Ten Ways Writers Can Utilize Their Time

Time for a writer is elusive. As I was thinking about a post for today, I remembered a post I did a couple of years ago. It was such a good reminder for me, I thought I'd share some of it again.

From July 2017:

Putting your behind in the chair and doing the work of writing is difficult. Whether you are putting new words on the page, editing a rough draft, or learning more about the craft, it takes time. It takes sacrifice. It takes discipline.

Life gets in the way. Your car breaks down. There's a funeral, a lunch date, FAFSA to fill out (can I just say UGH?), hair cuts, and...dare I say it?...toilets to clean.

So what do you do to make the most of your time, and feed your writerly self? Everyone has to decide for themselves. No one can do it for you, because only YOU knows what will work for YOU.

We all have to find the "thing" that helps us - that motivates us - into writing when it's hard.

Here is what I came up with - in no particular order.

Top 10 Ways to Utilize Your Time

1. Use a diction app and dictate a scene on your way to work, or while doing dishes, ironing, etc.

2. Listen to a craft book or podcast in the car while going to work or hauling kids to school.

3. Carry a Moleskin notebook in your purse to write down ideas for your story, prompts for short stories, or blog post ideas.

4. If you get stuck in your story, move on to another project. (I stole this from Tina because it is so helpful.)

5. Stay up 30 minutes later to write. (I get up at 5 am already....can't go earlier!)

6. Read a chapter of a craft book at lunch.

7. Email a chapter to your Kindle so that it is there when you are in a waiting room, carpool line, etc. Highlight things that you need to change.

8. Alternate cooking nights with your husband so you have more time to write.

9. Make a date with yourself once a week and go to the library, coffee shop, or park to write free from responsibilities at home.

10. Purchase a cute timer or use the one on your phone to write in 30 - 60 minute increments. Then set the timer for 15 minutes and clean a toilet or make the bed or do a load of laundry. Then get back to writing.

Nothing on my list is new. Many have already figured out the best way to get the most out of their day. But some of us need reminders that we can carve out extra time, and every minute we garner gets more words on the page.

What things have you found to help you carve out time and up your word count? 


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Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother of 4 children, and works part-time as a bookseller at Amazon. With the children grown and out of the house, she weaves tales of fierce knights and their ladies in a time where men were warriors and women had to be strong enough to keep them in check.

After taking time off from writing, she has returned with a new motto in place to spur her on. “Writers write. Everyone else makes excuses.” ~Jack Bickham.  No excuses this time. She is weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories. Her first book, Lord of Her Heart, released in May 2019.

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Finding Discipline to Write

Some people are disciplined. They can get up at 5 am each morning. They go for a jog every day after work. They spend 8 hours, 6 days a week in front of the computer, spinning stories one right after the other.  They are good at doing the hard thing every single day in order to achieve their goals.

 

And then there are those of us who are not quite as adept at self-discipline. We aren’t even good at setting goals, much less attaining them.  We try. We even try hard. But somewhere down the line we go back to our old ways of doing things, garnering no success along the way. In fact, the only thing we accomplish is guilt for failing once more.

I think I’ve found the problem - at least for me and my ever-recurring cycle of one step forward and one step back. It’s nothing new, but it is not always easy to obtain.

Accountability.

I need accountability to be able to sit my behind in the chair and write when I don’t feel like it. I need accountability to lose weight and get on the scale. I need someone checking in on me, asking if I’d met my goals.

If I don’t have that, then I slip back into doing what I always did before. When I get writer’s block or don’t like the blank page, I go watch Netflix instead (in the name of research, of course). Instead of logging my food into My Fitness Pal, I go to the fridge and eat a spoonful of ice cream. One little spoon doesn’t count, does it? It is my reward for doing all that research on Netflix!

The difficulty is finding someone to keep you accountable. I am fortunate to have a mentor this year for my writing. I have learned so much about setting goals and maintaining them. I’ve learned I can do so much more than I think I can when given a little kick in the behind. I only have her for a year, but I am doing everything in my power to learn and grow, praying that the lessons and discipline I learn this year will stick with me forever.

