Five Tips for Writing on a Busy Schedule
BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS
Most writers have day jobs, myself included. Due to a strict work schedule combined with household duties and maintaining a social life, it can seem impossible to find the time to write creatively. When I was writing my second novel, I felt like I would never finish the first draft. However, one day I came across this article and my entire writing life transformed. Since August 2018, I have written three novels ranging between 65,000 and 80,000 words, two picture books, two short stories, and a personal essay. Here’s how you can build your writing production to new levels:
1. Set a word count and a schedule and stick to it
This tip might seem difficult, but trust me, it gets easier. Simply pick a word count and a schedule. For example, 500 words a day, Monday through Friday. You might be thinking “What if I can’t think of anything to write?”
Image by Colin Behrens from Pixabay
It doesn’t matter! Just write words that come to your mind until you hit your word count. In my old drafts, I have tons of sentences that look like this:
“He opened the door. Purple washing machine television firetruck.”
You will revise later. For now, focus on meeting your word count goal.
2. Tell people to shut up
Okay, so this one can be hard to do. A lot of people don’t understand that writing is a highly mental process which requires full attention to the draft. It’s tough to write when the people around you are being distractive during your writing time. Let them know, as kindly as possible, of course, that you need personal space to work. Your boundaries deserve to be respected. If you have kids, definitely don’t tell them to shut up! You can always wait until it’s their bedtime and get back to work later.
3. Use an app on your phone to write when you’re out and about
I personally use the Google Docs app, but there are many others available. What this does in effect is it gives you no excuse NOT to write. Stuck waiting forever at the doctor’s office? Get your phone out and write. Sitting in the car in a long line to pick up the kids? Get your phone out and write. Have five minutes between work meetings? Get your phone out and write. If you have time to scroll through social media, you can use that same amount of time to get some writing done.
Photo: @IAMCONNORRM
4. Read on your phone
How do you improve your writing? By reading! When you read someone else’s story, you can see how the author builds characters, settings, plot, etc. and when you return to your own writing, you’ll have sharper skills. The Kindle app works best for me, but like with writing apps, there are others as well. Most local libraries have Kindle/eBook services. You can read thousands upon thousands of books on your Kindle app, etc. all for FREE and the book will automatically return on its set due date. No more late fees!
5. Recharge when you need to
After you’ve reached a point where your writing isn’t making sense or you’re simply drained of ideas, take a break. Go for a walk, watch a movie, listen to music, plant a tree, do whatever makes you happy. You’ll find inspiration during your recharge phase, so don’t ever feel like you have to work nonstop. When you’re refreshed, come back to your draft and watch yourself write amazingly.
Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.