Make Time For Writing!

Tip Of The Day — Day 13 — Set the alarm

This is part of a series of daily tips for writers which is published to share ideas and suggestions on our craft. Everyone will have different advice on how to write, so the tip below is just a personal selection which I hope you will find useful, and do share any of your own in the comments.

Many of us may struggle to make time for writing. We may have a full-time job, or lots of other commitments: children to look after, a dog to walk, chores we should be doing.

So this tip is about how to make time for something we love, but may not have much to show for it, at least until we start getting traction as a writer.

The tip? Set your alarm for half an hour earlier than you would normally get up. Or if you are really ambitious, an hour or more earlier. Of course it is a real drag, getting up and getting motivated, particularly on a dark winter’s morning, especially if you are like me an need a couple of cups of java juice rocket fuel to kick-start the day.

But if you are really determined to make a go of being a writer, for most of us the time has to come from somewhere, and stealing an extra half an hour or so at the start of the day is often the best time to create space for creativity.

Finding motivation

How to find the motivation? Well there a couple of options.

One is to visualise where you want to get to as a successful writer. The use of visualisation is a widespread technique in sport and other professions.

The other is to use the pain of the present you want to escape from, though this one depends on your present circumstances — this is the method suggested by Tony Robbins in “Awakening the Giant Within”, when he was sick of his life as a janitor, and wanted to build something more rewarding. Try asking yourself — how badly do I want to succeed as a writer? Not too bothered, a little bit, half and half, or do I really want this?

Creating good habits

Starting the day a bit earlier can be a difficult habit to start, but as with all habits, the more you practise it, the easier it becomes.

Of course if you are a night owl, the other option is to stay up later and create space at the other end of the day. I guess it is a matter of personal preference and what works — “horses for courses” as the old saying goes. It depends on what time of day we find we are most energetic and creative, and individual circumstances.

I hope you found this article useful, and do share any tips of your own in the comments.

Previous tips:

Day 1- The Notebook

Day 2 — Mind your language — learning new words

Day 3 –Quotations

Day 4 — Dictionary and thesaurus —

Day 5 — Location —

Day 6 — Planning —

Day 7 — Reverse engineering success —

Day 8 — Choosing your subject —

Day 9 — Do your own research

Day 10 — Niches for Riches

Day 11 — Layout

Day 12 — Deadlines