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Stop the Clock! Ten Tips for Time-Starved Writers

Wed, 2012-10-17 14:28 -- Jocelyn Green

by Jocelyn Green I should have known better. But when the local reporter came to interview me about my newly released novel, Wedded to War, I told her that my kids, ages 3 and 6, would be home with us, but that they “knew how to stay quiet.” Can you guess how that interview went? Let’s just say that by the end of it, the reporter shifted her line of questioning from the Civil War inspiration to: “This is your fifth book since I was here last time. How do you write with two little kids running around?” Great question! I’m practically starved for writing time most of the year, and if you have a family or a job or some desire to do anything other than write, I know you can relate. I do have one writer friend who, when a book deadline approaches, packs up and heads to her cabin in the mountains for weeks at a time to just get ‘er done. How nice for her. But since we can’t all have the cabins of our dreams, and the time to use them, what’s a writer to do? The only answer is to maximize the time that we do have. Here are ten tips I’ve picked up over the past several years.

1) Write without editing yourself. (Yet.) I was an editor before I wrote any books. But when I let my editor’s brain take over my writer’s brain, I played a mental tug-of-war on the page, rewriting a scene (or even—dare I say it?—a single paragraph) several times and not making any actual progress on the word count in a given day. Since then I learned that we write with one side of our brain, and we edit with the other side. So don’t try to do both at once. Just write the thing first. You can edit later. In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott says:

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something—anything—down on paper. A friend of mine says that the first draft is the down draft—you just get it down. The second draft is the up draft—you fix it up. You try to say what you have to say more accurately. And the third draft is the dental draft, where you check every tooth, to see if it’s loose or cramped or decayed, or even, God help us, healthy.”

I have gone through more than three drafts, I’m sure, but that’s beside the point. The point is—get it down. Editing slows the process in the initial stage. 2) Don’t do the laundry. At least, not during your writing time. Writing from home, it’s so tempting to “just throw in one load.” But if you put a load in the washer, you’ll probably want to put it into the dryer. And if you put it in the dryer, chances are, you’ll want to fold the clothes before they wrinkle. The interruptions pile up faster than the laundry. The same concept goes for washing the dishes, dusting, etc. It might seem like just a few quick minutes to straighten up, but if it’s taking away from your writing time—and more importantly, from your focus—it’s not allowed. I read somewhere that after every interruption, it takes about 20 minutes to get fully back into the groove of your previous momentum. I can’t cite this source, and I’m not sure how they did this study, but it feels true enough, or close enough to the truth, for me to ruthlessly squelch the urge to do just a tiny chore during writing time. 3) Set goals. And make them just beyond what you think you can achieve. Whether you try to hit a word count or write a certain number of scenes per day, aim for something. If you’re at a loss in this area, the book 90 Days to Your Novel spells out all the daily goals for you. You can adjust the timeframe as you see fit. 4) Write “as the bullets fly.” I’m stealing this phrase from Pamela Redmond Satran in a recent article she wrote in a recent issue of Writer’s Digest. She shares how after she had a baby, she waited until the quiet moments of nap time or after bedtime to write, but it was never enough. Then, she had an epiphany. She says:

“Forget about waiting for the quiet moment alone in the pristine room: I was never going to get that again, at least not for a long time. And so rather than stealing writing time in my office, I moved my laptop to the living room. Instead of writing late at night or early in the morning before my child woke up, I started doing it while she was right there. I wrote while I watched the 802nd viewing of Cinderella. . . ”

