How do you find time to write?

[live4thebj]

I had to start using pages from Apple so I can work on my stories while at work on my iPhone at work with this cool full size folding keyboard. Also can’t write around my fiancé. This is my secret life she can’t know about.

How do you make time?

 

[EmilyMiller]

1. My fiancé knows about and encourages my hobby
2. I only write on my iPhone, which is always with me (I use Word from O365)
3. My job has peaks and troughs, not enough hours in the day or lengthy lacunae
4. He has his hobby (photography) and also speaks at external seminars and has to prepare slides, so I write when he is busy with other stuff
5. He has frequent short and occasional long business trips and writing keeps me out of trouble (mostly )
6. I sometimes can’t sleep and write until I’m tired - or wake up early and write until my bf wakes up (he sleeps much more deeply than I do)
7. Most recentiy, I have been in airports and on planes a lot
8. I also write quite quickly I think

Em

 

[KeithD]

I'm thrice retired. I can be a full-time writer now, with recognized time for it built into my day. I started building time dedicated to writing before I retired from my last job, but I'll have to say I never stole time from my job to do writing and my other pursuits, which included stage and concert work. I was fortunate that much of my last fifteen years on the job was in what was essentially a 24-hours-a-day representational and supervisory position in which I could get my regular-paying-job hours in while managing to carve out hours for other pursuits, including writing (which was fine with my employers because my arts work provided cover to my real job). I had written six novels before finally retiring--but I'll have to say that none of it was in stealing time from the job I was being paid to do.

 

[tenyari]

I've been a work from home sort since a few years before the pandemic. That doesn't mean you work less, but you work random hours.

I've got a scattered brain. Probably severe undiagnosed ADHD given what I see of the symptoms and impacts of that. But that sort of means I cannot NOT find the time to write. I can't really regulate what's going on in my head - so working from home lets me get work done and in the scattered moments I write, mess with cats, watch something, roast or make coffee, or type weird comments on Internet forums...

Before I could work my own hours from home, I was a LOT less productive because the scattered moments would still be there, but the hours were set. And I'd write whole chapters in my head 'unwillingly'...

 

[MrPixel]

Retired.

 

[Euphony]

One of the greatest lessons on writing I've ever read was part of Julia Cameron's (of Artist Way fame) Right to Write.

There's a specific chapter on "The Time Lie" but much of it is supported by the previous chapters on addressing mood, creativity woes, self-editing, etc.

Essentially, *most* of us aren't really as time constrained out of writing as we believe. "Too busy" is an easy crutch to lean on when we just aren't feeling it (up to the preconceived notions we have in our heads)

Is it the case always? No. But is it the case more than we self-professed "writers" might feel comfortable admitting? Probably.

It's tough to offer actionable advice not captaining your life but it's worth reflecting on if you can't steal a moment here or there (and if you need to rediscover your motivation a little in order to push you to steal those moments.)

 

[alohadave]

I drive for a living and have downtime on my routes. I do much of my rough drafts on my phone.

The revising and editing I do at home.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I've been a work from home sort since a few years before the pandemic. That doesn't mean you work less, but you work random hours.

I've got a scattered brain. Probably severe undiagnosed ADHD given what I see of the symptoms and impacts of that. But that sort of means I cannot NOT find the time to write. I can't really regulate what's going on in my head - so working from home lets me get work done and in the scattered moments I write, mess with cats, watch something, roast or make coffee, or type weird comments on Internet forums...

Before I could work my own hours from home, I was a LOT less productive because the scattered moments would still be there, but the hours were set. And I'd write whole chapters in my head 'unwillingly'...

I write in my head all the time, especially when I'm trying to sleep. The story just kind of takes over, and I know I've got to finish it.

 

[onehitwanda]

• Sleep is for the weak
• Blood is there to dilute my caffeine stream
• Sometimes my squirrel mind just won't shut the fuck up about something until I write it down.

also, words are my second-favourite type of porn.

 

[PandemicReader8]

Honestly, you have to make time.

