What do dietary fiber and time management have in common? They’re not fun. They’re not pretty. And we need them to get going. Terrible pun. Did you get the point? Good.
Success or failure as a writer is all about time and how effectively it’s used.
Remember the Wright Brothers
Do you remember the Wright Brothers? What do the “fathers of flight” have to do with writing? Plenty. We remember them as the first people to fly an airplane, yet other courageous people were attempting to do the very same thing. Just days before Orville and Wilber realized their dream, some daring men in France flew.
The moral here is if you have a great idea for a story, an article or a book, get going on it. If you take too much time, some other writer will surely get it off the ground before you do.
Create No-Brainer Brainstorming Time
Think of your household chores as “creative housework.” Recent studies show that housekeeping chores are taking more time than ever. That can be a problem when we’d rather write than clean.
Smart, time-conscious writers do those chores as they “hatch” plot lines, create characters, and work on hooks. I get some of the best story ideas when washing dishes and scrubbing the tub. Keep a pad and pencil ready when doing housework and you’ll multiply your “writing” time.
Use the Three B’s
They are bargaining, bartering and blackmailing. Get help and then make good use of your time. I’m kidding (a bit) about the last B but if I was desperate enough…
Log Your Life
Here’s a challenge: Keep track of everything you do and how much time it takes. Be honest and see what’s gobbling your time. Years ago, I did exactly this. In addition to cutting out the unnecessary I had to make some tough decisions on other time “eaters.” I loved my hour-a-day swim at the public pool, which really took two hours, with commute time. But boy howdy, I appreciate finding two more hours to write. Best yet, my career took off.
Get Off the Information Highway
Put down all electronic devices, since it is way too easy to get distracted. You know this is the truth. I double dare you to do it for even an hour. Then pick up an inexpensive spiral note pad, sit in a comfortable spot and scribble out a few ideas, write a story, bubble some topics and feel the pen and paper connect. Lots of best-selling writers create in longhand so maybe old-school is good for the brain.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Lao Tzu said, “Time is a created thing.” To say “I don’t have time” actually means “I don’t want to.” If you want to want to write, create the time. You won’t regret it.
Thank you, Eva, for a great look at an oh-so-common problem. Much to muse over here. About getting going on an idea when it occurs, that is so true. I see ideas as floating in the ethers around us. Anyone who looks and has their antennae open, can pull down an idea and run with it. So I totally agree – if an idea pops into your head, jot it down, research and get something written and on its way to publication. And it is so good to hear that someone else spends their dishwashing time being creative. Dishwashing (the old-fashioned way) was made to free the brain and send it down the Creativity Highway. Walking is another great way to work on your writing, and get that much-needed exercise. Thank you!
I felt a sense of satisfaction when reading “Get Off the Information Highway.” Despite using the internet every day, I often resort to pen/pencil and paper when trying to organize words and thoughts. This makes we wonder if hand-eye coordination is relevant.
I’ve been handwriting journals, drafts of essays, and poems for years and don’t plan to stop. Having a pen in hand helps to get my creative juices flowing and makes me feel like a “real” writer. At this point it’s muscle memory. I only type things up because “that’s what people do these days.” And I agree that it’s important to turn off distracting electronics. I try to write in quiet and unplug from my phone as often as I can. In fact, I’m thinking of making it mandatory for me to unplug for at least an hour a day while I do creative stuff.