Finding the Time

Sam Best · Nov 16, 2011

How does everyone do it? Between writing, editing, social networking, marketing, family, work (ugh), and all those other things, how do you find that precious little peace and quiet to get you through the day? I've just started and every second of every day is so packed I can barely move!

Hiroko · Nov 16, 2011

My day isn't as packed as you'd think.
As a matter of fact, I think I have quite a lot of opportunity to write during my day, but I fill it with catching up on other things (like this website, oh, ho, ho).

jjdebenedictis · Nov 16, 2011

Social networking is optional. So is marketing.

That doesn't mean it's necessarily a good idea to give them up, but if you can't find any peace and quiet? Then you need to unplug (first), and (if that's not enough) let go and simply trust the quality of your writing to slowly build up your audience.

Best of luck with managing the juggling act. A hectic life has its rewards too, but everyone needs to re-charge sometimes.

bearilou · Nov 16, 2011

25 minutes at a time.

Terie · Nov 16, 2011

It's less about finding the time and more about making the time. If you have time to do social networking, surely you have time for writing. It's about setting your own priorities, setting aside time, and setting your family's expectations for the time you've set aside.

Last Saturday night I went to a book signing by NYT bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater. She talked about early in her career (pre-NYT bestsellingness), when she was working 60 hours a week and raising two very young children. She wrote for two hours a week, 6-8 pm Wednesday nights. That time was sacrosanct.

For sacrosanct time, a common phrase is 'blood, broken bone, or fire'. That is, the family can't interrupt you unless they're bleeding, have broken a bone, or the house is on fire. If you allow interruptions during your sacrosanct time, you're making the choice that your writing is less important than whatever is interrupting it.

You might visit Jay Lake's blog. Not everyone can write as fast as he does, even not counting all the other stuff happening in his life. But he does prove that it's perfectly possible to eke out time under the most dire of circumstances.

Even if you find only fifteen minutes three days a week, make that time sacrosanct. And get writing.

jeffo20 · Nov 17, 2011

What Terie said.

seun · Nov 17, 2011

Mr Flibble · Nov 17, 2011

I think the OP was asking about peace and quiet time, not writing time. But I'm only on my second cuppa sooo

I know where you're coming from. I work 2 jobs totalling 55 hours a week, I'm juggling 3 books and deadlines and it's my daughter's birthday today...

The bath for me. That's my peace and quiet time. Interrupt me at your peril.

SquareSails · Nov 17, 2011

Tempo said:
How does everyone do it? Between writing, editing, social networking, marketing, family, work (ugh), and all those other things, how do you find that precious little peace and quiet to get you through the day? I've just started and every second of every day is so packed I can barely move!

Two months ago, I wondered the same thing about myself. Guess what? I removed all of those things from my life (except family, of course), and I'm still not writing. I am jobless, sitting alone beside a crackling fire in a quiet house in the Irish countryside, and I've written maybe 1500 good words in the past two weeks. I've determined that, for me, the problem isn't that I'm too busy. It's that I lack discipline. Perhaps, your problem is the same?

If so, here's what works for me. Pick a time and place as yours. Make it known that it is yours. Barring a catastrophe, you are not to be bothered. Sit your butt down in that chair and don't leave until you write. You might write complete rubbish. Doesn't matter for now. You're establishing a routine, not only for those around you, but for yourself. Hopefully, instead of being something you want to do, your writing will become one of those things you must do.

Hope this helps.

NeuroFizz · Nov 17, 2011

I have the same issue, Tempo, yet I find time to write. I have a personal technique that works for me, and it's coming to the computer ready to write. That means I've pre-thought out the next scene--who is going to be in it, what the characters are going to do and what they will say (in very general terms), how the scene will move the story forward and contribute to the story arc, what the tone and mood will be, how the setting will contribute to all of the above. With those things in my mind (sometimes with a post-it note or two) I can be very efficient with my limited writing time. And it's not rigid planning. The scenes still evolve as they are being written, and the characters are free to shape their contributions to the scene. The best part--while we may not have time to sit down and write several times during the day/night, we do have times when we can turn our minds loose and just think. We drive places, take showers, do all kinds of mindless things that can be turned into mindful things with that scene planning. Many of us do this now, but with a little more focus, it can get us ready to write for when an opportunity presents itself.

Actually I suggest "coming to the computer ready to write" is something most writers should do whether or not they are limited in writing time. It's efficient, at least for me.

And there are two things that can be put away to free up time for writing: cell phones and the internet.

BotByte · Nov 17, 2011

I used to have no time to write and found ways to make time.

But now I have all the more time to, and it's driving me insane. Be happy you have that 30 minutes to write. I have 5 more months and no drive with a story.

Am I a masochist, or would I be a sadist?

