September, already? Wow! Another school year begun and back to scrounging up time to write...Welcome to my IWSG post this month. The question of the month is:
How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
Coincidentally, I had already started writing this post to share for IWSG this month! I'll start by telling you some Pros and Cons of being a writer:
So, you have to make time to write. I write every day. Whether it's a little or a lot, I just do. Ever since I discovered I was a writer, I've had to write. I write to calm down, to express thoughts, to organize ideas, to communicate. Some of it gets tossed, some of it thrives and turns into bigger and better things.
But the key to successful writing is carving out time to write it and perfect it.
The things we want to do most get the most attention. No matter how busy life gets, if you really want to write, you will write. (Yes, my laundry pile is getting mighty high and I would probably feed the dust bunnies before I banished them...writers must make sacrifices!)
Here are some survey questions for you and your writing time, if you can spare a moment!
- When is your favorite time to write?
- How do you squeeze in time to write?
- How long does it take you to write a novel?
- Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing?
And thanks again to my helpers with my CRADLE ROCK cover reveal! If you'd like to join in for the Release Party Tour, let me know! I have plenty of articles I can guest post! Here's the form.
21 comments:
It's certainly not the biggest bang for your buck, that's for sure.
When I'm writing, I set aside a couple hours a night. I can usually write a first draft in about two months that way.
Don't feed the dust bunnies! If they have to scavenge for their own food, they might up and leave on their own. At least, that's what I'm hoping for in my house.... :)
Favorite time to write: ANY TIME.
Squeezing time in: Cutting out clutter.
To write a novel: 3 months to a year.
Goals: Publishing deadlines dictate which project and how fast I have to work on it--or they have for the last three years.
I love the new cover btw.
Favorite time to write: mornings when the kid has gone to school.
Squeezing time in: at night after the kid has gone to bed.
How long does it take: it depends. I can write one in a month or it can take four months.
Do I set goals: I don't set goals in that manner. I try to say I'll be finished this story in X amount of time. And I'm pretty harsh on myself. I'm a book and a half behind where I want to be right now, so I'm trying to be nice to myself about it.
Carving out time to write — that's the challenge. I'm still working on how to do that. I've tried making a daily schedule, but half the time, life happens and the schedule goes out the window. One of these days I'll figure it out. Hopefully.
Congrats on your upcoming release! Love the cover. I'd be happy to help out with the tour. I'll sign up on the form on the previous post. I couldn't find the link on this post. Good luck with the launch!
IWSG Co-host at http://lorilmaclaughlin.com
"If you really want to write, you will write." <---I like that. Very true.
—My favorite time to write is probably late at night.
—Writing is currently my full-time job, so I don't have to struggle to find time to write.
—It takes me years to write a novel. Sad, but true.
—I set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly writing goals.
Sorry I missed your cover reveal (stupid blogging hiatus). Definitely sign me up for the Release Party Tour!
My favourite time to write is in the morning; I'm a morning person, and this is when I feel the most motivated.
At the moment I'm not great at squeezing in time to write, but my plan is to set aside half an hour after work every day to write, and go from there.
I have yet to finish a novel, so N/A for that one!
I always set goals for my writing, usually monthly ones, though I might start setting myself word count targets to hit every day.
Finding time to write with my health issues can be tricky. Especially with the exhaustion/fatigue. Thankfully I work form home but even then there are online distractions and the bed is so near by. But like you I'm a writer and that urge to write never goes away Tara. All the best. :)
When is your favorite time to write? The witching hour and the graveyard shift, though I know my sleep cycles are completely jacked and need serious reform.
How do you squeeze in time to write? I have to take the time to focus only on writing, and not be distracted by everything else.
How long does it take you to write a novel? It all depends. I can complete the first draft (either super-sized or short) in a few months, while it took 8.5 years, in three major writing periods, to complete my first Russian historical. Then, a decade later, it took about 3.5 years to edit and revise! I'm still working on my handwritten magnum opus, which is meant as one book in 12 volumes. I started it in September '93.
Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing? Only during NaNo, JuNoWriMo, and Camp NaNo months.
I (mostly) write every morning. And finishing a draft takes a few months, but the polishing takes months with some extra months on top. But let's not go there now. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
When is your favorite time to write?
In the morning, when all is quiet and the rest of the family is sleeping. Unfortunately, I either have to go to work or I sleep late on the weekends, so that time is mostly gone. :)
How do you squeeze in time to write?
I always have the manuscript open on the computer, so when I get a little free time, I slip on over to the computer and write. Otherwise I have to stay up late and work on it then. Large chunks of time for writing don't come my way often.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
I'm still working on finishing my first one, so I can't really answer that one. At my current speed, I might be able to do it in two years, but I'd have to buckle down and work at it. I hate being a slow writer.
Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing?
No, I just write when I can, every chance I get, and my word count is my word count. Sometimes I do goof off, but I don't need a word count reminder to tell me that I've been bad. I already know it.
Great post, I like the pros and cons.
When is your favorite time to write?
Mid morning to late afternoon because I'm alone in the house.
It use to at night because I worked the deep night shift for 20 years.
How do you squeeze in time to write?
The squeezing in time is not the problem for me. It is BIC, focus and structure which I am working on and is getting better.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
I'll let you know when I complete one.
I can write a short story in a day if I will do it especially when I am inspired. Wordwise I can do as much as 3000 day when in a good spot but hard to manage 250-300 when everything is in chaos. But working on it.
Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing?
Yes all of above. The current goal is just write something because we gearing up to move end of month thru October.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
I love the quiet of night to write. I started that when my boys were little ones and still enjoy it. But then sleep comes at a premium.
As far as how long it takes to write a novel, forever! :)
I have several in rough draft, it's the rewriting that takes forever! But I'm a slow producer compared to many others!
I set annual goals, and this year I am way, way off!
Happy writing!
Love the pros and cons!!
When is your favorite time to write? When I started off writing, I worked at night, after 8p.m. but I recently discovered that creativity also rears her beautiful head in the mornings...
How do you squeeze in time to write? On most days I TRY and squeeze in 10 minutes to write something...
How long does it take you to write a novel? I have no idea. still trying to find out.
Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing? What's that? (wrong answer, sorry...)
Congrats on the new book!!!
Good pros and cons list! My favorite time to write shifts, usually with the seasons. Right now, it's in the afternoon--or rather that's when my creativity turns on. It just happens to be the worst time in terms of everything else. The first finished, ready to be read, novel took a few years. I had a lot of learning to do along the way. I'm hoping to cut that down by---a lot. I set goals and then promptly forget them. :)
I can write a novel pretty quickly, but it takes me forever to edit. Urk! I don't write every day, but once I start writing I try to go for a few hours.
When is your favorite time to write? mornings
How do you squeeze in time to write? not a problem since I have no kids at home and Hubs is supportive; plus we're both retired from day jobs
How long does it take you to write a novel? 3-6 months
Do you set daily/monthly goals for your writing? monthly; not good at fulfilling them lately
I try and set times in which I can write. At the moment, things are really quiet on the work front, so I have more time which I'm using to try and set up my writing as a business.
I like to write at night when most of the world has gone to bed. Less distractions that way. Of course, there is that problem of falling asleep at the keyboard.
I like the pros and cons table.
I try to write whenever I can so have no favorite time yet.
As I've been getting back into it, I've found that I have to set a schedule for myself. I HAVE to write in the evening. It's a requirement. I want it to be less hassle and more habit, but I have to get there first.
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