Reader Question – How do I fit in writing?

I hope this finds you well! I can hardly believe January has come to an end, this first month of the year just flew by!
Before we get started, I’d love for you to send me a quick email and tell me how you discovered me and my work.
I got the following question from a reader:
I work full-time. I’m married with four children (ages 15, 11, 8, and 3), and my wife also has a busy career. I was inspired to write a book by your book, You Must Write a Book, but I’m having a hard time figuring out how to get started. Also, I have no idea how I’ll find the time to actually get it written. Any suggestions? –Walter, St. Louis, MO.
I can relate, Walter! With eleventy-billion items (give or take) on our to-do lists, it’s amazing we have time to fit in writing at all. Yet I’m sure you can agree that when you’re committed to something, you find time to get it done. Being inspired isn’t enough, you do have to set yourself up to win! Otherwise, you’ll find yourself really wanting to write a book, instead of holding one in your hot little hands!
Following are the Chapter One exercises from The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day (my book with Brian Meeks),  along with tips from members of The Prosperous Writers Mastermind group on Facebook:
1. Commit to writing 15 minutes a day over the course of 100 days. Identify your day one (and then ask Siri what the date is 100 days from then). Example: If day one is February 16, day 100 is May 26 (in a leap year).
2. Identify your work in progress (WIP). Remember it’s a work in progress, not a work in perfection. Your goal is to make progress daily over the course of 100 days.
3. Adopt the belief that you write whenever you sit down to do so. Reinforce that, and any other positive belief you need, by reading other encouraging books, listening to podcasts that share the stories of other successful writers, and joining a community of like-minded writers (we suggest the Prosperity for Writers Mastermind on Facebook).
4. Write these two sayings on 3X5 cards and post them where you’ll see them when you need them the most:
Do something today your future self will thank you for!
Don’t give up what you want for what you want right now!


Here are tips from how my fellow writers fit in their writing:
Cindy Howdyshell writes: Before the day starts! 15 minutes every morning! too loud in the evenings. but I’m usually editing in the evenings…
Carolyn Dean said, I make it a priority, and start at 5 a.m.
Chris Hunter shared, I jot down or binge write a few pages.
Elizabeth Badame Viggiano shared her busy mom tip: I’m home with 2 kiddos (4 and baby), so I created a cyclical routine that includes 30 mins of “alone” time in each rotation. If our day is going poorly and I don’t make my work count goal, daddy takes over after dinner until I do.
Tony Jacobsen said,  I write on every device whenever possible (MacBook, iPhone, iPad). I also handwrite on my Bullet Journal and on any scrap of paper that has space. However, my most creative and productive time is at 5 a.m. I make coffee and write on my MacBook. I started this schedule last July and finished my first draft at the beginning of January.

As you can see, with commitment and a little bit of creativity, you can get that book written! I’d love to know: how are you fitting in your writing –or– what is the biggest challenge I can help you overcome when it comes to getting your book written?
Until next time, happy writing!

 

***RESOURCES***

~One way to write your book is by using dictation (one of my favorite strategies by far!). Here is a whole episode on one of my favorite podcasts sharing the how-tos as well as the best equipment to use.
~ Do you make any of these 11 Common Grammar Mistakes?
~Need a way to easily share your ebooks? Try my personal favorite! BookFunnel.com! (I have no affiliation, I’m just a super fan.)

 

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