How To Find Time To Write

It’s 3.55pm. On Thursday. August 16, 2018.

What I just described here is the current time and day as I’m typing this. This guide, that I’m writing as you’re reading it, is technically due at 6 PM to my team for editing. 

Yeah, I’m cutting it pretty close to the deadline. But don’t worry about me, this is all part of the plan.

The guides are actually a lot of fun to write, and I’m always on time, no matter when I start. Sometimes I start a guide weeks before, and only put in the finishing touches on the day of publishing (Thursdays, but you know that already). Sometimes, I know exactly what I want to say, so I don’t start it until I know I can give it the proper flow, which means I need to be able to set aside about 2 hours plus of writing time. No exceptions.

See, writing is not an art form. It is a medium through which we express ourselves, which sometimes turns out to be art.

So if you’ve ever heard someone say ‘I’m having a writer’s block’ or ‘I just don’t have the time to write’, they are basically calling what they haven’t even done yet art.

So let’s get that thing straight, again - words are not art. But art can come out of words.

So until you actually sit down to write something, until you actually find the time to put one word after another, you’re not an ‘artist’. So stop with the self-criticism and self-editing before you even get started.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about what this guide is really about: how to find the time to write?

I’m going to tell you how I do it, and how I wish I could do it, and how I know other people have figured out how to do it.

So, how do I do it?

Wait, quick time check: It’s 4.05pm. Yup, I’m fast. Which is why I’m also going to show you how to be fast and efficient.

Let me paint you a picture. Here’s my typical day.

I wake up at 9 AM. I maybe work out (maybe). I get to the office around 10:30 AM. I leave anywhere between 8 to 10 PM. Then I go home, eat and either watch TV, read or write. Then I sleep by 2 or 3 AM. I repeat this cycle for 6 days a week usually. Unless I’m traveling to do workshops or events, which means I’m only going to have more work to put into the 17 or 18 hours of awake-ness I have during a day.

Here’s the problem (besides all the other one's I might have): writing something for yourself after a full work day is tough. Why? Because you don’t have much energy. And I also suffer from this guilt of ‘writing’ when I should be ‘working’. Even though technically writing is part of my job. You see the conundrum I put myself through daily?

Anyway, the point is, I don’t give myself much time to write. By choice. Because when I write, I need to be in the right mood and have good enough time. All of these self-created restrictions limit me to writing on weekends or trips only.

Again, this is by choice.

Also, I’m not even good at this! The last story I published (not counting the one I wrote for my Mom on Mother’s Day) was in April. Which was 5 months ago. Clearly, my system is not great.

But, I will tell you that all of this is by design. I actually started writing the story I’m working on right now on May 2, which was 3 days after the last story ‘Dismantle With Care’ was published. And I haven’t actually taken any breaks from writing at all this whole time. I probably write something or the other every day - either for Launchora, or for myself.

My point is, don’t judge yourself by ‘finished’ stories or content. Works-in-progress and small pieces of writing - which one day will come together to form bigger stories - are all victories of writing. So don’t be too hard on yourself and definitely don’t put too much pressure to deliver a full well-thought out story every day.

So, now let’s talk about the actual ways in which you can find time to write. I’ve divided these ideas / techniques by mood / systems. I’ll explain why and how in each section. There are 4 sections, all of which combined will fill up your intellectual and emotional clocks.

Remember: It’s not about how much time you have, it’s how you use it.

Btw, time check: 4.35pm. I actually took a quick break in the middle to work on something else. #efficiencyFTW

Write With Chaos

I’m starting with this one because it’s the easiest thing to embrace - write whenever and wherever you are, as soon as the idea comes to you. And in some cases, find the idea. You’re in the subway and the phone signal isn’t working? Take that pencil and notebook out and write about what you’re feeling. What you’re seeing. Do the same when you’re in a cab. Do the same when you’re waiting at the restuarant for a friend. Write like you’re an anarchist who doesn’t care about anything but the words. Be free. Don’t limit yourself, at all.

When to do this: Ideally, in all the free minutes you can find during the day.

How long should this take: 1 to 15 minutes.

