How to Find Time to Start Writing
During the Story Publishing workshop at the Altrincham Storytelling Festival, a writer asked me a simple question.
"How do I find time to write when time is short?"
He works full time.
I understood.
There is only one rule.
Whatever works.
When it comes to writing a book, there are no set rules that predetermine the outcome.
Everyone’s life is different. Your diary will not look like mine, and mine certainly won't look like yours.
I am a mother of two young children, aged seven and four. I'm also a widow. My family lives 3,000 miles away.
Time is precious.
I also spend around 40 minutes each way on the bus.
So I have two rather unconventional offices.
The first is my bedroom. Against all Feng Shui advice, it's where I do most of my personal writing. I find it relaxing; perhaps I am more reflective in the evening, and ideas seem to flow more naturally there.
My second office is the red bus that runs through Cheshire's verdant plains.
Forty minutes is a long journey, but I hardly notice it. It's where I do much of my editing and writing. I enjoy watching the shops disappear into the Cheshire plains. Before I know it, we're turning into my village.
By the time I get home, I've already made progress.
Somewhere in between, I fit in everything else.
Your solution may look completely different from mine.
Perhaps you write before everyone wakes up. During your lunch break. In a café. While waiting for football practice to finish.
In writing, there are no rules, except
The only rule is whatever works.
There are, however, two things we all share.
Regardless of where you are in life, you have the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else.
And we all have the ability to build a habit.
Start a 21-day writing habit.
The idea of 21 days is that it’s been proven to help build a new routine.
Write a handful of badly written notes.
Write one paragraph.
Write one page.
It doesn't matter.
Just write.
Tomorrow, do it again.
Keep writing for 21 days.
Watch what happens.
Happy writing.
If you need help writing and publishing your book, there are several ways I can assist; see the links below or contact me via the enquiry page here.
Tamara Forrest-Smith
Ghostwriter | Publisher | Producer | Mentor