VoireyLinger · Nov 17, 2011

I write during the week and take the weekends off.
Networking and marketing doesn't have to be done every day.
Blogs can be pre-written and scheduled.
Family time is golden. I stay up an hour later to make up for it.

Tepelus · Nov 17, 2011

I'm with Idiot, the OP is asking how do you find quiet time for yourself, not time for writing.

I have all sorts of me time, so I'm not really helpful.

NeuroFizz · Nov 17, 2011

Those quiet times are the times my mind runs to my writing, with one exception--NCIS. That's my TV time, and I can sit and be passively entertained. The kids know it, and let me have that time. And I protect that time when making meeting appointments and scheduling evening work assignments.

The other Me time is gym time, which I also protect. I go four or five times a week for 1 to 1 1/2 hours each time (4 to 7 1/2 hours per week is a minor time involvement). And during that time I can let my mind loose (although this is another set of my times to think about my current story).

AutumnWrite · Nov 17, 2011

I take public transportation to and from work. While it's not really quiet, I'm alone, mentally. And long baths are nice too. But for the most part, if I can find time not needed for family, work, friends, and such, I write, or try to learn.

uscgbyron · Nov 17, 2011

I just finished a blog series on finding writing time with a fully loaded lifestyle. It's called "So You Don't Have Time..." and works off of 15 minute writing sessions.
As far as quiet time goes, what is that? I'm kidding...
I've been struggling with this all fall. Last summer burnt me out (I work Search and Rescue and summertime is incredibly busy) and I'm only just now starting to feel like I'm recovering because of the lack of peace and quiet time I've had. What works best for me is getting up a little earlier so my morning routine isn't as rushed. I find a lot of peace and quiet in just sitting at the table with my morning cup of coffee.

Lyra Jean · Nov 17, 2011

My writing time is during my lunch at work. I have a newborn yay! so no me time as of right now.

mephet · Nov 17, 2011

If I want free time, I don't write. DX Gosh, I wish I hadn't said that. Because it's too true. Need to get to work, not surf the web. I'm probably not the best person to answer this, because I struggle with finding the balance. Either I give myself way too much "hangout" time, or I'm swamped with work... and then I avoid the work, and get even more swamped. Scheduling, maybe? Figure out exactly what you need to do, what you should do, and where you have some real free time. Then make sure that free time isn't spent cleaning, surfing or worrying, etc.

The Lonely One · Nov 17, 2011

Tempo said:
How does everyone do it? Between writing, editing, ~~social networking~~, ~~marketing~~, family, ~~work~~ (ugh), and ~~all those other things~~, how do you find that precious little peace and quiet to get you through the day? I've just started and every second of every day is so packed I can barely move!

Wow. Looks like I have more time to write than I thought. I'm suddenly depressed.

Devil Ledbetter · Nov 17, 2011

I don't think she was asking about time to write. She was asking about time to find a little peace.

I usually consider my writing time peaceful, but that's just me.

The Lonely One · Nov 17, 2011

Devil Ledbetter said:
I don't think she was asking about time to write. She was asking about time to find a little peace.

I usually consider my writing time peaceful, but that's just me.

That makes sense. Luckily I grossly exaggerated the amount of writing I get done in a day by not crossing it off the list.

To be serious a moment, though, it is hard. Especially when you've got anxieties about other unfinished responsibilities that drain you mentally. I have issues moving from one thing without finishing something else, which works great with writing on its own, but not with writing and the rest of life. Come to think of it I'm not sure how I manage to get a word down. And even when I am relaxing and doing nothing I'm thinking about "I should be writing." Can writers relax?

Pistol Whipped Bee · Nov 17, 2011

Grabbing some quiet time early in the AM before most of the city starts moving around is awesome. It takes a little adjusting to, but if you really want it it's there.

SquareSails · Nov 17, 2011

Devil Ledbetter said:
I don't think she was asking about time to write.

Oh. Sorry. Ignore what I said, then. :e2sven:

kittyCAT · Nov 17, 2011

I probably won't find a fair chunk of time until I'm done school, because as it stands now I'm either at school, work, soccer, visiting my dad, doing schoolwork, or running errands.
Being a student suuuccks so hardcore.

But everyday I try to write at least a paragraph on ANYTHING.

Sam Best · Nov 17, 2011

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful responses. I think (hope) things will take a slower turn very soon, but I am still managing to write a little bit every day so the quiet time can be put off a little longer.

'Tis the season as well, which is why work is so hectic. Maybe not my best idea to try and publish for the first time during Christmas. I'll definitely think about what everyone has said and try to make it happen!

Finding the Time

New Fish

Which of them was the machine?

is watching you via her avatar

DenturePunk writer

Writer is as Writer does

Tyrant King

Horror Man

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

The grad students did it

Not a Reader, a Writer

Angel Wing Fetish

And so...

The grad students did it

Old enough to know better

figuring it all out

Two years old now.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Now what?

<3 <3 <3

New Fish