How To Make Time For Your Writing

“I really would love to write…but I simply don’t have the time.”

How many times have you thought or spoken those words, or heard them from another would-be writer?

I guess probably more than once.

Finding time to write is tricky. No one denies that. Unless you are incredibly fortunate sitting down to write just can’t take precedence over all those other things you’ve got to do in life, you know, like earn a living, or look after your kids.

However, just because something 's hard doesn’t make it impossible.

Writers who are willing to make a few sacrifices compared to those who simply use the lack of time as an excuse are what separates those who have a passion for writing and those who perhaps like the idea of it more than the actual act.

There are plenty of things that sound exciting and interesting to me; being a professional painter, going skydiving, making my own range of jams. Do I do any of these things? No. Because I don’t have time.

However one thing I do find the time for is my writing because it is more important to me than the rest of my whims and fancies.

So, here is the question. Do you want to write or not?

If you do, then you need to find the time to write, and you will, and if you need a little nudge to get you started, take a look at the below.

Do it first thing in the morning or last thing at night

OK so getting enough sleep is important but the majority of us could get up half an hour earlier, couldn’t we? Find time by making it.

If you really aren’t a morning person then why not ‘go to bed’ half an hour earlier? By this I mean, instead of squeezing in another episode of your favourite sitcom before you hit the hay why not use that time to write instead?

Do it every day

You need to make writing a habit. If you do it every day, it will become a natural part of your routine, and it will feel weird not doing it rather than the other way around.

If you currently write very infrequently it will be hard, and you may not even enjoy it, but rewarding things usually are tough.

Think about going to the gym - it is usually the motivation required to get off your sofa and get there that is the hardest part, once you are there you feel great, and after you have been, even better.

Writing can often feel the same, but you need to think about what you will achieve in the long run, it is so worth it, right?

Make it a priority

There are things that you can cut out of your life to make more time for writing. Be it watching TV, going to the pub with friends, deciding you need to iron all of your clothes for no reason…you get the picture.

Of course, you can’t just stop doing everything you normally do in your life, but finding half an hour each day to write will make all the difference. It’s all about priorities.

Don’t ask, just take

More often than not, writers see their writing time as extremely important, while others do not. If you ask for more time to write it may be that others don’t see this as a necessary priority.

So don’t ask for it, just take it.

You are in control of your own writing destiny and it is only through hard work, determination, and, err, well, actually writing that you will achieve your goals.

So make time for your writing, don’t let anything stop you. If you do you’ll feel so much more fulfilled, excited and alive each day!

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

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