Tips for Making the Time to Write
Making time to write is my quest. I would rather write hour after hour, but when that’s impossible, I steal snippets of time to make notes or write entire scenes. I’ve used the back of a grocery receipt, my bank statement envelope, or even a Taco Bell napkin- whatever’s handy.
For normal people, consider getting up 30 minutes earlier or more to get the juices flowing. Look for times in the day when you can steal away to write. I'm not normal so writing in PJs is typical for all hours of the day or night.
Planning a crock pot dinner reduces the stress of stopping to cook in the middle of my writing. I feel productive when dinner’s finished, then eat and get back to work. Besides, my crock pot dinners are always better than those I cook on the stove… at least they’re edible. And if you use a crock pot liner, there’s no cleanup. Brilliant, eh?
Why not make a double batch of tonight’s dinner, freeze it, and bring it out next week? Poof, you’ve got some extra writing time. Remember to label it—most of my dinners look the same, brown.
I write everywhere- skinny reporter’s notebooks fit in the back pocket of my jeans, and journals wait in every room of the house, even in my car and my husband’s car, for ideas, catchphrases, or “that word,” which will be forgotten in an hour. There’s even a booklight in the door pocket of my husband’s car to write after dark.
My brain doesn’t turn off when the bedroom light goes off. On my cell phone, I dictate emails to myself with dialogue, entire scenes, suggestions for improving plot points, correcting timelines, writing something funny, and notes.
I snatch moments of waiting in line at the stoplight or on the toilet- the bathroom should be a “no-entry” zone. Instead of singing in the shower, I write out loud and hope I remember everything once I get soap out of my eyes. Did you know there are waterproof notebooks and wax pencils? My retired Marine taught me that. Now I can stay in the shower until the water freezes me.
Waiting is a waste of time and perfect for journaling or making notes. When I was a teacher, it was common to see Post-it notes stapled around the handles of my purse or a canvas bag.
Record bits of conversation or unique dialogue. Make observations of people and their surroundings without being too obvious. The grocery store line is an excellent source of information, including the hair salon—a beautician hears everything under the sun. Listen for endearments, nicknames, real names, idioms, slang, or regional sayings. It’s Real dialogue that makes a character realistic.
Researching can lead you down the proverbial rabbit hole and reduce productivity. My number one secret is that THE BEST researcher is your local library staff! If you need the scientific name for a plant, historical data, or any of a million things, they will jump through hoops to help you. They have access to resources that ordinary people don’t. If they help, sing their praises to the head librarian, and offer a thank you cookie or flower, it’s always appreciated.
Carry around a photo of a house, the outdoor environment, or a person who inspires a backstory or character information- it may trigger what you need, but they may be used as evidence against you with that murder mystery you're writing.
I’m on the computer most of the day and night, so I prefer to edit on a hard copy. After making changes on the computer, I’ll use the backside of old printed paper for the corrected version. Then I use a three-hole punch and put it in a binder until it’s time to edit again. Make sure you label the binder. I've lost my edits in a sea of black binders.
Ask the family to help with laundry, dishes, or other chores and reward them with a hug, a big smile, or a trip to the mall. This works with a typical family, but in my dysfunctional family, chores are a dirty word, so we leave the house cleaning until the dust rhinos charge the cats.
All the best.