How to Find Time to Write

You love to write. There is no doubt about it. But, you also like to sleep. If you are a freelance writer, you often find yourself deciding to either write or complete another task. So, how do you find time to write?

Schedule a Block of Time Every Day

Working from home as a freelance writer should be just as regimented as going to the office. Schedule a block of time every day to sit down and write, or at least brainstorm. If you are not currently working on a project at this time, do some research or line up your next job. Whether you are actually writing or not, you should be using this time for work-related purposes, not for checking your bank account or making your grocery list.

If your day is already full, it will be your decision when to schedule your writing time. It could be early in the morning, late at night, or a little of both. It could even be right after lunch. Regardless of when, try not to tell yourself you will come back to it later. Before you know it, the day will be over and your page will be blank. While procrastination may have produced some of your best work in high school or college, it usually does not work in the "real world."

Learn to Multi-Task

For stay-at-home moms and dads, this tip is especially important. Most people assume that when you are at home all day with your kids that you have very little to do. Of course you have time to crank out three to five articles before dinner.

Nonsense! During the day is about spending time with your children and making sure that they are being well-taken care of and that their needs are being met. However, that does not mean that you should not take advantage of a little thing called, "multi-tasking." Multi-tasking is where you make time to write because you have a little free time. Great times to multi-task are when the kids are taking a nap, when you are waiting in the car line to pick them up from school or practice, or while the washer/dryer/dishwasher is doing its thing. Before long, you will begin to notice all sorts of multi-tasking opportunities.

Understand Your Limitations

Everyone has limitation and this includes writers. If you push yourself too hard, you will either let yourself down, burn out, or get writer's block. Anyway you look at it, you are not going to produce your best work and you are not going to have fun while writing. Even when you write for money, the process of writing should be fun for you.

At times, especially when you really need the money, it can be hard to turn down jobs or limit the amount of writing you do. But, you will find that if you control how much you have to do, you will be able to accomplish more. This is simply because you can set tighter deadlines for the projects you have due and then move on to the next ones. If you do not limit yourself, you will never find enough time to get it all done!

Set Goals and Deadlines for Yourself

As mentioned above, the best way to find time to write is to set goals and deadlines for your self. Write on a dry-erase board, a daily planner, a journal, or the calendar on your kitchen wall how many articles you plan to finish for the day, for the week, or for the month. Then, delegate enough time at the beginning of the day to meet your goal. If you are setting a larger goal for yourself, such as 100 articles per month, then give yourself deadlines like 25 articles per week. That way, even if you have a slow Monday and only produce three articles you will know to create an extra article for the next two days to catch-up.

Reward Yourself for Your Hard Work

With each deadline, reward yourself for your hard work. You may choose to give small rewards for each deadline and a larger reward when your goal is finally met. Never make money your sole reward. It is not gratifying enough. Instead, give yourself a goal of what you are going to do with your hard-earned money or a bit of extra time.

For the Sidelined Writer in You

If, perhaps, none of the above applies to you, then this most likely will. This section is dedicated to the hobby writer. Yes, you love to write, but it is not how you make your living. It is not even how you supplement your income. Instead, it is how you relax and how you express yourself. Or, it could be something you "use to do" and wish you could find time to do again.

A hobby writer is anyone who keeps a daily journal to anyone who wishes to write a book one day. Whatever your dream, you can find the time to make it happen. Creativity releases all of the stress and pressure of your daily life. With a busy schedule, find time to write by waking up an hour earlier or staying up an hour later. Or, you could make time to write instead of watching T.V. or going out with friends. Consider this "me time" and never feel guilty for using it.

You deserve this time to yourself and only time will tell what wonderful masterpieces you will create. Finding time to write is really not that hard. All you have to learn to do is to say no to other things. By making time, you are making your writing a priority and you will always be able to find time for the things that take priority in your life.