What to do while busy?

SkyWorthy · May 7, 2007

Hi, I'm a college student and I love to write. I've been writing for a while and never have problems coming up with stories. somtimes I will hit a dry spot but it will be gone within a week at the most.
But now since I started college, work a job, in a serious relationship, and need some downtime for myself, I'm finding I hardly have any time to write. I'm not so much worried about that but that maybe my drive to write will be gone and burnt out by the time I finish college.

Any suggestions on how to keep me alive? because i love composing stories and I still do in my mind but getting them down on paper is becoming something I do not have time to do.

Rolling Thunder · May 7, 2007

Set a small chunk of time aside just for your writing. Keep a journal. Try writing some flash fiction about something you saw today. There are a lot of ways to keep your writing alive but you do have to commit yourself to making time for it.

Shady Lane · May 7, 2007

Paper is overrated.

If you're thinking about writing, if you're composing characters or scenes or plot outlines in your head, you're writing.

The paper's just a formality.

JamieFord · May 7, 2007

Eliminate TV--if your college lifestyle hasn't already. Also, how much sleep do you need? I get about 4-5 hours/night when I'm on deadline. I catch a nap on Sundays to recharge.

Sean D. Schaffer · May 7, 2007

First, welcome to the boards. It's good to meet you, and I hope you find the answers you're looking for here.

Second, I find writing in little chunks when I'm real busy to be a decent way of keeping myself afloat where my writing is concerned. What I used to do -- granted, I don't do it anymore -- was to write a vignette every morning. For those who might not know, a vignette is a short descriptive work of about a page or two in length. It can be about anything, but the idea is it keeps your writing going when you're unable to spend lots of time in the Craft.

I hope this helps you out, and again, welcome to the boards.

:welcome:

JoNightshade · May 7, 2007

Keep a little notebook with you to jot down ideas. Later, when you have time, you can go back to this and it will be a great resource. Also, give yourself permission to write more than just fictional stories. Emailing your mom a witty and creative account of your week counts. I used to email my high school English teacher sketches of strange/unusual people I met at work or in college.

That said, I never had more time to write than when I was in college. I literally wrote volumes. It was when I got OUT of college and started working in the eight-to-five world that I started struggling. Fortunately I'm now working part time again! Whee!

Kristin Landon · May 7, 2007

Sometimes it just isn't possible to keep writing on a regular basis. When that happened to me (while my kids were babies and I was starting my editing business, for example), I found it helped to take evening writing classes at the local community college once or twice a year. It kept the flame lit.

It's better to use a strategy like that than to get into a cycle of guilt and avoidance about writing when you really, realistically, don't have time for it. Nothing is forever. Life is less intense after college and you'll have more options.

You sound sure of your drive to write. It won't die. I went through an eight-year dry spell once, and as soon as I found time and space to write again, I did.

Raphee · May 7, 2007

I went through an eighteen year dry spell. Yes I was stupid enough to promise myself not to write because I didn't win the award I deserved that I would never write again.
writing a diary helps. keeps your mind oiled.

WojoWojo13 · May 8, 2007

I'm a college kid, too. Good suggestions here so far. What are you studying? Any chance you can take some creative writing / rhetoric classes? Those make you write.

Got a blow off class? By the end of my astronomy class I find that I usually have a half page of astronomy notes and a half page of ideas, phrases, quotes, characters, whatever.

JoNightshade is right too, though. There's a lot of downtime in college that you could use to write. Once you settle in, you'll be able to see where these opportunities are. The important thing is to take advantage of them.

Prawn · May 8, 2007

I agree with turning off the TV. Another suggestion: don't listen to the radio in the car. Think about your story, your characters. I came up with a nice image on the way into work this morning which I will write into a book I am planning for this summer. I am in the car half an hour a day, and that is my planning time.

Huwman · May 8, 2007

Go to the pub often and sit there staring at the wall. Great thinking time and not as lonely as staying at home staring at the wall.

Also take down pictures in your living room and create a big white space to stare at too. Write small manageable stories and rhymes and just keep your hand in.

You'll never stop getting the ideas as long as you live. But there may be times when you don't get round to it. Having children is a great one for getting you off writing. If this happens, go to the pub and sit there staring at the wall.

Harper K · May 8, 2007

I spent my first three years of college not writing anything creative besides online journal entries and a few poems. Then, during my senior year, when I found myself with a full-time class schedule, an internship, a part-time job, a serious relationship, and roommates who didn't like to clean, I got better at squeezing in my fiction writing. For me, the busyness was helpful. Before, when I had long stretches of time after class in the afternoons, I always felt I could do my fiction writing "later." When my free time was crunched to a minimum, I suddenly felt the urge to write again -- it became a "now or never" activity.

Do you take a bus to class? Write on the bus. Do you ever have an hourlong break between classes? If so, that's a great time to set a word-count goal for yourself -- try to reach anywhere from 500 to 1500 words within that hour. Do you have early classes on some days and late classes on others? Try getting up early to write one day a week and see how much you can get done during that time. If that doesn't work, try going to bed late one night each week and spend two hours writing -- say 11 PM - 1 AM.

