Finding Time to Write

Anyone else dying to find a way to freeze time so we can put our lives on hold and just write? I consider myself lucky because I'm a full-time writer and mom. I have more time to devote to writing than people who have 9-5 jobs. Still, with a four-year-old running around the house, I'm busy. So the question remains, how do we find time to write?

I put myself on a schedule. My day starts at 6am. I work on social media during breakfast. I know what you're thinking. That's family time. Well, my daughter doesn't watch a lot of TV but she does watch PBS shows during breakfast. Okay get ready to brace yourselves again. We eat at the coffee table. I know, I know. But this way my daughter can eat and I can be on my laptop. Luckily I'm good at multitasking, so I can have conversations with her while answering emails, tweeting, and visiting blogs.

I leave my computer on all day and when I have a minute--like when my daughter is in the bathroom or she's getting herself dressed (she's very independent and grown up for four) I'll jot down story ideas or visit another blog or two. After lunch is nap time. That's my set writing time. Now with my husband home for the summer, I have him trained to nap at the same time as my daughter so I can get uninterrupted writing time. Yes, I force my husband to nap. He doesn't mind all that much.

Then I'm off the computer (though it's still on for those quick moments when I can pop on to read an email) until after 8pm when my daughter goes to bed. I'll multitask from about 8-10, doing stuff on the computer, whether writing, blogging, etc., and watching TV with my husband. And that's how I find time to write everyday. When I used to teach, I'd carry a notebook everywhere and steal writing time during period changes, free periods, and even while my students took quizzes and tests.

How do you do it? What's your writing schedule like?