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Can You Write A Book While Working Full Time?

By on November 14, 2018

So many of us have a dream to complete a novel, we have this great idea for a story in our heads, and desperately want to write it down and share it with the world.

However, the practicalities of writing a novel mean that for many, their dream never becomes a reality.

Writing a novel takes enormous amounts of dedication, and the time and energy a person needs to be able to dedicate to their novel writing makes it difficult to fit it in around their already busy lives.

Many would-be writers believe that they if only they were able to quit their job and write they could get that novel written, but doing so while also working full time seems like an impossible task.

However, it can be done!

Here are some helpful strategies to help you find more time to write and get your first novel down - even while working full time.

Find out when you are most productive

Some people can set their alarms an hour earlier and find that first thing in the morning they are full of energy to write. Others can barely open their eyes to get up in time for work as it is. That’s OK - perhaps you can go to bed an hour later instead. Already exhausted? What about break times, commuting time, or over lunch? Your life may seem pretty full already, but finding a time that works around your schedule and where you can be productive is possible - it’s all about experimenting and then making that part of your routine. It may be that you don’t get the luxury of writing when you want to, but the point is that you can find time to write if you are truly determined to do so.

Get your loved ones on board

It would be great to have a dedicated writing room and peace to get our thoughts organized and let our creative juices flow. But the reality is that might not be possible.

Still, you can get those you live with to support you and give you space and time to write after work. If you’ve got kids, you need to provide them with attention when you get back from work, and you need to have quality time with your partner too. So make sure you get home and do just that, but then, after dinner, after conversations, when everyone else has settled down to watch TV or d homework or whatever, you claim that time as your own. Even if it’s just an hour, you’ll be amazed at what you can get done if your loved ones are all on board and know that’s the time you need to yourself to be productive.

Give some stuff up

If you really can’t find time in your schedule to write, you need to evaluate what is more important to you. Are there things that you could give up to give yourself time to write? Making sacrifices like this may not be easy, but you’ll find it so rewarding when you start to realize your dream.

Truly dedicate yourself

It’s so easy to make excuses, and they may well be valid ones. But if writing a book is important to you it needs to become a priority. If you push yourself and make a proper commitment to writing, anything is possible. You might think you are working as hard as you can, but if you are truly honest with yourself, there is probably something you could do to become more effective, more efficient and push yourself even further than you thought possible.

Don’t compare yourself to others

At the end of the day, if you want to write a book while working full time you naturally can’t expect to keep up with those writers who can spend the entire day working at their craft, so keep things in perspective and understand that while it may take you longer to get there, the destination is still the same, and will feel just as good when you arrive.

Do you work and write at the same time? Share your experiences and let us know how you make it work!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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