How to Protect Time for Writing

Download the Protecting Time to Write Excel Table Here

Have you ever started a year with good intentions for writing, set up a routine, and then just stopped? Many of us have been there at some point!

It can be hard to set up and stick to a new routine, especially if your mind craves novelty and switching things up every so often. And even if you don't crave novelty, all it takes is for something else to get in the way and the best made plans come crashing down.

So don’t be harsh on yourself if a routine breaks down – I recommend viewing writing routines as a series of experiments you play with yourself. Some will stick, others won’t, and that’s OK. And it’s fine and sometimes important to take a break from your writing.

Protecting time for writing

If you’re not earning $$$ from your writing (and most authors, including those with a published book or two) aren’t, then it can be especially hard to protect time for writing. Because writing is so creative and loosely structured, and especially if you’re writing something long like a novel where any rewards won’t arrive for a while, it can be tricky to value that work enough to spend time on it, and prioritize it in your schedule alongside any work, family, care commitments, social hobbies, etc.

So if you have a writing sprint of November WriMo planned, what I recommend you do is to take a hard look at your schedule and look at what times you have left for writing once you’ve blocked out all your other obligations. One way to do that is using the attached spreadsheet, but go ahead and find whatever way works for you.

If you’re using the spreadsheet method:

1. Start by blocking out all the time you definitely cannot write in: when you’re asleep, at work, etc.

2. Take a cold hard look at what’s left. We’re interested here in regular patterns, so don’t cross a block off if you have a meeting with a friend booked in your calendar, but if there’s a yoga class you get to almost every week, block it off.

3. Make a note of what times are left and when you could write

One common pitfall is to assume half an hour isn’t long enough. But you can get quite a few words down in half an hour, so consider giving it a go.

That said, use your intuition. Lean in to what has worked well in the past, but don’t let old habits die hard. Maybe writing first thing in the morning worked for you a few years ago, but you could learn to write for an hour in the early evening now.

And voila! If you’ve signed up for coaching or a writing challenge, then take a note of the times you’ve blocked off and try to stick to them.

If you found this useful and want to book a book breakthrough hour with me, read more here.