Writing and the Shortage of Time

Making the most of Time

The great difficulty that we face as writers is the lack of time.

It is easy to think – If only we had the luxury of retiring to a cottage in the Mountains then all our writing difficulties will be solved. However, it is not just about how much time we have, but, how we use it. To maximise our potential as writers we need to make sure we make the best use of time; if we don’t have enough time, we just have to create some extra time.

Some tips for effective writing practises

Dedicate half a day to Writing.

A full day of writing seems quite an onerous task, but, if we give 3-4 hours of writing we can get into the flow of creative writing energy without being overwhelmed. When we are in the right space, writing comes more easily. We should give these time slots a high priority; when we write we should avoid getting distracted by things that can wait for another time. If we are writing articles, don’t just do one at a time; often when I get into the flow of writing I find that the next 2 or 3 articles come quite quickly. Leave the uploading of articles to your site for another time – perhaps in the evening, when you are too tired to write.

Know What to Say.

Sometimes the hardest thing about writing is knowing the direction to take and what to say. Always keep a list of titles that you would like to write. When you sit down to write, this gives you a good choice of things to write about. If the title is a little vague write down a list of 6-7 key phrases which will make up the body of your writing.

Writing Without Inhibition

When you sit down to write it is important that you try to write without expecting perfection at first attempt. It is worth seeing the first draft as a place to put ideas down; this means you have the confidence to write down quickly. Sometimes, if we are highly concentrated, this form of quick writing may actually be quite effective. There is greater power in our writing when we can write – without long pauses to daydream or worry about we should write. Of course we will check, edit and delete where necessary. But, it is important to have something to edit with first. If you are a slow writer, practice writing quicker – just as an experiment and see how you get on.

Clean Space = Clean Mind

You want to find a writing space that inspires you to write. If there is junk, clutter and mess in your room there will be a psychological barrier to writing. Instead make time to clean up your room and create a simple decluttered environment for writing. This is a case where investing time (clearing up) saves time in the long run. Remember it is not how long you sit at your desk, but, how effective you are in the long run.

Concentration, Focus and Concentration

I remember as a student, spending several hours staring blankly at the library ceiling. Ancient history was so boring, it seemed more interesting to count the number of lightbulbs than write what I was supposed to. Part of the problem was that I had very bad concentration. I would easily lose interest in a subject and my mind would flit from one subject to another. Learning to quieten the mind and concentrate is one of the most valuable life skill’s that we can learn. If you are concentrated you can write more in one hour, than we might if we had a whole day at our disposal.

Writing doesn’t have to be At a Desk.

If we are thoughtful we can create times and places to write. I love writing on trains, aeroplanes and even in waiting lounges at airports. Put on your ipod and you can imagine you are just about anywhere (well maybe not in Heathrow airport)

If you have any tips about creating more time for writing I would be interested in hearing them.