Finding time to write is not easy but it can be done. Here are my top ten tips for aspiring authors on how to find their writing superpowers, and get that book written.
Time To Die
Stop making excuses. That inner voice telling you that you're too busy, too stressed, or too tired to write is resistance. I'm a mum of four, I get up at 5.30 am every morning and commute for two hours a day, to my full time job as a police officer. If I can find time to write two books a year, then you can find an hour a day to write.
Stop talking about writing, just sit your bum down and do it. A friend of mine (who is a gym fanatic) told me they wanted to write a novel. A couple of weeks later I caught up with them and asked how many chapters they had written. 'Oh I haven't written anything,' they said, 'I'm just reading about the process.' I nodded thoughtfully and told them I had joined a gym. When they asked me which one, I said 'I've not been yet. I'm just reading up on how to get fit first.' Yes, I am a sarcastic friend. But I think they got the message!
Beeps, pings, and background TV. In the technological age, it's almost impossible to get peace and quiet. Our phone ping, our microwaves bing, and our social media notifications constantly interrupt our day. My advice? TURN IT ALL OFF. Failing that, invest in a set of good quality headphones. I love nothing better than listening to eerie music while I write.
Be the author you aspire to be. It will be difficult at first and your writing may not be up to the standard. When you feel this frustration, this is the time to really push on. So many people give up at this point. Your brain is getting used to your new flow and creating new synapses to help you. Be confident in your abilities; don't allow self-doubts to slow you down.
Make time, not excuses. You may begin to get creative and make up excuses you haven't heard before. Fear breeds procrastination. Just do it. Your mind is a powerful tool, make it work for you.
Become time creative. Write during your lunch break. Carry a note pad and become observant. It's amazing what pops into your head when you take note of the world.
Challenge yourself. Set yourself a daily goal. Get a wall planner and mark a big red X each day you write 1,000 or 3,000 words, what ever you can handle. Read, read, and read some more. It will inspire you to do better. Listen to audio books while commuting to work or walking the dog.
Prioritise. Life is all about priorities. Time the boring stuff. Set aside your days off to get the housework done in record time then use your precious free time to write.
Create your own space. Explain to your family how much it means to you. I have a writing room, but I often write on the train, or in my lunch hour. My MacBook Air goes everywhere with me. If you don't have a laptop, a pen and paper will work just fine.
Get into the zone. Don't self edit as you write, there'll be plenty of time for editing later. Enjoy being in the creative zone and silence that inner critic. Just enjoy free flow writing until you find your 'voice' and decide what genre you connect with. Before long, the words will be flying off the page, and you'll wonder what you ever worried about.