So how do you go about finding someone to be accountable to?

Many times you find someone organically. Maybe in your circle of friends, someone is going through the same thing you are and needs someone to bounce ideas with.

You could always put a call out for a critique partner who writes in your genre. This is definitely something I need to do. It is scary putting yourself out there, but the rewards of finding a good fit would be worth the risk. The ACFW organization has a critique pool and many have found partners within that group.

Network with writers at conferences and online. It could be an experienced writer sees potential in you and takes you under her wing.

Above all, pray about it. Pray that God Spirit within you will spur you toward discipline. I Timothy 1:7 says this: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

We have His Spirit in us, full of power that gives us this self-discipline. We can overcome our weakness through the strength within us. His strength.

We can sit and write. We can overcome the blank screen. We can write every single day. We can, because He enables us.

What are you doing today to make your dreams come true? 

What are you implementing in your daily life that will help you meet your goals? 

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Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother to 4 children, and secretary at public elementary school. With the children grown and out of the house, she weaves tales of fierce knights and their ladies in a time where men were warriors and women had to be strong enough to keep them in check.

After taking time off from writing, she has returned with a new motto in place to spur her on. “Writers write. Everyone else makes excuses.” ~Jack Bickham.  No excuses this time. She is weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories.

You can connect with her through:

Personal blog: sherrinda.com

Twitter: @sherrinda

Instagram: @sherrinda

Soaring in Your Writing Time for This Season of Your Life and GIVEAWAY

Busy, overloaded, and stressed?

Perhaps you need to fit more writing into your schedule.

What, did I mishear you? I'm working 80 hour weeks, going through stuff in my marriage, my toddler is keeping me from sleeping through the night.

Here's why you NEED to fit writing into your schedule.

"You may be stressed out but you have to fight it. Find those few things that make you feel energized and invest your time and effort into them." -Crystal Paine, Money Saving Mom blogger and author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life

About two months ago, I started working out five times a week. I've really learned more about the "runner's high." My energy levels are higher than they've been in years. I wondered how would I fit bicycling into my already stuffed schedule. It was an excuse that kept me from exercising.

I work out around an hour, yet I have gained back this hour in the energy I bring to homeschooling and most any task I do. Life is less overwhelming.

The things we choose to do can also sap or increase our emotional energy. Time and money management expert Crystal's advice is spot on for those going through trials or difficult times. Making time for writing isn't being selfish, its using the gifts we have been given for God's glory and it will strengthen us.

Have you allowed writing to create some more "white space" in your life? Time to ingest a deep breath.

I've learned a lot from Crystal's blog Money Saving Mom about making the most of what you have in terms of finances, time, and life in general. Here are some insights both from Crystal's blog and from my own life about how to find time for your passion no matter what life season you are in.

• Get your "peeps" on board.

Crystal says her number one help to keeping on task is her supportive husband. The same is true in my own life. Its great to have a motivator in your home.

My husband can be the "writing fuhrer" reminding me to keep on task, all the while being a gentle, Gandhi-like supporter. Contradictory? Neh, that's what love does, spurs us on toward our best. Look at Jesus, he loves us enough not to want us to stay mired in the depths of those sins and weaknesses that hold us back.

A friend can play the same role in your life, reminding you to keep up with your writing.

"But I don't have those kind of people in my life. My family thinks I'm wasting my time and my friends call getting published a 'pipe dream.'"

1) Pray for God to provide that type of support for you.

You are never going it alone, God is always on your side. He gave you these gifts and if he wants you to use them in this season he will find a way for you to do so.

2) Consider: am I neglecting my family's needs when I write? Are the times I pick honoring to my family? For instance, if your husband works an active job and you are often writing when he comes home delaying dinner...perhaps this could be why you're lacking his support.

Think about the best times to write, taking your family into consideration.

3) Can your family see the benefit?

This is probably one of the #1 reasons my husband is so supportive of my writing. He sees that it helps me keep my emotions in balance, brings me personal fulfillment and is intellectually stimulating in a season where I often don't talk to a single adult until my husband walks through the door each evening.

• Consider that not all seasons are created equal.

