How do you find the time to write? - Writers Forum

Gauda · 11-05-2006, 09:53 AM

I love writing, but I can never seem to finish any of my works unless it's a short story or simple poem. I'm currently working on my novel I've been working on forever ago. The reason why I never seen to get it going anywhere is because I never have enough time to write it. School, Church, Dance team and so on kind of permits me from now getting my story done; over time I lose inspiration for it. I'm going off to college next year, which will mean my time is restrained even MORE. Do you guys have any tips on how to really squeeze in time to write? How do you do so?

mammamaia · 11-05-2006, 11:00 AM

you do it anyway/time/place possible, is all... i wrote a slew of my own stuff, plus juggled work for private writing clients, while raising my two youngest daughters on my own [from 4 & 10, on], handling a 2-year-long, bi-coastal divorce battle, renovating our new home, running a rooming house in it, and managing some sort of personal life along the way...

still think you're overloaded?... the point is, if you're meant to write and have to write, you write!...

f'rinstance:

i kept a pad and pen on the bed next to me at night and could write in the dark, by clipping the pen to just below where i'd written last [kept track with a finger of the other hand, as i wrote], like a blind person might do... the scrawl was almost always just legible enough to translate the next morning... an easier alternative is to get one of those pens with a built-in light...

i kept a small tape recorder in the car, had a note pad suction-cupped to the dash, with a pen attached...

i wrote on the john, in the tub, and at the table [whenever i had time to eat a normal sit-down meal...

i used to joke that i was going to have a pen surgically attached, so i wouldn't miss anything that popped into my head, no matter where i was...

getting my point?... love and hugs, maia

Omnisu · 11-05-2006, 11:03 AM

It's nanowrimo; you're supposed to skip something unecessary this month, and spend it writing. I took a hard look at my life, and decided that sleep has got to go. It just takes up way too much time!

mammamaia · 11-05-2006, 11:09 AM

you just reminded me that i forgot to add that when i was working on a novel or something else sizable [like a screenplay], i'd work non-stop 18-20 hrs a day, could go for weeks at a time... i usually wouldn't even remember to eat, so the kids would bring some food up now and then...

Omnisu · 11-05-2006, 11:21 AM

Unfortunatly, I am rather incapable of doing that myself. I mean, I could, if I didn't mind being fired from my job or I could get time off on such short notice. But alas, it's not to be. I have to plan leave months in advance, and I can't plan inspiration at all.

dwellerofthedeep · 11-05-2006, 11:23 AM

I get up at 4:30 every day and don't have anything to do then other than write. I'm betting this isn't for everyone though.

Fantasy of You · 11-05-2006, 11:39 AM

Just scroll down to the numerous threads that cover this issue, instead of starting a new one.

Gauda · 11-05-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnisu

It's nanowrimo; you're supposed to skip something unecessary this month, and spend it writing. I took a hard look at my life, and decided that sleep has got to go. It just takes up way too much time!

ha. sleep sure does

maia - thanks. some very interesting ideas there...I should start carrying around a pen and a small notebook

sounds good to me.

and nah, dweller...I don't think I could do that. I'm barely awake by 6. Any time before that then I'm out. I sleep like a rock.

Fantasy_of_you...could you at least refer me to one? I haven't run across a thread like this one recently.

Mantra · 11-05-2006, 08:41 PM

Something that can help (in my experience) is to make writing part of your education, as well as your extra-curricular work.

When you start going to college, try to take creative writing classes. That way your WRITING will be your homework, and you don't have to try to squeeze it in between all your other stuff. Also, join the creative writing club or be a part of the literary magazine, if your college has anthing like that. I find that being involved in a writing environment and community really encourages me to write more.

Also, you should really try to cut out any activites that aren't essential to you. Not saying that you can't have fun in your life, but things like television, video games, shopping, mind-less internet surfing, etc...All those little things add up, and they truly do eat into your writing time. It might be hard but you've really gotta be tough and cut out everything but the stuff that truly matters to you.

And if you're really passionate about writing, maybe you should consider majoring in creative writing, that way all your college years (well, once you're done with general requirements) will be entirely focused on your writing.

My $0.02.

mammamaia · 11-06-2006, 09:34 AM

a very good $.02, mantra!!!... lots of sense for the cents...

Dixie · 11-06-2006, 09:53 AM

Agreed 100% with Mantra. I was a journalism major and outside my Math courses and Honors Spanish classes every other class was writing. It wasnt all that hard to get on the Deans list that year.

(Mom and Dad were proud though

)

anymore now that Im unemployed and looking for work, I will sit down in a room, look at my surroundings and just write what comes to mind for the next 5-10 minutes. I just try to write my thoughts out on paper. Sometimes it will be a rant on the government, sometimes it will be describing the day in general heck sometimes it is something stupid such as describing mom's chicken collection (She's counted 1,000+ pieces). One of these days Im going to write a story about those 1,000+ chickens and give it to her as a
gift, lol.

Sorry to veer off topic, but just sitting and trying to write what comes to mind for 5-10 minutes a day is better than not writing at all.

cheers,
Dixie

Mike C · 11-06-2006, 10:01 AM

Do whatever it takes. How do you find the time to do anything else? Prioritise.

What's more important to you - writing, or dance class? Get up an hour earlier, go to bed an hour later, socialise less, write instead of watching TV, do whatever it takes.

Or don't do anything.

Kamisama · 11-06-2006, 05:46 PM

Be like James Madison -- Writing instrument and paper.

I've noticed that as I become an experienced writer, I'm using paper and pencil more often. I like to alter my... I like to spice my speeches with rhetorical figures for the flock of birds that chirp around me. I feed the chicks with cool and comforting communication.

The pen is like a sword and your thoughts like the waves of an ocean. You can drown the world with laughs and language, but because you had your sword by your side. These words on paper are like a book full of magical spells that influence and change matters and the masses.

It's not simply about writing; it's also about communication.

Take time to carefully choose the paper and the pencil.

Gauda · 11-07-2006, 05:59 PM

Thanks, everyone. You all have wonderful suggestions and I'll definately make room in the future to write..after all, it's something I enjoy doing and one of my only escapes from the real world (That can actually be productive, that is

)

Risingson · 11-08-2006, 08:09 PM

...or lots of coffee and staying up well beyond 2am, like I do, although this means you lose out on a lot of sleep, the black bags under my eyes would tell you that.