As a younger writer, I would write whenever I had downtime. Growing up in New York, you would be surprised how often that was. I would frequently scribble in a notebook while riding the subway, or at a dinner table while waiting for service, or late at night when I couldn’t sleep. I filled notebooks and emptied pens at an absurd (and expensive) rate. I finished the entire first draft of my first novel (plug) on the subway rides to and from work.

That was me at 23. At 38, I find myself less comfortable with whipping out a pen and paper and just writing. For starters, I’ve conditioned myself to always work on something instead of free writing. Story details need organizing and to be laid out in advance. And I don’t have the same kind of downtime anymore.

When I lived in New York, my downtime came in between home and work, but these days, it mostly occurs at work. I don’t always feel as comfortable writing at work as I should (not to say that I don’t do it, of course, just not nearly as much as I should). I don’t live in New York anymore, so I need to drive. Writing while driving is frowned upon by insurance companies. The biggest culprit is my inability to write at home these days. My job is an overnight job, and I’m very rarely home and awake.

I’m sure that I’m not the only one struggling with that. Most of us writers are doing it as a second job (and to those of you who are making their primary living from fiction writing, freelance writing, or any other kind of writing, you’re my hero). I’ve looked into some of the old habits I had when I wrote more fervently.

1: Keep a pen and notebook in reach. I stock up on composition notebooks, and I carry them with me wherever I go, that way whenever I’m not actively doing anything, I can jot down thoughts or ideas, or bits of conversation that would sound cool in a story.

2: Write at work. I’m lucky enough to work in a field that gives me several hours a night of less-than-busy time. I started using a writing timer (the Write-o-meter app is fantastic at this) to write for short bursts when I work., so I can have my downtime and be responsible at the job, all at once.

3: Schedule writing time. On my off days, I schedule blocks of time for writing and editing. Sometimes it’s an hour, sometimes it’s three, but the main thing is to have time with my butt in the chair.

4: Use a journal to warm up. I imagine that I’m not unlike most writers who keep a journal, or a diary, or something that you can put down thoughts. I make it a point to journal before a writing session, kind of like stretching. It keeps my brain loose, and if I get rid of all the thoughts that get in the way of the writing, all that’s left are the words.

5: Turn off the Wi-Fi. This is the hardest thing. Social media wasn’t even a blip on the radar when I started writing, and it’s hard to be on the computer without checking Facebook. Damn you, Mark Zuckerberg. So, whenever I’m writing, I make sure the Wi-Fi is off to eliminate the temptation. I can look stuff up later; I can catch up with that one friend from high school who knew a friend of a friend of a best friend I haven’t seen since 2000 later. Writing time is writing time. Period.

How many of you, writers or not, struggle with not having enough time? What do you do to make it work? Feel free to sound off in the comments below.

#2017 #writing #distractions #facebook