If you are working full-time and looking for time to write:

Is there a quiet corner where you could retreat with a pad and paper during your lunch break?

Can you voice record your ideas on your long commute home?

Can you break your writing into fifteen minute chunks throughout the day?

If you are staying home and have small children (or homeschool):

Think about teaching your kids to have a quiet time of their own. Consider making it a family writing time and buying your children pretty journals to use.

The quiet pre-dawn and late hours are sacred space for stay-at-home moms.

As a nursing mom, I learned to type a few quick notes during a feeding.

If our children see us fully present with us the rest of the time, they are more willing to understand that writing time helps us be more in the moment with them later because our own cup is filled.

This season is not forever. Find a solution that works for now. Be willing to revise your plans on a regular basis.

• What can you take off your plate to allow time for writing, while keeping your priorities still in line?

Are you wasting too much time on Facebook or Pinterest? (OK, I admit I'm preaching myself under conviction on this one.)

Can you multitask by writing on a treadmill like Pepper and Mary do or writing ideas in a notebook while standing in line?

Crystal has social media free Sundays. This frees her up both to spend time with her family and to have more creative energy. How can you create margin from these technology distractions? I know one of the Alleycats doesn't use a computer on Sundays and it frees her up to enjoy more quiet.

• Have goals and stay accountable for them.

Writing my goals on the calendar in the form of daily word count is a helpful reminder.

An accountability buddy can be even better and it doesn't even have to be a fellow writer. Just someone who will ask you the hard questions.

Knowing a friend of mine is checking in with me every Friday has sure made it easier to keep on track with my workouts and the same is true with writing life.

Reward yourself in a small way when you make your goal for the day or week. Maybe an hour this week rereading a favorite book or a cup of coffee.


So, let's hear from you. Share your best time management tip for your writing life and I'll enter you to win a kindle edition of Crystal Paine's 21 Days to a More Discplined Life. I'm willing to bet, you'll be blessed by Crystal's time management tips. Please include your email address to be entered in the drawing.

Julia writes contemporary fiction to mirror truth. A former assistant librarian, she now channels her card cataloguing skills into homeschooling her elementary aged littles and writing for Library Journal. She has reviewed for a variety of websites for several years.

Top Ten New Year Resolutions for Writers

Photo by Stuart Miles
freedigitalphotos.net

Happy New Year!

I'm sure if you are like me, you have been thinking about the new year and how you will better yourself in 2013. What can you do to be a better wife? Mom? Writer? So for all you writers out there, here is a list of resolutions that you might want to grab hold of for the new year.

10 Exercise more! What???? I know, but hear me out. Writers tend to sit on their backsides...a lot...and that backside begins to grow. Plus, exercises gets blood flowing to your brain, which could produce some AWESOME ideas for your novel. Give it a try!

9 Watch movies/TV! I know you think this might be a waste of your precious time, but watching movies in the genre you are writing is an excellent way to learn how to craft your novel. Analyze the movie as you watch. Does the dialogue move the story? What about the setting? How could you incorporate the sights you are seeing on the screen into words? Movies can teach us about pacing and blocking. Pick a movie this week and watch with a critical eye.

8 Read more! Writers are readers, but oftentimes we put aside reading for pleasure because we value our time so much. But reading can open our eyes to the beauty of prose. Find an author you love to read and read their book, noting what it is you love about their writing. Is the dialogue fabulous? Is the writing lyrical? Is the plot riveting? Take notes while you enjoy the love of reading.

7 Time management. Ugh, you say? I agree, but for most of us, this can be a problem. It is hard to balance work, housework, kids, cooking, cleaning, carpools, extra curricular activities, church, play, and writing. You have to be organized and make sure you schedule time to write. If you don't make it a priority, it won't happen.

6 Quite playing on the internet. Okay, so this one is for me. I love to play games online. I don't know why! Give me an Angry Bird and I will shoot that bird until I've hit all the green pigs! Give me some Bejeweled gems and I will match them until the cows come home. And don't get me started with Pinterest! Aak...the time stealer of creative persons everywhere!!!! Seriously, I could sit for hours, browsing for things to make. Hours, I tell you! So set a time limit on your internet "play". Don't call it research!! Call it for what it is...a time stealer!

