Writing Schedule

Some writers prefer to write during the early morning hours while others choose to pen their words late at night. Still others use snatches of time throughout the day. Is one time better than another?

As a writer, you must find what works best for you. Understanding your productive writing time is key to making time work for you instead of against you.

Ask yourself:

Am I a morning person?
Night owl?
Do I need a chunk of time to write?
Do I need the computer?
Can I still keep my train of thought if I’m interrupted?
Am I organized enough to use small pockets of time wisely?
Do I need a strict schedule?
Can I “go with the flow?”

Once you can answer these questions and figure out when you are most productive, you’ll be amazed at the writing you can accomplish even in small amounts of time.

Some authors, especially those still engaged in raising children, have used 5-10 minute time periods effectively enough to write novels. They know that their time is limited so they don’t waste even a second of it.

Other authors need to dedicate hours to their writing process and need quiet time to do so. This works well for those who have that kind of time to dedicate to writing.

For me, I’m running all day long. I still have preschoolers at home as well as children in school and find I have to be very wise in my use of time.

Some tricks I’ve learned:

I think about my characters and listen to their conversations with each other while I’m taking a shower, exercising, washing dishes, or driving kids to activities.

I jot down ideas in a notebook I carry in my purse. While I’m waiting for an appointment with my dentist or doctor, I can use that time to write down additional ideas for my plots or characters.

Between household chores, I’ll write down some notes or even craft a scene. While dinner is cooking in the oven or I’m waiting for a load of clothes to dry, I can work on my novel.

Each writer’s schedule is different. You have to find what works best for you and then take advantage of it.