No Time to Write? How to Fit Writing a Book into Your Busy Schedule
I have talked to a lot of people who want to write a book. My question is always, “Have you started writing it yet?”
Their answer is usually…
No.
So if writing a book is a dream for so many of us, why do so few of us do it? A common answer is—and I bet you can guess this one—finding the time.
Life is busy, and with everything else on your plate, squeezing in time to be creative can be like trying to put toothpaste back into the tube. In short: challenging.
But here’s the good news: you can make time to write. With a little strategy and some encouragement, you can not only start, but finish that book you’ve been dreaming of writing.
Here are 10 ways to overcome a time issue:
Set Realistic Goals
No one (okay, most of us) don’t write a book in a day, so the key is to focus on manageable chunks. Maybe it’s writing 500 words each writing day or completing one chapter a week. When you break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized pieces, they’re easier to accomplish—and every step forward builds momentum.
Establish a Consistent Schedule
Even if you don’t write “every” day, consistency is key. Skipping days on writing my draft can make my characters seem fuzzy and far away, which makes the task of writing more challenging. But if I link it to a ritual that signals my brain we are returning to that space, it becomes easier.
Establish a ritual. Whether it’s lighting a candle and making a cup of coffee or cleaning off your kitchen table and setting up your laptop and notebook, come up with a ritual that tells your brain it’s time to write this book. Background music I can tune out is another habit I’ve built into my writing time.
Leverage Small Time Blocks
You don’t need hours of uninterrupted time to write a book. When I wrote my second novel, I was employed and doing admin work. Bombarded by ideas, I would often scribble down scenes on scrap sheets of paper in between typing up invoices!
Turn your lunch break into a writing sesh, or scribble down the dialogue for your scene while waiting in a long line at the store. Whatever it takes to show up for yourself during the time you committed to writing, do it. Every little bit adds up.
Minimize Distractions
Whether it’s your cell phone buzzing or your email binging, distractions are everywhere. During your writing time, create a space that’s as distraction-free as possible. Turn off notifications, close tabs on your computer, and let the people around you know you’ll be unavailable for the next hour.
If you don’t have a quiet home (my dogs + mailman sounds like the end of days in my house), use noise-canceling headphones. If all else fails, pack up your laptop and notebook and go to a coffee shop. A friend of mine goes for a drive to dictate her books. Do whatever works!
Prioritize Writing Over Other Tasks
Making the time write means reassessing your priorities. What are you trading for your writing time? An hour of sleep? An hour of television or doom-scrolling? I spend plenty of time watching TV (and scrolling, doom and otherwise), so I’m not suggesting you cut out the things you love entirely. But it’s worth a hard look at where you’re spending your time so that you can fit in writing time.
That book you’re writing? IT MATTERS. And so do you. You’ll never regret taking the time to fully express yourself.
Utilize Tools to Stay Organized
Tools like planners, digital calendars, or writing apps can be used to track your daily word count and tracking a deadline. Schedule your writing time and track your progress, checking off each goal you achieve. (I love nothing more than a ticked box!)
I make this process fun by stickering my planner and using Tombow markers to highlight important sections. I also recommend keeping a notebook handy (an app on your phone works well too) to capture any bursts of inspiration that may strike.
Be Flexible but Persistent
When life is life-ing our best-laid plans can go to sh*t. If you miss a writing session, or fall short of your word count goal, don’t beat yourself up. Take another look at your schedule and adjust accordingly. Labeling yourself a failure will not speed up the process.
Find a Friend Who’s Writing Too
Writing is a solitary practice, but it doesn’t have to be. Find a friend who is also writing a book and do writing sprints (usually writing 1,000 words in an hour is the goal, but you can adjust to make sense for your goals).
If you don’t know anyone, I do! I created The Lemmon Society membership for writers and we even have a space called “The Writing Lounge”. Inside, you can track your word count, chat about what you’re writing and cheer other writers on. I’ll be in there to encourage you along the way, too. It’s my favorite part! Check it out.
Celebrate!
Since most of us don’t write a book in a day, it’s important to celebrate incremental wins when they happen on our journey to “The End”.
Completed your word count goal for the day? Stop working for the day and make yourself a mocktail. Or go to your local thrift shop and browse. Or take a bubble bath and watch the latest Real Housewives (that’s been my go-to lately!). Small rewards like these remind us that we are achieving on the way to The End.
Remember Your “Why”
If you feel discouraged, remind yourself why you decided to write in the first place. Do you want to be a published author with a six-figure contract? Do you want to be a self-pub maven? Reconnect with your big dreams. Make a vision board or a list of reasons why it’s important to you. Keep it in front of you and refer to it often. PRO
TIP: Often our real reasons go beyond the money or the fame. Make sure you include how you’ll feel once you get there: accomplished, confident, proud… You will grow during this process, and that’s a good thing.
Writing a book takes dedication, but you don’t have to put your life on hold to make it happen. By taking small, consistent steps and giving yourself grace along the way, you can carve out the time you need to bring your story to life.
You’ve got this!
xo, Jessica 🍋
If you’d love to learn how I did it, my writing course will teach you how to finish the book with a proven success formula. Better yet, you can augment it to work for you. And I’m just one lifeline call away if you are stuck. Learn more.