Like many writers out there who aren’t published or agented (and many who are) I have a pesky presence in my life: a full-time job. That means most of my best, most productive hours are spent not writing.
Despite this, I’ve managed to write and edit three books, plus get about halfway through a new manuscript, in just under a year and a half.
With the caveat that no two people work the same way, I wanted to share some of my strategies for getting words on the page around a 9-5 and a couple of other large obligations.
Tip #1: Find Your Productive Time
My first tip—and the one that would’ve saved me a lot of grief during my first novel—is to figure out when you’re most productive and try to only write then. For me, that is early in the morning before work. I get up about an hour earlier than I need to and start writing. With the house quiet, my eyes fresh, and a cup of coffee by my elbow, I can usually get somewhere between 500-1500 words written before I need to get up and make my lunch. Not a massive amount, but doing it consistently makes a draft grow pretty quickly.
I’m not saying everyone should get up at 5am to write. Maybe you’re a night owl and would rather stay up late to get words on the page. But either way, the point is to block off time to write when it will benefit you most.
For me, trying to write in the evenings is like pulling teeth unless I’m working on a scene I’m really excited about, or one that has lived in my head for a long time. So I generally take that time to work on something else, or read. Trying to force yourself to write every spare second is a recipe for burnout.
Tip #2: Let Your Mind Wander
This tip will not work if you have no busy work/downtime in your job. But for me, there is a lot of traveling to and from field sites via truck, ATV, or hiking, plus some rather mind-numbing data entry. If you have any moments during the day when you don’t have to be hyper-focused, my advice is to use them to your advantage and let your mind mull over your book.
For me, I chew on dialogue when I’m not thinking of something else. My favorite scenes between characters were written in my head out in the state forest. Then when I got home, all I needed to do was get them on the page, and they came easily since I’d already worked through how the conversation would go.
Another habit I’ve picked up is listening to writing podcasts or audiobooks in my genre as I’m doing data entry or traveling. I always need my hands busy while I’m listening to something anyway, so it’s a win-win!
Tip #3: Don’t Feel Guilty
Even with the best schedule, life gets in the way. You might have a surprise 12-hour workday, or a sick kid, or be the president of two local boards (okay, maybe that one is just me). There are going to be days you can’t carve out writing time. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Seriously. In my experience, getting down about not writing enough is a good way to end up in a downward spiral. Count it as a rest day, enjoy it, and move on. The manuscript will still be there a day, or a week, or a month from now.
Tip #4: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Here’s the truth—everyone’s life, needs, and schedules are vastly different. Yes, there are people who can crank out a first draft in a week. But there are many more people who take months or years to finish a draft, and that’s okay too. The important thing is that you are enjoying writing. Otherwise, what’s the point?
What are your tips for writing while working full-time?
Have any effective strategies for managing your writing time with a full-time job? Let us know in the comments below!