And the pages added up. This is something I am learning to do right now. My “office” (aka laptop) now travels with me to the playroom, the family room, and the backyard. I use www.logmein.com to access the files and email on my desktop computer. 5) Be anti-social. When you’re up against a deadline, shut down your email, turn off Facebook, Twitter, etc. One writer I know deactivates her Facebook profile when she’s writing, and reactivates it once she’s done. If you really can’t go totally dark, tell yourself you will only do social media during one (or two) designated small slots of time a day. Being anti-social in real life helps, too. For weeks or months, I just have to say no to most of my social life. Pampered Chef party? I'll order online. Girls Night Out? I'm eating at my desk in my writing pants. Fantastic movie playing? I'll see it on Netflix later. (You get the idea.) One important exception-I make a point of deliberate one-on-one time with my husband, and of course some quality time with the kids. I can make all kinds of sacrifices in the name of deadline, but I do draw the line somewhere. 6) Write when you’re fresh. If you do your best writing in the morning, don’t whittle away that time responding to emails. Write first. The emails can usually wait. I used to tell myself I could write in the evenings, but I’m so exhausted by the end of the day, one hour in the morning is worth three hours at night! 7) Get up earlier. Hey, I’m not a morning person either, but I found that by getting up at 5am instead of when my kids get up at 7, I can double the amount of writing time I usually get in a day. Amazing! 8 ) Skip writer’s block. If you have trouble writing a certain scene, skip it and move on to something else you can get into. You can always go back to that trouble spot later and fill it in. Just keep writing. 9) Create time. What can you delegate to others to free up more writing time for yourself? Would it be worth it to have a maid service come in so you can use that time to write? Child care is always a dilemma when they are young. I hired a babysitter (make that seven babysitters—long story) last summer. This summer I am bribing them. If they are good in the morning, we go bowling or to the water park in the afternoon. I’m also trying to write as the bullets fly! If they are too young for this to work, you might want to find another mom and swap kids a couple times a week. The other relentless time-consuming issue is meal preparation. I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen before and after we eat dinner, but I also don’t want to resort to fast food or take-out. So I make meals ahead of time and stock the freezer with them. Check out the book Don’t Panic! Dinner’s In the Freezer for plenty of recipes. When I run out of my own freezer meals, I'm not above Stauffers, Marie Calendar, etc. 10) Pray. This is the easiest thing to do, and so important. Before your fingers touch the keyboard, pray. Pray that God will give you focus, clarity, creativity, whatever it is you most need on that day. And ask others to join you! Many writers, myself included, have a prayer team supporting them throughout their writing project. Or just ask a few trusted friends for prayer on a more spontaneous basis. I cannot even count the number of times I have asked friends to pray, and then within days (sometimes within hours) that specific request was answered above and beyond my expectations and hopes. Stories are powerful. Jesus used them (parables) to communicate profound truths. Why not pray that God will help us tell the story He wants us to tell, the way He wants us to tell it, and that He would help us do it before our deadline? If he could feed the five thousand from two loaves of bread and five fish, He can help us make the most of our writing time. How do YOU make the most of your writing time?

Comments

Wonderful inspiration! Thank you. I've wanted to call a cleaning lady, but when I'm vacuuming I seem to get my best writing done. Love Anne Lamott's book, btw. May God give you time to prioritize and enjoy the gift of marrige, children, and writing! Elaine W. Miller www.SplashesofSerenity.com

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Thanks Elaine! I love that you get your best writing done while vacuuming. :) I plant post-it note pads all over the house for that very reason. Most often used in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Writing is not something we can just turn off, even when we want to, is it? :) Thanks for stopping by.

Wow, this list is fantastic. Perfect line-up, and though I had some in mind as I read, you covered them. :) I love seeing 5 books out with little ones at home. I too have two little ones (currently 3-1/2 and 1-1/2) so my writing time is precious as well. I'm exhausted too at the end of the day, so forget writing. Instead, I go to bed early and get up early (at least I'm trying!) so I can take advantage of early hours and greater productivity. Thanks for this. I'm saving it for reference when I get distracted.

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Tiffany, you're an inspiration to me, too! You have done SO much already, and with kids at such tender ages (aka very time-consuming, however precious!). I applaud your discipline. I'm convinced that is the difference between otherwise equal writers-those who put in the time and sweat and work to get better and get published and keep getting better and keep getting published- and those who write when it's convenient. I am certainly not the most talented writer in the world, but I do know how to work hard, and clearly, so do you. Thanks for dropping by!

Submitted by Pattie on
Slacker that I am, I need to follow these :)

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
LOL, I can't imagine you being a slacker, Pattie.

STOP WATCHING TV!!! No, really. I have so many friends that tell me, "You HAVE to watch such-and-such or so-and-so TV show". {sigh} I can't. It sucks up too much of my time. SAY NO! This one is so hard. And, in fact, I'm about to say "no" to a few things in order to have more time to write in the midst of the insanity which is my home. Thanks for this post, Jocelyn! And thanks also for the email. I'll respond when I get a little break from writing this story...

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Aha! That's funny. Nobody really tells me I have to watch certain TV shows anymore--but you're right, that's time you can't get back. As for saying "no" to things- I'm sure it's the right call! We all could use more margin in our lives, and in order for that to happen, we have to carve out some space that isn't jam-packed with activity or commitment of some kind. So three cheers for you, Susie! Just say no! :)

TV, what's that? Oh that big black thing that needs dusted in my living room. Dusting...that's another thing I just say no to. Unless my Mom is visiting! :)

Submitted by Debbie Lynne Co... on
Hey Jocelyn! Love your tips. I'm a morning person but for writing I find I can't do it when I get up. I have to do certain things before my mind will settle to allow me to write. I do my prayer time, walk on my treadmill, shower, go down to check on MIL, and pick up around the house. I check emails and then can usually settle into a writing day. So not really any tips, LOL! But a great article! Thanks.

