No Time to Write?

All writers struggle with this old dilemma: finding the time to actually sit down, gather thoughts and write. That could be a thing of the past with these ten easy steps to finding more time in your day for writing.

1. Create Sacred Space
This is one that all writers know but a lot of aspiring writers have a hard time doing. Maybe it's a lack of space? Perhaps there's no empty room to spare? Whatever the reason find a place of your own to write. Designate a corner of your home, a room or part of a room that no one uses as your place to write. Use this space as your writing place: the part of your writing world that only you touch. Think of it as sacred space because that's what you're creating when you write stories, poems, news articles or whatever it is that you write.

2. Remove The Clutter
It's very difficult to write when your space is cluttered! So clear out all the unnecessary things you don't need and keep what you do need. My desk has a bookshelf attached to the front so I keep my research books, a good dictionary, a few good books on grammar and a few writing books and that's it besides my computer.

3. Get Serious
It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day routines of life, and to lose sight of dreams and goals. When those times come, it may make it easier to weather those rough times if you think about why you wanted to become a writer in the first place. Keeping
those thoughts firmly planted, write them down if you need to, will help you to make the time to write.

4. Just A Few Minutes
You have your space for writing, but other obligations keep you from writing: kids, spouses, day jobs and the list goes on. One thing to think about is how much time can you devote to writing? Start out with just a few minutes if necessary preferably at the same time each day. When that time comes don't let other duties keep you from doing what your heart compels you to do and that is write!

5. Lose Some Sleep
This is one tip that, when applied, is very useful, but seldom achieved except by the very determined because not many want to lose sleep time when most of us get very little. But going to bed just one hour later or getting up one hour earlier can combat a whole host of problems: kids and spouse are still sleeping, job demands haven't started yet, thinking can be clearer just to name a few of the benefits of getting up earlier.

6. Always Carry A Notebook
The benefits of always carrying a notebook with you are that you never know where story ideas will pop up! They also come in useful when you're caught (gasp!) in that three-hour traffic jam, waiting in the doctor's office and the list goes on. It's also interesting to see what you've come up with after you get back to your space and start looking what you've written. You might discover you've written some pretty good stuff or at least jotted down some really awesome ideas to use later.

7. Use Break Time Wisely At Work
This is a good time to use your ever-present notebook and write down ideas, work on a story on your breaks at work. This might not seem like a lot of time, but it's surprising how much can be done in a little amount of time.

8. Days Off
If you find yourself with a day off and the kids are at school, spouse is at work, and you're home alone this is a great way to put some of those household tasks on hold and run (not walk) to your space and write! It may even be possible that you can write longer on those days.

9. Set Deadlines For Yourself
Setting deadlines helps to keep you on track. Set a goal of so many words a day or give yourself a time limit on how long to write. Either way, by practicing setting deadlines, you'll find it's easier to make the time to write; and the pride you'll feel as you finish each session will give you the drive to find more time to write.

10. Never Give Up
If you're serious about being a writer, then do one thing for you and your craft: never give up. No matter what happens keep writing!