Will Lavender · May 8, 2007

WojoWojo13 said:
I'm a college kid, too. Good suggestions here so far. What are you studying? Any chance you can take some creative writing / rhetoric classes? Those make you write.

I agree with this.

I took some creative writing classes in college, and then went on to get my MFA. If you go this route, you don't have a choice but to write.

Thomas White · May 8, 2007

JoNightshade said:
Keep a little notebook with you to jot down ideas. Later, when you have time, you can go back to this and it will be a great resource.

That was exactly the advice I was going to give. One thing I do quite often, is to jot down sequences of words and phrases that describe a landscape or character. Sometimes when I don't even have the time for that, I'll sketch a face I have in my mind.

On a slightly more bizarre note, I actually ran up to a guy on the street the other day and asked to take his picture, because he was exactly how I imagined a certain character for my novel. Inspiration can happen at most unexpected moments, you need to be prepared for them.

ccarver30 · May 8, 2007

What I do is I go to a specific place TO WRITE (usually Starbucks). That way I have a purpose and it's not just to spend $4 on a coffee.

Gillhoughly · May 8, 2007

As has been mentioned, you will just have to make time.

Because once you're out of college, things will speed up.

One of my buds works a job where she must be available 24/7, has worked 80 hour weeks, and a couple years back fought off a bout of breast cancer. She has other medical complications, including killer migraines, that eat her time.

That year she still managed to write FIVE novels. She's a genius at multi-tasking.

When I think I don't have the time to fit in any writing I look to her example. I'm not wired to match it, but she inspires me to pack more work in on projects than I might otherwise have done.

It's all the difference between getting some words on paper or no words at all.

Good luck!

Legionsynch · May 8, 2007

Some days, my schedule is crazy busy. At the same time, I find if I've put aside some of that time to write, I get more writing done than on the days where I don't have to work at all.

I just try to make time during the day. If I know I'm going to be home an hour between shifts (I'm a server at a restaurant), then I try to devote that hour to writing, because what /else/ am I feasibly going to be doing then?

IrishScribbler · May 8, 2007

Welcome to the boards!

I graduated college about a year ago, and, at times, I had difficulty keeping up with writing, as well. To combat it, I read as often as I could (which, with an English major, can be hard in and of itself), journaled every day (even if it was just a couple of sentences), and whenever my roommate and I were watching TV, I was writing. (I think this is how I came to write when the TV is on.)

Something else you can try is a sort of rewards system. For example, if you get an assignment done early, take some time to write before you move on to the next thing.

Also, if you have a bit of a drive to get home for holidays, you could get a tape recorder and dictate to yourself on the drive.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll make it work!

NeuroFizz · May 8, 2007

Whatever you do, don't cut into your "personal time." Everyone needs a little attitude adjustment, a little time to sit and do nothing, or something mindless. I've seen way too many students bomb out of college because their plates were too full. Some didn't just burn out, they flamed to cinders. If your relaxing time is the only time you can find to write, don't write right now. There will be plenty of time. Your schooling should be your top priority since it stands the best chance of opening doors for a career (in the immediate future).

Take some time to enjoy life.

tjwriter · May 8, 2007

What I did while in college was schedule breaks in between classes. So I would have an hour or an hour and a half to go do whatever. The benefit was twofold. First, I found I couldn't sit through continous classes without some type of break. Second, I could go get a cup of coffee, find a quiet spot and write in my notebook as that break from the educational material.

It worked out swell for me. And I took about 15 hours a semester, worked thirds about three days a week (give or take what was going on each semester), and was married during that time, so I know it is possible.

ETA: I'm also seriously considering getting a digital voice recorder so I can record those bits and pieces of ideas I have during the day.

Carrie in PA · May 8, 2007

I like to write novels. So I wasn't doing anything... until a couple of wise (and wise-ass) friends suggested that I write short stories to keep the juices flowing. It helps. I also find that fitting in reading helps keep the creative ideas flowing. And brainstorming ideas for a completely different genre... I'm working on a children's book. Never thought that'd happen.

This is all while working full time and being a full time wife and full time mother and full time human being and president of the PTO and helping with Little League, etc etc etc etc etc...

For me, I want all or nothing, and I'm having to learn to chill out and do things in little bits or I'll end up having a breakdown.

Good luck!!

SkyWorthy · May 8, 2007

Thanks everyone! This is great advice. I'm in the middle of exam week right now and I have my 6th exam tomorrow...no time to write although I have the stranges urges to write when I absolutly don't have time or can't.
Again thanks for the advice! Now I must go drowned myself in Bio terms...

What to do while busy?

SkyWorthy

Rolling Thunder

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

JamieFord

giving resonant directions

Sean D. Schaffer

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Kristin Landon

Raphee

In debt to AW

WojoWojo13

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Huwman

Harper K

here's to the girl on the go

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Thomas White

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Legionsynch

IrishScribbler

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

Carrie in PA

Write All The Words!

SkyWorthy