I am having so much trouble finding the time to write. How do you all find the time? I need some ideas. I don't think I was able to write at all yesterday! AK!!!!
I literally leave it open on my laptop all day - that way I don't have to wait for Word to load. Whenever I have a moment, or if a thought strikes - I write. I found myself in between making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches running to my laptop to knock out a quick couple of sentences, LOL. It doesn't give you a huge lead in words, but by the time night rolls around I found that I've been able to eek out at least 100 more than I would have had.
When my children go to bed is when I write the most, I'll usually stay up a few hours later. But if I feel like I was unable to get enough in at night {writer's block, exhaustion, LOL}, I'll leave my husband with the kids for 30 minutes to an hour during the day and I'll sit in our room, listen to music and write like mad.
I write in chunks. It helps a lot that I can type at about 70 wpm lol. I can easily get 500 words knocked out in a half hour while my 2 year old is eating or watching a movie. I've also been getting up early to write, and after everyone is in bed. I've been writing just like I do anything else for myself, with tons of interruptions!
I normally write after the kids are in bed so I get a few hours before midnight. I can actually knock out a lot during that time. I'm a fast typer so I can basically type as fast as I can think it which helps. So I can get 1000 words in a half hour.
Yesterday I was inspired so I wrote most of the day when I could. Whenever the baby was napping. I also have older kids that are either in school all day or don't need my help for stuff (can get their own meals and things) and can help with the baby so I can keep writing. The house has been a disaster, though. I only cleaned up today because tomorrow is my dd's birthday so she invited some friends over today for cupcakes.
I tend to write in 15 minute incriments. I make sure I have no interuptions and just type. I can usually get about 800 words on those so it doesn't take long to get my goal for the night. Otherwise, I type when the kiddo is asleep or otherwise occupied (watching a movie, playing with daddy, etc). Oh and I keep the window open at work, so I can type a few sentences whenever I get a break.
Well, I think for the amount of stuff you are involved with you are doing great! It is hard to find time to write.
For me, I try and write for an hour or so while JD is at school. Then after he goes to bed I'll sit down and write. I also do sprints where I time myself for like 10-15 minutes and see how many words I can get done in that short amount of time. I also try to go to local write ins so I can get uninterrupted time(didn't work out so well on Saturday...but that's another story!).
If my Mom and Dad take JD to the store with them, I'll write furiously while they are gone.
One thing I've noticed is that when I stress about finding time to write...I never find the time. When I focus on getting one thing crossed off my list at a time, I suddenly have some time to write.
Good luck. Just do as much as you can this year!
Sandy
Day 8
- ziff130
on Nov. 7, 2010 at 3:38 PM