5 Organize! I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to organize my writing. Sometimes I just get to writing and there is no rhyme or reason to the words on the page. And people, novels need some structure! Sure, you can write by the seat of your pants, but you definitely need to make sure you have a spine of a story to flesh out. Try some tools like The Book Buddy by My Book Therapy. It is great, even for seat of the pants writers.

4 Be more confident. Now this is a bit scary, but every writer needs to be confident in their writing. You need to believe in your story. You need to believe you have what it takes. God has given you a gift for a reason, and you must rest in that knowledge and have the courage to take new steps. Polish that novel and send it to agents! Press that send button as often as you can. Be brave! You can do it!

3 Read books on writing. Yes, I said read...some more. But this time read books on the craft of writing. Learn from the masters on how to shape a story. Soak in the knowledge that the experts share.

2 Write! Just write. Every day. Make this your habit, even if it is only one page a day. Your writing only gets better when you exercise your writing mind, so keep writing. All the time. Whenever. Wherever. Just do it.

1 Pray. Yes, this should be your number one resolution. Not just for your writing, but for your life. Developing your relationship with God and giving your writing up to Him is such a beautiful thing. When you bathe your writing in praying, you are releasing your abilities to Him. This takes the pressure off of you! Your writing will take on a life of its own as you release yourself to write for Him. So pray. Everyday. And see what God will do.

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Either for your writing or for your life in general?

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

The Writing Life

Photo by Angela Anderson-Cobb

The writing life of a writer. What do those words mean to you? Do you envision a person hunched over a computer, typing away all day and into the late night hours? Do you see a person out on the deck with their laptop, surrounded by shade trees and bird chirping? Or do you see a person sitting in front of a blank screen, glancing at the clock, tempted to go scrub the toilet instead of pouring out their heart into a new story?

Writers are an interesting lot. They are as varied as the snowflakes that fall in winter, each different from the other, yet uniquely beautiful in their own way. So how could anyone know what the typical day in the life of a writer is like?

Hint: There is no typical day in the life of a writer.

In fact, to prove this point, I have asked the Alley Cats to share their typical day. Here's what they have to say about their writing life:

CINDY:  I try to keep my writing/blogging/social networking career to the weekdays and I try to fit it all in before dinnertime.

I will get up early and while the big kiddos are still sleep and littlest one is happy, I answer e-mails and comment on blogs and sometimes get on Facebook.

Then when the littlest one is napping, I use that time to critique chapters and write. I do this in snippets throughout the day, until hubby gets home, where I try to fit in 45 minutes to an hour of straight writing until I need to make dinner. (I aim for 1,000 words a day.)

I'll also check e-mails and blogs and Facebook randomly throughout the day as I'm walking by the computer and cleaning or helping the kids with something :)

PEPPER: I check email around 6:45-7:15 in the morning (during summer). During the school year it is usually between 5:45-6am. Then, breakfast to work to home.

I usually check blogs, emails, etc during my lunch break (when I have opportunity) and then write from about 9 or 9:30- 11 or 11:30pm. I really like weekends!!! MORE Writing TIME!!! YAY!

MARY:  I am like oil and water, swirling through time unorganized, uncharted, researching, writing, breaking for emails/fb, riding the wave back to researching and writing, never ending, always happy.

Even when I'm cleaning house or running errands my mind is doing the above.

The only "do not disturb" time is devotions, church, fun chat times with God, and hubby time.

CASEY: Early mornings: blogs, emails, Facebook, mindless catch up (usually on social media)

I always put together a to-do list first thing in the morning to remind of what I need to do and use it as motivation through the day. 

Editing or rough drafting a novel. For at least an hour in each project. 

I usually take a break mid afternoon to exercise and then get together with Julia to write together as motivation to stay focused. 

I have a hard time staying focused though and hop over to emails and facebook too many times a day. I'm trying to stop myself from letting that get out of control. Quicker I get my work done, the quicker I can enjoy a couple chapters or at the very least get AWAY from the computer!! ;-)

KRISTA:  I have no typical writing day. They are all different!

