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Time management for authors. When the lack of time is holding you back from finishing your novel try these techniques.
“I don’t have enough time” is one of the top reasons why authors don’t finish their books.
Most people are busy with their jobs, family, and other commitments, so they don’t have time to write.
Your time is precious. I get that. So is mine.
While technically, you can’t create time (wouldn’t that be awesome), you can set aside a few minutes for your dream, right?
You could think of writing as part of your self-care regimen. We all need time to be creative, so giving yourself permission to take care of your creative side is essential.
There are a few options for this lack-of-time problem.
1. Make time for your writing.
You probably think this advice is ridiculous but hear me out.
a. Get up earlier or go to bed later.
It doesn’t have to be an hour. It can be 15 minutes. You don’t have to write pages and pages. You just need to start the pattern so it becomes a regular part of your day.
b. Write on your days off.
There’s nothing wrong with not writing every day.
Using part of your days that you are not at work can be a great way to further your book’s progress.
On your days off, write for an hour or two. More if you can, but an hour is a great start if you aren’t writing 15 minutes every day.
c. Use your lunch break
For those of you who eat lunch, you can write while eating. Granted, you need your hands to eat, but you can still make some progress in 15 minutes.
I know you probably have other plans when you’re not at work. Sleep deprivation is a problem, and FOMO is a real thing, but if you want your dream of writing and/or publishing a book, you need to write.
So, try setting aside a specific time for you to sit down and write.
2. Write anywhere.
You don’t have to be sitting at your computer to make progress on your novel.
You can write anywhere.
a. Use your phone
b. Use a notepad
c. Record your story vocally.
3. Join a writers’ group or a writing-sprint group.
a. Writers’ groups help you stay on track and are great for getting advice from other authors.
These groups probably only meet once a month, so they won’t take too much of your precious time.
b. Writing-sprint groups, like Fallon Clark’s The Novel Nest, help you stay on track as well as you have a dedicated time in your busy schedule for a writing session. She offers time in her sessions for feedback as well.
4. Leave shit blank
Don’t waste your time trying to get the perfect sentence or figuring out all the little details, or even some of the big ones. Leaving some elements out and just getting on with the rest of the story is better than being stuck and not writing at all.
Leave place holders for things that get you stuck or are less important to the scene.
Examples:
[Add scene with character A and character B argue about whose turn it was to do the dishes.]
[Character B’s witty remark]
In order for these suggestions to work, you have to set boundaries for yourself and others.
During your writing time:
Don’t work on things other than your novel. I know there are a lot of other things you must do as an author but stick to the time you set aside for writing for exactly that.
Don’t check email or scroll social.
Don’t let people distract or disrupt you. If they do, gently remind them you are writing and let them know you will deal with or listen to whatever after you are done.
If none of these are options to you or you’ve tried all of them and haven’t been able to stick to the plan, then an extra set of hands might be the best option for you.
There are a lot of ghostwriters out there who would love to work on your novel.
Imagine all the time you would save if you hired an extra set of hands!
I wish you all the best on your writing journey.
Happy writing and revising!
Kristin
Speculative and Crime Fiction Ghostwriter and Editor
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