Sure, everyone who sets goals and resolutions intends to achieve them, but there’s a difference between a good intention and true commitment. When you’re deeply committed to something, you feel it in your bones. You’re prepared to make it a priority in your life, even if it means making sacrifices for it.
If you’re ready to make that kind of commitment and make your writing practice a priority, then you’ll be able to improve your writing in leaps and bounds. The equation is pretty simple: the more time you put in, the more your work will improve, and the sooner you’ll become a pro.
It all starts with making time to write and establishing a routine.
Making Time to Write
Everyone wants to write a book, even people who don’t consider themselves writers and who don’t want to be writers. But who has the time? Aspiring writers often complain that they’d love to take their writing hobby to the next level, but they are too busy.
It’s not easy to find time to write. Even professional writers get caught up in paperwork and marketing and have to scramble to get the actual work of writing done.
But with careful planning and better time management, we can all learn how to carve out a little more time for writing.
Finding time to practice writing might seem impossible, but if you know where to look, you’ll find precious pockets of minutes and hours that you can use to your advantage.
Here are some ways you can make or find more time to write, even if you have a packed schedule. Experiment with these productivity methods and see which ones work for you:
· Write first thing every morning. Most people feel refreshed after a good night’s rest (and a cup of hot coffee!) so there’s no better time to get creative than in the a.m. If you can get some writing done before you hop in the shower, you’ll already have made a great start for the day.
· Schedule writing sessions. If you have an overpacked schedule and your life is dictated by your calendar, then pen in your writing time! Even if you can only squeeze in twenty minutes per day, you’ll see a dramatic increase in your output and improvement in your work.
· Give yourself a break. Squeezing writing time into breaks and lunches at work is a great way to get writing done on a tight schedule. Even a ten-minute writing binge could mean a huge breakthrough in your plot or that perfect bit of dialogue you’ve been looking for. Because some of our best writing ideas come when we’re enmeshed in other activities, mini writing breaks scattered throughout the day can move your project along in small but significant steps.
· Do it in the car. Don’t use pen and paper here, folks. Many cell phones are equipped with recording capabilities, and there are freestanding recording devices as well as apps for your smart phone or other mobile device. Use driving time to record your thoughts and transcribe them later. Bonus tip: Don’t have a recording device? Call yourself and leave a voice mail!
· Sacrifice. Sometimes in life we have to make choices. Give up one of your TV shows and use that time for a weekly writing session. Reconsider accepting every single party invitation, and ask yourself if extra-curricular activities like playing on a community softball league are more important than getting your writing done.
· Ask for help. If you have too much on your plate and simply cannot find time to write, try delegating, sharing, and swapping tasks with friends, co-workers, and family members. This will free up time in your schedule that you can devote to writing.
· Turn off the Internet. Need I say more?
Establishing a Routine
Chapter Two: Writing
Start from the beginning
