his witnessing a gang rape and doing nothing to stop it.

You can see that influence in the way Lisbeth is brutally raped, but it really shows in her revenge. It was what Larson felt those guys should have gotten and in a way maybe helped assuage his guilt for not doing anything.

 

[TE999]

Motivation is the key. If you aren't motivated, you can't write and if you do more often than not it's garbage. Forcing yourself to write is like trying to shit out of your ears, if you do it you won't like the result. .

 

[litfan10]

Motivation is the key. If you aren't motivated, you can't write and if you do more often than not it's garbage. Forcing yourself to write is like trying to shit out of your ears, if you do it you won't like the result. .

Never heard it put that way but certainly fits the bill perfectly! Absolutely love your way with words, Tom!

 

[jomar]

...If youre forcing yourself to write you definitely got nuthin to say that excites you.

That's pretty close to "the time finds me" that was my thought.

 

[Mrtouf]

If you have time right now but you can't think of anything to write, the trick is to put your computer in sleep mode. Instead of trying to think of the way you're going to open the first or next line, think about the next idea you're going to use. If you don't have any ideas that work right now, brainstorm some more. Preferably with pencil and paper.

The reason I say to put your computer to sleep is because you can be ready to start typing away but not ready to start writing. You don't need to have the dialogue and action figured out word-for-word before you start typing, but you do need to know what the dialogue and action are supposed to accomplish.

If you have dilemmas that come up when typing, like which word to use, make a note of the other word you're thinking of in square brackets or something and then keep going. My reasoning here is that if your time is limited (or in fact if you want to constrain your writing to particular time) you want to keep going while you actually have the motivation. No stopping to pick at sentences unless they run counter to the idea you're trying to put into words. No stopping to fiddle with paragraphing. No fiddling with styles unless you know the keyboard shortcut.

Make time later to read the part you just wrote and resolve the things that you didn't have time for. Just keep in mind what your idea for that part was.

Then start back again, looking at your list of ideas (or an outline if you have one) to figure out what's next.

Keep a note of your ideas. If time is always going to be a limiting factor, it's a good thing for your notes to get you back up to speed as quickly as possible, because it's not much fun staring at the place where you stopped, fumbling for something to add.

 

[topace]

I'll be blunt - I have plenty of free time when I'm not working and right now, I wish I had more hours at work or a job that was willing to give me the hours and the pay I needed to survive on.

I really should put more time towards my writing, but as it's a hobby for me, I'm not too worried when I get a chapter of a story done. The only thing I worry about is losing a good idea for a story which kinda motivates me to keep writing. Not to mention, the plot bunnies make good daydreams!

 

[sans_sheriff]

topace, that's kind of similar to my problem. Used to write all the time on my blog, in notepads, and sort of professionally for a video game site (news, reviews, previews, etc.) Written professionally too, but after two years of steady un- or underemployment, my focus was solely on getting that steady paycheck. Finally landed it at INSERT EMPLOYER HERE and for the past year have been neck deep in impressing them for the sake of ensuring I'm not laid off again. We've recently wrapped a massive project that involved being at the office every single day for over a month solid (including weekends) and now that it's wrapped up... I feel totally drained.

I look at my blog and my other writings and none of them seemed worthwhile during that time since I wasn't making any money at them, ergo the dropoff in output. But now that the financial side of my life is stable once again I find I'm a bit adrift in terms of writing what I want to say. Bear in mind I've completed multiple screenplays both long and short along with numerous other writings.

Now when I play with my son or hang with my wife, I realize I have such a finite amount of time in the day to complete things and writing hasn't been a priority. Obviously, I need to make it one again (in order to find true happiness, so sayeth the fortune cookie - lucky numbers 4 8 15 16 23 42).

Thanks for the sentiment. You guys/gals are alright.