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Debbie Lynne, I can relate to the "settling in" thing, too. It sounds like you have a very good routine that works for you, so that's great! I would love to get a treadmill or elliptical machine or something in the next year, too. I hear exercise is great for creativity. LOL I suppose I could pop in my Pilates DVD at the very least. :) I hit a real low point when last year my daughter asked to do Pilates and I sat on the couch and watched her try it-but didn't join in. LOL In my own defense, I predicted it would last all of ten minutes, and I was right. Still... I need to exercise more.

Great advice. I needed it. Very 'timely.'

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Peter, I'm so glad you stopped by! What a treat! I read the article about you in the recent ACFW Journal-congrats on the success of Gideon's Call! Your Web site is beautiful, too, by the way. Or should I say handsome. I can't wait to read your novel. I did some research on the Port Royal Experiment for a nonfiction book as well as for a subplot I intended to use in my novel Widow of Gettysburg (releasing in April) and I am sure your book is fascinating. Congrats again, and best wishes on your writing!

Be strategic. Plan errands, housework, appointments all in segments of like things during blocks of time. Then you're not hen-pecked by "stuff" that needs to get done all over the clock and calendar. For instance, I don't make appointments on days off. I make them prior to another appointment, before or after work. I pick up medicine on the way home from work. If I have to wait, I do emails while waiting in line. I set annual appointments for doc, dentist, etc. on the same day and take my iPhone with me for the waiting areas. I do laundry, dishes, and house cleaning on my one hour breaks from writing or editing. I take a break every hour to make my body move. I do one thing for 10 min. And nope, I rarely fold clothes, lol. (See my husband nodding.) I trained my kids to pick out their own clothes from the massive laundry pile. Those that are left belong to me, hubby, or the towels. Like everyone, I have a lot more I can do to perfect my strategy, but these ideas help me not be so overwhelmed with stress over either house or writing. Moving gives me exercise as well as allows blood to flow to my brain. Sometimes it's sitting in the chair too long that causes the blank page. Great tips, Jocelyn, thanks. Angie

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Great tips, Angie! When I lived in Homer, Alaska, five hours from the nearest Wal-mart, it was a lot easier to remember to clump the errands together. Kind of didn't have a choice about it. Also like the fact that you get up every hour to move. I do something similar, but not as planned out- I drink a LOT (water, coffee, tea) so every time I have to use the bathroom, I do a few minutes of stretching/exercising. ha ha Still not like a good workout, but it helps. Thanks for stopping by!

You are so right about enlisting prayer. I can't tell you how many times I've seen miraculous and fast answers when I have others praying for me, including for clarity and distraction-free writing time. Very helpful post. And yes, I write "as the bullets fly" regularly. I often joke that if Tolstoy had to write in a room full of monkeys, War and Peace would have been very different. :D

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Yep, prayer works. It's amazing how fast it can work, too! And as for the bullets flying, I am getting much better at it. I wrote Widow of Gettysburg to the tunes of The Wiggles, Sesame Street, Tangled, Cars, Backyardigans... we'll see if you can tell when you read it! Ha!

I don't function in the mornings. Seriously. I don't function! My brain doesn't work, things are too hard. All these people who go around saying you can get your best writing time early in the mornings have obviously never met anyone like me. But that happens with me a lot. My peak time for writing is late afternoon/evening. Or as Sheldon Cooper puts it, prevening. I also have to stop writing around 8, or my brain won't shut down enough to go to sleep. Lucky for me, all but one of my shows come on at 8, so I have a built in timer during the fall and spring. I never miss Criminal Minds, Big Bang Theory, Doctor Who, Walking Dead and Copper. I'm about to add Once Upon A Time to that, but I don't write late on Sundays anyway. Before anyone flips out because that's so many, Copper only has one episode left this season and Doctor Who won't be back till Christmas. Walking Dead is a must-watch because my family's all about the zombie apocalypse, and because the writing is AMAZING. Oh my gosh, the characterization is off the charts incredible. Steven Moffat of Doctor Who makes me jealous with his creative genius. These two shows in particular fuel my creativity in ways a lot of people don't understand. Moffat is one the best character layerers who ever lived, IMO. I almost qualify for a bachelor's degree from the School of Moffat Characterization. Sometimes I'll get up to do the dishes when I'm stuck because most of the time it'll get me unstuck. Or I'll go watch an episode of Doctor Who on Netflix, and again, get myself unstuck. I also write via Google Talk with my CP and that's immensely helpful for getting unstuck. Won't work for everyone, but it works for us and we have a blast doing it.

