17 Quick Tips to Hack Your Crazy Schedule for Writing

These are your secret handshake to better writing.

Your schedule’s packed end-to-end with work, errands, and who-knows-what-else.

You can forget about writing…or can you?

But, don’t worry. In this article, we’re gonna dig into 17 tricks and habits that’ll help you stay in the writing game, even when your schedule’s more tangled than the headphone wires in your pocket.

Feeling the time crunch?

We’ve all been there.

Time’s as rare as a quiet moment in a coffee shop.

Between jobs, family, and the whole nine yards, finding writing time is like chasing fireflies on a hot summer night. Seems pointless, until you actually succeed at it.

But guess what? These tips won’t add to your troubles; they’re here to help you navigate the chaos.

1. Set ultra-specific daily writing goals

This is so trite it’s not worth saying, except we need to keep saying it.

Picture this — you’re on a journey, and you need a map.

Creating an ultra-specific goal for each writing session is like plotting your course, whatever your end in mind is. Could be one article, could be a series, could be a book.

I usually do my 10 articles or headline ideas in the morning and then try to work on at least 1 article before starting on the work for my day job. That’s my goal.

2. Keep the writing time on the calendar, always

Your writing time is your secret weapon.

Schedule it like a hot date and defend it like a dragon guarding its treasure. Decline those non-essential commitments.

Your writing’s just as precious.

Do I always do this? No. But I’d be a better writer if I did.

3. Put your phone in a drawer

Find a drawer, put your phone in it, kill those notifications, and lock away those distracting websites.

You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you’re not constantly clicking around.

4. Start with small sessions

Who says you need hours to write? Start with quick, bite-sized writing sessions. Even 10–15 minutes can move mountains when you do it regularly.

5. Create outlines or a mind map

Outlines and mindmaps are your lifeboats in the sea of chaos. They’ll help you stay on track and find your way when the waters get rough. I prefer outlines to mind mapping, I think more in lists than pictures, but Ayodeji Awosika swears by the mind map. He goes over part of his process in this article.

6. Write first, edit later

All good writers of course know the famous Ernest Hemingway line (falsely attributed to him!), but perfectionism with your writing is honestly a problem, not a character trait.

Don’t you dare let that inner editor steal your creativity. Say yes, before you say no, and then edit.

Get those words down on paper, and worry about fixing them up later.

7. Use writing apps

Explore the world of writing apps and tools — they’re like sidekicks that keep you organized and on the writing path.

I prefer Notion where I do most of my writing and organization. Others are Evernote, Google Keep, and even Google Drive.

Just use what’s comfortable for you and don’t overthink it.

8. Batch your writing tasks

Group similar writing tasks together and tackle them at one go. This could be doing all of your social posts at once, working on your article, or answering emails, or doing research.

Don’t do everything all at one time

9. Set deadlines you can (probably) hit

Deadlines make the world go round. They force action. Give yourself some, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can do when you know the clock’s ticking.

10. Write every day (or don’t)

It’s complicated.

Even a few lines a day keep the writer’s block away. But it also depends on the project and what you want to accomplish. Just know when you’re procrastinating and when you should be writing.

11. Reward yourself with something

After a productive writing session, treat yourself. Rewards make writing an adventure, not a chore. This usually means candy for me.

But the first time I was published in a real-life, printed magazine that I was paid for, my wife and I went out for dinner to celebrate. It was only hamburgers, but I still remember it.

12. Find an accountability partner

You don’t have to face the chaos alone. Get yourself a writing buddy or an accountability partner.

Someone to share your goals and progress with can be invaluable the farther you go along. They’ll keep you on your toes, my friend.

Writing communities also help with this.

13. Review and measure your progress

End each writing session by seeing what worked, what didn’t, and what you can do better.

It’s like fine-tuning a vintage car to make it purr. Add this to your journal or review the analytics for impressions, opens, comments, or views.

Don’t be obsessed with them, but they’re a good signal of your progress.

14. The power of idea generation

Channel your inner creative genius by starting your day with generating a few ideas. Spend a few minutes writing article ideas or topics you may be interested in exploring in the future. Some people do morning pages like this, but I find this a bit too cumbersome. Mine is more like a bulleted list.

This will clear out some of the cobwebs, get your mind going, while also being productive at the same time.

15. Create a (familiar) writing playlist

Music is a writer’s best friend. Craft a writing playlist that suits your mood or the tone of your work.

Most of the time new music doesn’t work for me, so I play a very familiar set of songs and bands (usually punk, emo, and acoustic) because I’m not too focused on what’s new or different. It’s familiar.

Find me on Spotify if you want!

16. Join a writing community

Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. Connect with other writers through online communities, workshops, or local writing groups. Sharing experiences and feedback can be a game-changer in your writing adventure.

I recently joined the Writer’s League and it’s been helpful just to understand the other problems and issues that people have with their writing while also learning from others in the arena.

17. Consistency is an unseen hero

Consistency’s the secret sauce that makes prolific writers tick. The habits above are your secret handshake to that elite club. You need to do the things above to make things stick.

Turn that mess in your head into well-organized writing. Here’s how.