6 ways to get more out of your writing time
If you’ve only got a short time available for your writing each day, you’re not alone. Many writers have to fit their writing into any time they can find, on top of lives that are already busy and varied. It’s not unusual, and clearly it can work, but it does mean that you need to make the most of the writing time you have. Here are 6 ways to get more out of your writing time.
Set a timer
If you’ve only got, say, twenty minutes free to write in, set yourself a timer to go off at the end of the session. Not only will you want to meet your targets before the bell rings, but it also means you won’t have to worry about keeping an eye on the clock and can give your writing your full attention.
Get rid of all distractions
It can also help to get rid of any and all distractions that might prevent you from focusing properly on your writing. Get rid of that annoying ticking clock that always forces you to listen to it, turn off the radio so you don’t end up singing along to songs instead of writing, and disable the internet (or otherwise remove your own personal distractions, whatever they may be).
Make it open ended
This isn’t always an option when you’re dashing from one thing until the next, but having an open ended writing session can be very helpful. It means you don’t have to worry if the words don’t come straight away, but once you do get on a roll, you’ll be able to keep on going without worrying what’s coming next. Of course, you might find yourself still scribbling away at two in the morning, but your progress will be great.
Have clear goals
If you know what you want to achieve in each writing session – write that scene, sort out that odd bit of plot, edit that chapter – it will give you a focus and help you get down to business in whatever limited time you have available. Well, hopefully!
Learn to write anywhere
This is in contrast to the point above about getting rid of distractions, but it’s important to acknowledge that as lovely as it would be to always be able to write in perfect conditions, the likelihood of that happening isn’t great. Being able to write anywhere – in noisy cafes while you’re waiting for a friend, on the sofa while you’re watching CBeebies with the kids for the millionth time – might not be ideal, but eventually, you should start to see some progress.
Be confident in your abilities
Finally, if you’re confident in your writing skills, you should be able to get more out of your writing time. If you have confidence in your writing, you’ll have less to worry about; you won’t be second guessing yourself quite as much and can instead get on with business.
How do you get the most out of your writing time?
