How to find time to write, by Autodidact.

Autodidact · Mar 28, 2008

You just let your housework go all to hell. You're welcome.

DamaNegra · Mar 28, 2008

What if homework is what's keeping me from writing? Do I let my career go to hell and send all the money being wasted on tuiton to the garbage?

JamieFord · Mar 28, 2008

Selling your TV also works. (So I hear...)

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 28, 2008

Wake up earlier to go to bed later.

bunnygirl · Mar 28, 2008

1. Don't watch TV.
2. Don't go to movies or rent them.
3. Don't have kids.

In all seriousness, though, you can have anything you want but not everything you want. There are only so many hours in a day and no matter how much you may wish for it, no one will hand you any more. If you want more time for something, you have to give up something else. Luckily, a lot of what popular culture says matters, doesn't. Not really.

Few people, if any, will die wishing they had watched more American Idol, but I bet there are a lot of folks who will reach the end of life wishing they had made the time to take up watercolors, learn the tango, or write a novel.

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 28, 2008

Signing up for tango lessons tomorrow.

Mumut · Mar 29, 2008

In find I write better after I have completed the unavoidable chores. I make a list of what needs to be done in the week, apart from the usual housework, then any writing time is a bonus.

JeanneTGC · Mar 29, 2008

I'm with Bunny and Blunt -- turn off the TV and keep it off. Amazing the hours you get back which you can fill with chores, homework, work and writing. Also, getting up earlier and/or staying up later gives you even MORE hours.

You have to prioritize what's important to you and give the top priorities more time. Simple, not necessarily easy, but doable for all.

dreamsofnever · Mar 29, 2008

Love the suggestion, Auto! Indeed, when I'm really into writing, the cleanliness of my house takes the brunt of the blow for that.

inkkognito · Mar 29, 2008

Stay off the internet. (Ink speaks with forked tongue.)

DamaNegra · Mar 29, 2008

inkkognito said:
Stay off the internet. (Ink speaks with forked tongue.)

Heresy!

Riley · Mar 29, 2008

Heh, better:

No internet.

I'm supposed to be writing now but. . . AW, it is so SHI-I-I-NY!

I remember, once, when my internet was down (oh, the horrible three days), I managed to write over ten thousand words. It was vacation time and I had nothing else to do without the internet.

Know what? I'm getting off right now so I can write. Shutting the compy off and everything. You guys are real inspiration. Thanks! (*Insert creepy emoticons of dubious meaning and origin here*)

mada · Mar 29, 2008

Autodidact said:
You just let your housework go all to hell. You're welcome.

Here I thought I was going to get some sage advice! I've let the housework go to hell and still have issues finding time to write!

I can say that if you have a child who is old enough to bathe by themselves and you don't have to hold them while they play, taking the laptop into the bathroom is great! Just be sure you're out of harm's way if "tidal waves" are a common occurrence in your tub!

Exir · Mar 29, 2008

Easy - carry the notebook with you at all times. I'm a busy middle school student, what with doing all the IGCSEs, but I always manage to squeeze out one hour of time just by having a notebook with me and jotting around for ten minutes when waiting in line for lunch, on the school bus, during break, when taking care of my sisters, etc.

JustJess · Mar 29, 2008

3. Don't have kids.

Ah crap-now you tell me! About 13yrs too late...Right now I should be writing but am instead rocking my 4mo's carseat with my foot, in order to keep him asleep...I've been doing this for over 2hrs (actually every 20min or so I get to stand up and pace with him when he wakes and cries)

mada · Mar 29, 2008

bunnygirl said:
1. Don't watch TV.
2. Don't go to movies or rent them.
3. Don't have kids.

In all seriousness, though, you can have anything you want but not everything you want. There are only so many hours in a day and no matter how much you may wish for it, no one will hand you any more. If you want more time for something, you have to give up something else. Luckily, a lot of what popular culture says matters, doesn't. Not really.

Few people, if any, will die wishing they had watched more American Idol, but I bet there are a lot of folks who will reach the end of life wishing they had made the time to take up watercolors, learn the tango, or write a novel.

This is truly excellent advice. Granted, you're late on #3, but I have noticed that when I don't turn on the TV while I fold laundry or make dinner, I don't turn it on after. That gives me time to catch up on my reading and writing.

Mr Flibble · Mar 30, 2008

Housework? What's that?

Robin Bayne · Mar 30, 2008

Teach the family to cook for themselves. You don't pay get up unless the smoke alarm goes off.

inkkognito · Mar 30, 2008

IdiotsRUs said:
Housework? What's that?

Amen to that. If the house is in decent enough shape not to be condemned by the health dept., that works for me.

(Alternately, marry a man who doesn't mind household duties. Mine cooks, washes dishes, does the laundry, makes beds, and vaccums, but I just can't get him to do litter boxes...oh, well, no one's perfect.)

mada · Mar 30, 2008

inkkognito said:
(Alternately, marry a man who doesn't mind household duties. Mine cooks, washes dishes, does the laundry, makes beds, and vaccums, but I just can't get him to do litter boxes...oh, well, no one's perfect.)

Does he have a brother? I'm thinking my husband may be broken and it's time to look at a newer model! (I'm kidding, kind of!)

inkkognito · Mar 30, 2008

He has a twin, but unfortunately it's an evil one (unemployed and I've lost count of how many kids he's fathered).

mada · Mar 30, 2008

inkkognito said:
He has a twin, but unfortunately it's an evil one (unemployed and I've lost count of how many kids he's fathered).

Thanks, but I'll pass! He's even more broken than mine!!

ACEnders · Mar 30, 2008

The TV doesn't bother me at all. I have to have it on..or the music. The internet sometimes is a hinderance.

But I get most of my writing done at work. The beauty of being a good admin. assistant - lots of downtime.

Lyra Jean · Mar 30, 2008

okay this thread convinced me I just need to get off my lazy ass and get my goals accomplished.

After all my new desk has not been put together yet. It's been in the box for a little over a year.

Willowmound · Mar 31, 2008

bluntforcetrauma said:
Wake up earlier to go to bed later.

Just wake up earlier.

How to find time to write, by Autodidact.

...in my Maidenform Bra.

Mexican on the loose!

giving resonant directions

Esquire

Token Rabbit

Esquire

Well begun is half done...

I *am* Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Mexican on the loose!

They won't let me be good

Getting back in the groove

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Getting back in the groove

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

~writes for Him~

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Getting back in the groove

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Getting back in the groove

Self-Banned

Two years old now.

Lightly salted

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch