No excuses: Finding time to write

I could write a book, if I only had the time.

If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those words spoken…  

A new colleague at school recently discovered I was a published author. She gushed. She questioned. She was amazed at my accomplishments. Then she said, ‘I could write a book, if I only had the time.’ This colleague is in her twenties, newly married, no kids. Although she works full time, her evenings are free. Her weekends are delightfully desolate of the commitments that come with having a family. While I admire her confidence in her ability to write a book, from my perspective, she has all the time in the world to complete the task. 

My point is that if people want to write a book, they can find the time. If you’re a writer who holds time responsible for your lack of productivity, realise that very few writers are able to:

1.     Write full time

2.     Write for long stretches, uninterrupted

Time is there for the taking. but you have to be willing to search for it. 

Here’s what a typical writing day looks like for me. Remember, I teach five days a fortnight. I have used today as the example. 

5.35am: Wake up. Drive to local pool.

6.00-6.35am: Morning swim. Exercise clears my mind and allows me to plan my writing day.

6.45-7.00am: Stretch (I’m almost 50 - my body seizes if I don’t!)

7.01 – 7.05am: Ensure Striker has his school materials, keys, phone and lunch. Kiss him goodbye and wave him off as he walks to the bus stop. Give Dexter his good morning cuddles.

7.05 – 7.20am: Shower.

7.25 – 7.50am: Clean bathrooms and put on a load of washing.

7.51 – 8.00am: Prepare breakfast.

8.01 – 8.15am: Eat breakfast.

8.16 – 8.30am: Check emails, pay two bills online.

8.31 – 8.40am: ‘Support’ Dexter as he gets ready for school. 

8.41 – 8.50am: Take Dexter to school.

8.51 – 9.00am: Make a cup of tea. Hang out washing.

9.01 – 10.05am: Write blog (not this one).

10.06 – 10.30am: Make more tea for Coach and me. Chat for a while, catch-up on our mornings so far.

10.31 – 10.45am: Continue writing blog.

10.46 – 10.50am: Notice that dog is chewing his foot and limping. Check feet. They are very red. Our ‘delicate’ staffy, Mick, suffers from grass allergies.

10.51 – 11.05am: Take Mick outside, into the cold, to wash his feet with medicated foot shampoo. Sit with him in the cold outside to keep him company to stop him whining. As I said, he’s very delicate…

11.06 – 11.30am: Walk Mick around the block to dry his feet. I use this time to work out how I am going to finish the blog.

11.31 – Midday: Finish blog. 

It’s almost lunchtime and so far, only 107 minutes of writing has taken place. What’s more, no novel writing has taken place at all.

12.30 – 1.00pm: Lunch.

1.01 – 1.06pm: Make more tea.

1.07 – 2.45pm: Work on current manuscript.

2.46 – 3.45pm: School run. Pick up Dexter. Grocery shopping.

3.46 – 4.05pm: Unpack groceries.

4.10 – 4.30pm: Striker arrives home from school. Afternoon tea and catch-up.

4.31 – 5.00pm: Work on current manuscript.

5.01 – 5.15pm: School lunches are made and packed.

5.16 – 6.00pm: While Striker goes to training, Dexter does his homework.

6.00 – 6.45pm: Dinner is prepared and consumed.

6.46 – 7.04pm: While Dexter showers, I work on manuscript.

7.05 – 7.30pm: Striker returns, has dinner and showers. While he is showering, I work on manuscript.

7.31 – 8.00pm: Striker does homework. Dexter practises piano. 

8:01 – 8.30pm: Kids’ teeth are brushed and books are read before lights out. 

8.31 – 9.00pm: Another cup of tea with Coach and a little TV time.

9.01 – 10.00pm: Work on manuscript.

10.01 – 10.30pm: My teeth are brushed and book is read before lights out.

In total, I’ve spent about five hours working on my manuscript and much of this is in snatches in the afternoon and evening. This has been my routine for the past five years, during my 2.5 days off each week. In that time, I’ve completed five novels. 

Not all writing days look exactly like this one, but there are always unexpected interruptions and complications, obstacles that I have to write around.

I’ve also discovered a few life hacks that allow me to snatch back a few minutes each day, but I’ll leave them for a later blog.