A sat in on a panel of six figure authors once - me way in the back of the audience, no where near six figures yet - and one of the panelists said that we have to decide if we want to be writers or thought of as writers.

Writers write.

 

[Wonderer67]

I have a full-time job, own a farm and my wife and I also have a few smaller businesses. Time is tight, but I do enjoy writing. My output is small (just three stories and a buncha poems).

One thing I do is use audio to text on my iPhone and get the basic idea down. Then I copy and paste it into a word doc on my laptop and start editing and refining. (I like the larger screen of the my vs the phone).

All in, it takes me about eight hours to do a 17-20k word story.

My wife is fully aware and helps me proofread and gives suggestions. Makes it easier.

 

[Priscilla_June]

1. Most recentiy, I have been in airports and on planes a lot

Em

Fellow smartphone author

How do you go about writing in public/on airplanes. Its like the perfect time to do it but im always so afraid someone is looking over my shoulder.

 

[Euphony]

Fellow smartphone author

How do you go about writing in public/on airplanes. Its like the perfect time to do it but im always so afraid someone is looking over my shoulder.

Unless you are doing illustrated stories or use large print for ease of reading, I think most would have trouble reading over your shoulder if they are even interested.

And you could always save the sexy stuff for crafting elsewhere or develop your own short hand to decode later.

 

[onehitwanda]

Fellow smartphone author

How do you go about writing in public/on airplanes. Its like the perfect time to do it but im always so afraid someone is looking over my shoulder.

don't write the squishy bits in public.

 

[Priscilla_June]

don't write the squishy bits in public.

I mean, its all leading up to or is squishy

 

[onehitwanda]

I mean, its all leading up to or is squishy

yeah, but foreplay is delicious.

 

[Priscilla_June]

yeah, but foreplay is delicious.

I still would be nervous writing that in public lol

 

[EmilyMiller]

Fellow smartphone author

How do you go about writing in public/on airplanes. Its like the perfect time to do it but im always so afraid someone is looking over my shoulder.

I get paranoid as well, but a) I don’t think anyone is that interested and b) if you maintain a reasonable screen angle it’s hard to read that much.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I get paranoid as well, but a) I don’t think anyone is that interested and b) if you maintain a reasonable screen angle it’s hard to read that much.

Em

Also we flew back with our company’s main travel partner and got upgrades via my bf’s air miles. That helped with privacy .

Em

 

[ElectricBlue]

I write in between doing other stuff, when the mood is right and there's nothing else going on (no people around me). I don't force it, since it's an indulgence, not making a living. I usually manage 500 - 1500 words most days.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I carve out time whenever I can. I like to write at night when the house is quiet, so can I think without any distractions. I usually push myself a little harder when I'm writing a story for a contest, which is one of the reasons I enter, to keep me writing.

 

[Priscilla_June]

Also we flew back with our company’s main travel partner and got upgrades via my bf’s air miles. That helped with privacy .

Em

I need to fly more to get that status!

 

[Djmac1031]

I drive for a living and have downtime on my routes. I do much of my rough drafts on my phone.

The revising and editing I do at home.

I'm on the road a lot for my job as well.

Upside - I have a lot of time to THINK about stories.

Downside - l can't write and drive. Although there are days, depending on my schedule, where I have time to kill.

I used to write more during those times.

It's been harder to find the time once home. And, being honest, sometimes I'm just distracted by other things.

When I started, I was pumping out almost a story a week. Granted, they were short.

I think I've slowed down for several reasons, but one being I'm trying to write some different kinds of stories for me instead of just repeating myself.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I need to fly more to get that status!

He does a lot of domestic trips (away for a night or two) and the occasional long haul. It adds up quickly. We work for the same organization, but I don’t have to travel as much as he does.

Em

 

[Dearelliot]

I'm retired, my wife sleeps til 9am, so if I get up around 6 or 6:30 I can get a few hours in. I enjoy writing first thing in the morning, later in the day, I am more involved with other things.