“I’d write more if I had more time!” I hear this a lot. I’ve said this a lot. I think almost every non-professional writer wishes they could spend more time writing. But the shocking news is that even many professional writers wish they could spend more time writing.
A friend of mine is a professional writer with two young children. She tells me that finding time to write is a constant challenge for her. Don’t let people tell you, “if you don’t write everyday, you’re not a real writer.”
But it can be hard to get into writing mode if you haven’t written in weeks. I am a great believer in transparency. The first step toward ensuring you have time to write is becoming aware of all the commitments that stand in your way.
Then, you can see if any of them can be removed, shortened, or re-arranged. I list commitments in four categories:
- Well-being – Of yourself and others (if you’re a caretaker)
- Work – This is many people’s biggest commitment
- Family – This might include close friends as well
- Everything Else – Usually less essential than the first three
Don’t think of your list of commitments as your life priorities. This is a list that accounts for flexibility and the ability to drop commitments in the short term.
As an example, exercise is justifiably an important part of many people’s commitments. Yet there are so many different ways and times to exercise. Some people exercise on their lunch breaks.
If you work overtime consistently every week, this is definitely worth scrutinizing. It’s very hard to make writing a necessity while working overtime, particularly if you have family obligations.
I think the book Rework is a great read for writers dealing with these issues:
Screenwrite Now 