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Rachel, you're so funny. I totally get it about the morning thing. The important thing is to work in whatever hours work for you. I heard Ann Voskamp say in an interview that she would do her writing from 9pm - 1 am on a regular basis. So I thought I could pysch myself up and do that, too. I couldn't. Then I heard about a youth pastor's wife who got up at 3am to write for a few hours before the day started. I didn't even have to try that to know there would just be no WAY I could do that. To each his/her own. I have also picked up a few things from watching TV shows that turned on light bulbs for whatever I was writing at the time, whether it was characterization or something else. I will also readily admit that after putting in several hours of research on the gory aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg, I had to watch a light-hearted something on Netflix before bed so I wouldn't have nightmares from the research. I used to do research and writing right up until the time I went to bed, but then, as you mentioned, I couldn't fall asleep for what seemed like hours after turning out the light. Couldn't turn off the brain. So now I do have a bedtime routine to help pull me out of my WIP and back into my own life. :) Thanks for stopping by, Rachel!

Thanks for this great post!! Even as a single person it can be very difficult to carve out quality time for writing. There's always something crying for our attention! I especially love what you said about not doing chores while writing. This is my biggest trap - the "it will just take a minute" that ends up sucking up much more. I find myself getting inspired while I drive 30-35 minutes to/from work. Now that 's a challenge to get thoughts down while driving! Thanks again for the encouragement! Paula Davis www.pauladavispeace.com

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Paula, absolutely, if it isn't kids vying for your attention, of course it's something else. I get inspired during inconvenient moments, too. It's one thing to have paper around the house or in one's purse, but while driving--I suppose I could carry a small tape recorder with me. I do have one from my journalism days. I don't have a smart phone or iphone, but if I did, I bet there would be some recording device on that too I could use. Well, happy inspiration, and drive safely! :)

Lately, I have made sure to have my quiet time to start the day. I used to set it aside for writing time since the house was still quiet. But, God has blessed me so much by keeping my time with Him, and later in the day I can always count on carving out time to write! Something else I do, is take my laptop with me to pick the kids up for school...I sit at least 10-20 mins in park in the school pick up line...can get a scene in during that time!

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Angie, that's a great policy, and one I've adopted as well. It's a matter of trust- do I trust that if I give God the first portion of my solitude, that I'll still be able to meet my goal for the day? He gives time in other ways. And even if I don't meet my goal on a given day, my attitude will be better. :) Thanks for stopping by!

These are some great tips! Not being under contract probably has a lot to do with my long delays between writing sessions. It amazes me every time I sit down to write and I see the time stamp of the last time I saved the document. November will be different!

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Great, Patrick! Set some reasonable goals, and then when you meet them, celebrate!

These are fantastic tips! The other thing I've found useful is to keep a notebook with me at all times. I end up scratching out thoughts, phrases, and lines of thought throughout the day. Then when I do have time to sit down, I'm ready to go! Much of the hard thinking work is already done!

Submitted by Lisa on
Thanks for the fantastic tips. I'm guilty of breaking several of these, so hopefully I can add to my writing time!

Submitted by Jocelyn on
Ah, yes! I love Joanne and her work! Thanks Brooke for your interest!

Submitted by Brooke Miller on
You don't know me, Jocelyn, but I am a newbie who has just begun to dip my toes into the wonderful world of writing. It is through a couple of mutual writer friends I have learned about you and your work. This article- SPOT ON! You hit me right where I live as I am a stay at home mom with three little ones, ages 6, 4, and 2. While reading your tips, I felt like you were walking in my shoes; you addressed all the issues I am facing and offered invaluable tips on how to push through despite the lack of time, quiet, and creativity. So for that, I wholeheartedly thank you. I cannot wait to see how your suggestions carry me to the next level. :)

Submitted by Jocelyn on
Hello Brooke, and welcome to the wild and wonderful world of writing! I think I've seen you on Facebook--friend of Meghan Gorecki's? :) Writing with kids ages 6, 4, and 2--wow, I wish I could just hug you. Little by little, it can be done! Blessings to you!

Submitted by Brooke Miller on
Thank you, Jocelyn. And Yes! Meghan and I have recently become critique partners. I'm also a friend/fan of Joanne Bischof and look forward to diving into some of your books in the near future. ?

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