Wazzup! This is part two of my series on setting up healthy writing routines. If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend checking out part one, How to Create a Healthy Writing Routine: 5 Easy to Follow Steps, for a no-nonsense guide on setting up an effective writing routine. In this post, we will be looking at how to create a healthy writing routine even when you don't have time to spare. This is for all you parents, carers and workaholics out there!
In last week’s post, How to Create a Healthy Writing Routine in 5 Easy Steps, we looked at how to set up a sustainable and enjoyable writing schedule. However, to do just that, you require regular free-time that can be dedicated to writing. I was inspired to write this follow up post as between work, childcare and general life-admin, I often struggle to find consistent time to write. As such, this topic is one that is close to my heart. What follows are my tips on how to make the most of what little time you have.
Just to clarify, I still think the term routine is relevant even if you do not have scheduled writing time. As we explored in the last post, routine is defined as "a sequence of actions regularly followed". If you are reading this post, "regularly" for you will mean writing frequently and habitually, whenever you get the chance.
That said, let's get into it!
Permission Not to Write
Okay, firstly, is writing something that is going to bring you a sense of achievement and satisfaction? Or, right now, is it just something that is going to stress you out and cost you sleep?
If you literally have no time, sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and admit it. Giving yourself permission not to write can be liberating and may help you to resolve current situations that need your focus, freeing up more time to write later. I recently took six months off from writing, and I’m glad I did! I wouldn’t have been able to juggle everything plus write a novel. Sometimes it’s best to choose to put a ball down before you drop them all.
Conditions are Imperfect
A lot of the tips in last week’s post revolved around creating an ideal set up for productivity. But for you, things are going to have to be different. You won’t have the luxury of getting things set up just right before starting. You’re going to have to take the bull by the horns.
When the fog of life clears and you realise, OMG! I have an hour to myself, you’re going to have to grasp that time like your life depends on it. Don’t think, I’ll just do the dishes and then I’ll write after. Fuck the dishes! You deserve this time. Don’t sacrifice the last bit of yourself on the altar of responsibility. Reclaim this time for you.
Writing Zone
As time is of the essence, you are going to want to limit the amount of administrative tasks you have to do before you are able to sit down to write. One of the ways of doing this is having your writing area set up ready to go at all times.
Whether it’s a well-ordered writing desk, or just a folder in your kitchen drawer with all your notes in, having your writing space ready at the drop of a hat will give you more time to focus on your writing.
Another practical tip is having a cork board set up in the room where you write. That way it doesn’t take up any floor space. Being able to glance up at your character bios, story structure, or a collage of related images, will spark your imagination and help you to hit your flow. Also, if you have an idea and you're not in writer-mode yet, you can pin notes to it to explore later.
One last practical pointer is to use a word processor like Scrivener or Google Docs. That way you can write on the go from your phone. You can essentially carry your WIP around in your pocket and work on it from the bus, the office, the toilet.
"dreams can both inspire and torture us."
The Power of Music
If you have a hectic life, it’s sometimes hard to switch gears. Writing is a relatively slow, thoughtful and creative endeavour, and if you’ve been blasting through life on auto-pilot all day it’s difficult to make a smooth landing.
One thing that I find helps is to have a set song or playlist that I put on everytime I am going to write. Now it’s important that the music coincides with the mood/genre of the novel, or reminds you in some deep way of the premise. If you get it just right, the music will transport you back into your book’s universe.
For example, my current WIP is set in Paris, and revolves around a group of artists. So if I’m struggling to get in the mood, I put on the Midnight in Paris soundtrack. As soon as Bechet’s clarinet finishes its first “doo doo doo doo doo”, I’m back with my MC in a Parisian bar, smoking cigarettes and drinking wine.
Make it Enjoyable
It’s important for all writers to try and make their writing enjoyable for themselves. Otherwise, what’s the point! I would say enjoyment in writing is achieved by the following:
Writing what you want; and
Writing when you want.
Now, as an indie writer, you are fully in control of the what. You don’t have to answer to anybody except yourself. But when is a problem. Your time is not your own, and that can breed resentment. You may even find yourself both loving and hating the idea of writing at the same time. For dreams can both inspire and torture us.
To avoid your writing becoming a drag, try to turn it into a leisure activity. Include coffee and cake. Put some nice music on. And please, no word count goals! This is about you exploring your imagination. This is quality time, not quantity time.
Leave on a Broken Sentence
One of my Creative Writing lecturers at uni recommended this to me and I must admit I’ve never liked doing it, but it does work!
I think it’s natural for writers to want to wrap up the section they’re doing. To have everything nice and tidy so that you can start afresh next time. But leaving on a broken sentence can actually be more productive!
Have you ever polished off a section only to find, on returning the next day, you are faced with a daunting blank page to fill? I know I have. Whereas, if you leave on a broken sentence, when you return you have somewhere to begin. Just like the point I made earlier about music, it is a way of tapping back into the universe of your book. You just need to pick up the thread and start pulling.
Being able to leave on a broken sentence will also fit nicely with your hectic lifestyle, because you never know when you’re going to have to close the laptop and get back to the real world. Knowing that leaving on a broken sentence is actually beneficial to productivity may help to reduce some of the frustration you feel when you have to yet again put your dream on hold… Okay, maybe not entirely... But a little bit.
Over to You
So there you go, those are my suggestions on how to eek out some writing time from your already overburdened schedule. To recap they are:
Give yourself permission not to write
Don’t wait for perfect conditions
Have a writing zone already set up
Use music to transport you
Make it enjoyable
Leave on a broken sentence
So then, over to you! I’m always looking for ways to learn, so let me know your tips in the comments!
Happy writing! x
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