We all wish we had more time in the day to write. Perhaps you’ve felt despondent by the days, weeks, or even years being swallowed up by endless obligations that don’t allow you the time you need to work on your manuscript. Given that a thirty-hour day isn’t coming anytime soon, let's look at how you can make the better use of the writing time you do have.
Get organized
You’ll get much more writing done if you're able to sit down ready to write. Take the time to outline your novel before you begin (yes, even pantsers can benefit from having a rough outline). Knowing the essentials, such as in which genre you plan to write, who the main characters are, what happens and where the story is set, will help you flesh out your ideas and work through any potential plot holes ahead of time. At the beginning of each writing session take a moment to look over your outline and make a plan for what you intend to work on. You don’t have to know the finer details, such as each character's backstory, but it does help to have a sense of where your story is headed and how your characters will be transformed through their experiences.
Eliminate distractions
Writing time is not the time for catching up on emails or chatting to that friend on Facebook that you haven’t seen in forever. Writing time is about one thing: writing. Even small interruptions, such as checking your email, answering your phone, or a social media notification can break your concentration. Know your common distractions and get rid of them before you sit down to write. For you, this might mean using noise-canceling headphones, turning your mobile on airline mode, or telling others that you are not to be interrupted. If you find yourself continually getting pulled away from your work it may be easier to write elsewhere, such as in a public library or coffee shop.
Write at your best time of day
You will find it much easier to write at times of the day that you feel naturally energized. You probably already know if you are an early-riser or a night owl. Aim to schedule your writing for those times that you are feeling your best. If you are unable to choose your writing hours try some other tricks to boost your focus, such as going for a quick walk beforehand or rewarding yourself for each session of productive writing.
Give yourself deadlines
You might groan at the thought of giving yourself a deadline but putting an end date on your writing can do wonders for your ability to focus. Having a deadline helps you avoid the inevitable inertia of self-doubt. It encourages you to write, despite your fears. Writing a book can be a marathon but you don’t have to have one final deadline. Break the process up into steps. Consider what you aim to achieve on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Before you sit down to write each day take a moment to think about what you’d like to accomplish in this writing session. Do you have a word count goal to reach? What needs to happen next to move your story along? Set achievable deadlines that will motivate you to keep going.
Writing rituals
A writing ritual is a routine that prepares you to think creatively. Rituals act as cues to your brain to smooth the transition from leisure to creative work. Many well-known writers practice writing rituals to maximize their writing time. Neil Gaiman writes by hand with fountain pens. Hemingway wrote just after dawn. Isabel Allende starts first drafts on the same day each year and Mark Twain, George Orwell, Edith Wharton, and Marcel Proust all wrote while lying down. Your writing ritual doesn’t have to be complicated it can be a simple as making a coffee, playing some music, lighting a candle, or taking a walk. Over time, these small rituals will come to signal that it’s time to write.
Find your flow
Have you ever been so involved in writing that everything else around you melted away and you completely lost track of time? Regardless of what you call it, the flow state, the zone or deep work, it’s a state of mind in which you achieve an optimum level of focus and are completely immersed in the task at hand. Reaching this state of intense concentration is highly beneficial for your writing so how is it achieved? The answer is through time and practice. It takes time to get in a flow state so the first step is to set aside sufficient time to concentrate on writing. Eliminate all distractions and consider including a ritual that will signal to your brain that now is the time to write. The second step is to practice. These days we are so accustomed to continually switching between tasks, that it can be difficult to give writing our complete attention. It can help to think of your writing as a meditation practice. Distraction is inevitable but with practice, you can recognize when your mind wanders off and refocus on the task at hand.
Start with a free-writing session
Avoid procrastination by starting your writing session with some free-writing. Free-writing is a technique of writing whatever comes to mind. It’s an effective way to turn off your ‘inner editor’ and breakthrough creative blocks. Begin by setting a timer for ten minutes and writing the first thing that pops into your head. Write as fast as you can in a stream of consciousness. Messy handwriting, poor spelling, bad grammar, and half-baked ideas are all part of the process. Embrace the mess of ideas and be open to the unexpected. If you need more guidance try some focused free-writing, beginning with a prompt or question. Free-writing is about loosening up creativity so have some fun with it. This is your chance to play and experiment with different ideas.
Take breaks
Studies show that taking regular breaks increases productivity and creativity. Working for extended periods of time without a break can lead to eyestrain, exhaustion, and burn-out so do yourself a favor and step away from the desk from time to time. Try splitting your writing up into timed focus sessions, where you write for 25 minutes before taking a short break. Stand up and stretch or take a quick walk.
Team up
Writing can be a solitary endeavor. Spending hours alone at your keyboard bringing to life the world in your head can be isolating. It’s important to connect with other writers and build a supportive network. Find other writers, online and offline, through writing support groups, classes, conferences, or via social media. Seek out those writers that are in a similar stage in their writing journey. These fellow writers will understand your struggles and be able to offer solutions at those times when writing is difficult.
Look after yourself
You don’t have to be chained to your laptop to be a productive writer. Self-care is vital to working effectively so take a proper lunch break, move your body regularly, stock up on healthy snacks, and get plenty of sleep. Finally, when you are done for the day take a few minutes to completely unwind. Meditate, breathe deeply, or stretch. Do what you need to switch off and leave your writing at the desk.
Finish on a high
One of Ernest Hemingway’s top tips was to finish each day of writing on a high, as he said:
I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.
Follow Hemmingway’s example by finishing each writing session at a strong point in the story. Leave yourself a few notes so you can quickly get started the following day.
Forgive yourself
Like everything else in life, your productivity levels will fluctuate, on some days you’ll feel like an inspired genius on others like a total hack. If you have an ‘off’ day don’t be too hard on yourself. Stick to your writing schedule and remind yourself of how far you have come. Lean into the discomfort of those bad writing days. Write through any fear or self-doubt you are feeling. It’s all part of the writing journey.