I write the most when hubby has a surprise day off and I get to go to Starbucks and write, write, write.

I also utilize naps in the afternoon... but that is also a time for me to "clean" without a little one running around, so i don't always get that.

Now that the kids are off school, I sometimes put them on "Play with Annabelle" duty and go into my room and right. That usually doesn't last a long time, though. I try to write after everyone is in bed, but Mommy is tired then too! So that doesn't always happen....

Really, it's finding the nooks and crannies of time, the moments when everything is half-way running well and nothing is going to explode if I sit down for a half hour to write.

I also use "wait" times for brainstorming. In the shower... waiting for an appointment... while making dinner... anytime that my brain can go on auto-pilot with whatever I'm doing and go into story-world dreamland.

JULIA:   Right now my writing time is three times a week right after dinner. Casey and I meet for accountability during the school year. Its quite helpful to have an accountability partner! Often the writing time might stretch on further. My goal is to get 1K written in that hour or if I'm editing trying to get a few pages edited. Editing for me is slower than writing, but I'm still learning the whole process.

A few times a week my husband and I will listen to a craft related audio or attend seminars such as My Book Therapy or Fiction Academy. Oftentimes I will reply to blogs a bit during that time. 

Its so big for me to accept where I am in this season. Parenting is a short season, writing is something I will have for the rest of my life. So I try to remember that and take the joy in these years. 

I know some people can write with interruptions, they can easily shift from building blocks to writing a paragraph to mopping up a spill. This just doesn't work as well for my personality. 

ANGIE:  I am totally random. I also expect to have time after kids are in bed...but sometimes I am just too tired. I will put Libby down for a nap and let the kids watch a movie if I get inspiration.

During the school year, I did it regularly, three times a week while baby napped and boys were in school. This year, I'll have the baby only, so I am hoping to schedule time each day. 

ASHLEY:  Having a regular writing time is something I've been working on lately, because it's so easy for me to get distracted! During the school year, I usually teach every other day and try to focus writing time on the in-between days. I'll use writing time as motivation to get through class-prep for the next day. :) Summer is great when I'm not teaching, though, because it gives me a lot of free writing time. I find I tend to write best at night, especially late at night when the day is slipping away and my mind stops "thinking" so much and just creates. 

KAREN:  Pre-pregnancy I used to get up at 5am every morning to write. I did that consistently for the last 12 months. Then I fell pregnant and was up half the night with insomnia, so my routine had to change. My kids are in family daycare two days a week, so those became my writing days (if I wasn't called in to work) - I'd go to the library for the day and write solidly.

Now that baby is here I'll have to find out what works for me. I had no expectations of the first 3 months, because with my last two babies I was completely sleep deprived and had not a minute to spare during the day. But Allegra is such a good baby I'm beginning to think I'll be able to get a lot done during her sleep times on the days when the two boys are in daycare. I'll have to play it by ear and see what works for us. :-)

SHERRINDA (me):  I get up at 5 a.m. and either write or check blogs/emails/FB/Twitter until 6 a.m., when I get ready for work. During the school year, I don't get ready until 6:30 a.m. and which really gives me time to get things accomplished. I do have some time in the evenings, but oftentimes, I am just so tired from work, my creative spark has sputtered out. 

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As you can see, we are all so incredibly different. Some have full time jobs. Others are home all day. Some have little children, and some are almost empty nesters. Some are morning writers and some are night writers. Some need long stretches of time to concentrate and others are adept at snatching a few minutes here and there to put their words on the page. 

Everyone is different and has their own way of writing. Each one knows what works for them. We each need to carve out the writing life that best suits us and our stories. What is the best schedule to facilitate our creativity? Do we need to shave off a little time in the evenings? Or whittle away a little sleep in the mornings, getting up earlier to write our stories? What kind of polishing do we need to do on our schedules to make room for our writing? All things to consider when you are developing your writing life.

What kind of writing life are you carving out for yourself? 

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is wife to "Pastor John" and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.