Write With Order

Alright, you've had your anarchic fun. You've put out several quotes and micro tales or short poems because you've used your free minutes to do something magical - getting yourself to write without over-thinking it!

Now, it's time to over-think it. 

If you're looking to write more than a few hundred words, if you're looking to write a proper thing (journal, poem, short story, play, anything more than 500 words really), then you need to create 'order'.

I'll tell you my order. I pre-plan writing nights. As I already told you, I only have nights and weekends and trips to write. So I plan it out. No plans Thursday night between 11 PM to 2 AM? Writing time! Got a free Sunday and no family plans? Writing time! Going to be in another city for 3 days and have lots of free time outside of meetings? Writing time!

Pre-planning a writing session is crucial for me to actually get some writing done. Just look at this guide. I knew exactly when I'd have time to write it, because that's how I scheduled my day. 

You may not have my schedule, but you must have a schedule. Create a system that fits your life, and make sure you stick to it. You would be surprised by how much actual writing - I didn't say 'good' - you'll get done if you just remove all distractions and sit down in front of a computer or with a notebook. 

When to do this: When you can afford to be productive, attentive and focused. So outside of your school / work schedule.

How long should this take: 1 to 4 hours. 

Write With Deadlines

I can't stress this one enough: If you don't give yourself a time limit, you'll never finish. 

Think about this - If you don't fix a destination, how will you ever reach it?

Giving myself a deadline has never not helped my process. What's important is the system you put into place. If you know you need at least a week on something, don't make your deadline 3 days. If you know that you can multi-task, give yourself multliple deadlines for different milestones. 

Deadlines are not about stress or pressure. Deadlines are about discipline and confidence. 

I've done this a lot. A couple years ago I decided to write and publish a new story every Friday for the whole month. Every Thursday, I would freak out, thinking that I couldn't get it done on time or that the story would suck. But every Friday, I was proud - not only for meeting my deadline, but of the work as well. 

The thing about creating writing deadlines is that only you know you put them on yourself. Your readers have no idea whether a story was in-the-moment or the result of three scheduled writing sessions with deadlines. So don't let the process and system affect your creativity. Be practical with your goal setting, and whenever you can, challenge yourself in a way that is helpful and fun and exciting. 

When to do this: When you're writing longer stories, something that you know requires at least a few days of work. 

How long should this take: Depends on the system you have, but ideally you should have one end date, and then in-between dates that you can set your milestones for.

Write Without Worrying

That voice in your head - the one that says 'nah' - that's the voice that keeps you from writing. You know you have the time. You know you're capable of writing because this isn't your first time. You also know that you actually aren't 'out of ideas' because that's what you said the last time and you still wrote something nice and fun. 

I'll tell you something that happened with me just this week. I took a small family vacation. Sunday to Wednesday. And by vacation I mean I was working remotely. But I also knew that I would have at least one night out of the three to write. So you know what I did? I wrote. But here's the thing - before I started the vacation, I told myself I'll have enough time on this break to finish my in-progress story (the one I mentioned which I started writing in May). But you know what happened when that one night of writing was over? The story became too big to finish in one night! Did I get upset with myself for not planning it properly? No. Because that would be unnecessary worrying that isn't productive. All I did was tell myself that it is okay to spend a little more time on the story. 

You can write with chaos, or with order, and with or without deadlines - but sometimes the words want more time than you can give them. So don't worry. And let the words do their thing. They'll be good, I can assure you of that.

When to do this: At all times. 

How long should this take: If you do it right, it will feel effortless and you won't even notice the passage of time. 

Everyone is busy. Whether you’re 13 or 30, single or committed, studying or working - every one only has 24 hours in a day and they fill up with things to do pretty quickly. But if you’ve reached this part of the guide, then you know that you love writing and expressing yourself. And denying yourself something that makes you feel good is not good. So you know, just like I know, that us writers and storytellers need to find the time to write.

Embrace your chaos. Define your order. Set your deadlines. Be worry-free.

Write, my friend. You know you want to.

Time check: 5.15 pm. 

Wanna know something funny? My self-deadline for this guide was 5.15pm. True story! Nailed it. Again. 

You can do it too. Just start writing. The button is below.