Every once in a while, I find myself with
extra time on my hands and nothing much to do.
But most of the time, I’m scrambling simply
to make it through the day without letting anything important slip. Chances
are, you’re in the same boat.
Between school, work, family, clubs, sports,
friends, and everything else, there’s often not much time left to write. That
means you need to make the most of the limited time you have.
Here are seven tips on getting the most out
of your writing time.
Limit
Social Media
It’s easy to spend hours on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and other social media platforms. While there’s
nothing inherently wrong with social media—many successful authors are on it
all the time—it can quickly consume all of your writing time. Don’t let it.
Set yourself a goal: “I can’t go on Instagram
until I’ve written 500 words.”
Make sure it’s practical and achievable. If
your goal is too hard to reach, you’ll ignore it. But don’t make it too easy,
either.
Or instead of a goal, set a time limit. Set
your phone’s timer for 15 minutes before you go online. When the timer goes
off, it’s time to shut down your apps and get back to writing.
Have
a Writing Spot
One of the best ways to focus on writing is
to have a special writing spot. Make sure it is comfortable, well enough lit,
and quiet enough that you can concentrate.
If possible, pick a spot that you use only
for writing. Don’t do anything else there. No email, no texting, no social
media. Don’t even read books there. Use it only for writing. By not using that
spot for anything else, it can help you focus just on writing whenever you’re
there.
Have
a Writing Time
With our hectic schedules, it can be tough to
pick out one particular time to use for writing every day. But if you can do
it, it will help you focus.
It doesn’t matter what time you pick, as long
as it works for you. Many writers are best first thing in the morning. Many
authors write better just before bed. Right before or after supper is often a
good, consistent time.
Naturally, that doesn’t mean you can’t write
at other times. But having a consistent time to write ensures you fit at least
some writing time into your schedule almost every day.
Take
a Break
Does not writing actually make you more
productive as a writer? Well, sometimes it can.
If you’re only writing for 15 or 20 minutes a
day, breaks aren’t important. But if you do manage to sit down for a longer
session, they can make a huge difference. Especially when you’re stuck.
Get up. Stretch. Get a drink or snack. Go for
a walk. Exercise not only rejuvenates your body, it helps clear your mind.
While you’re being physically active, your mind will relax and the ideas will
begin to flow.
Just don’t take so many breaks that you never
get any writing done.
Build
a Playlist
This one depends a lot on you. Some writers
work best when it’s quiet. But many others like to listen to music as they
write.
Music speaks to the creative areas of your
brain and may be just what you need to get those writing juices flowing.
But not all music works equally well. Your
favorite songs, the ones you have to sing along with, may distract you rather than
help you. Pick songs that blend into the background.
Select songs that promote a particular mood.
Writing something lighthearted and funny? Pick upbeat songs. Writing a zombie
apocalypse? Something darker is called for.
Experiment with volume, too. Some people
write better to quiet music; others like it loud.
Keep
a Journal
A journal is helpful on so many levels. Not
only is it good, constant writing practice, but it’s the best place to record
all of those great ideas that pop into your head at random times.
Whenever you’re stuck on a story or a scene,
flip through your journal. Somewhere in there is the answer. Ideas tucked away
into corners weeks, months, or even years ago will leap out at just the right
time to get you back on track.
Find
a Writing Buddy
Writing by its very nature is a solitary
pursuit. Yes, some authors collaborate, but even then, most writing gets done
separately. And because writing is solitary, it has some drawbacks.
Most of the time there’s no accountability.
Unless you’ve managed to land a paid writing job, there’s no one looking over
your shoulder to make sure you’re getting the job done. When you write by
yourself, it’s easy to slack off, set the work aside, and not get much
accomplished.
A writing buddy is someone who can pester you
on a regular basis to see how your story is coming. They are someone you can
bounce ideas off of. Once you have finished your story, they can give you
feedback. And you do exactly the same to keep them on track, too.
Your writing time is limited. Make the most
of it.
