I tried writing at 5 AM. I joined the late-night writers for a session. And don’t forget about the hour dedicated to writing on my lunch break. Whenever a writer suggested the optimal time to write, I gave it a shot. But I learned that what worked for one writer didn’t necessarily work for me. I learned that it wasn’t about writing at a specific time but making sure that I scheduled in time to write.
Write Whenever You Can
Scheduling in time to write has worked best for me. My schedule has varied each day, especially while my son was enrolled in virtual school. Even though we’re on summer break, much hasn’t changed. As a stay-at-home mom, I have to make sure that he has a balanced day filled with fun and learning, independent time and time with me, outside time and adventures at home. And of course, we have to explore places in our city.
The only way that I can get everything done is to check my schedule ahead of time and figure out when I can write. Before he wakes up or after he’s gone to bed. Some days I might be able to write while he’s enjoying his independent time. Though each day may look different, I have to figure out when I can get in my writing time. Then I put it on my calendar. This has been the only way that I was able to start writing consistently.
Basic Schedule
The easiest method to create a schedule is to write a list of everything we have to accomplish in a day.
Example
- 6 am Wake Up
- Add whatever we need to do
- Add details
- More details
- Yep more things that we need to do
- 8 pm Write (***Whatever time we can write)
- 10 pm Bedtime
Grace
One of the best nuggets of writing advice I’ve received is to remember that it’s okay if I can’t write every day. I’m still a writer if I can only write one paragraph on Monday, zero words on Tuesday, an entire page on Wednesday, a sentence on Thursday, 2,000 words on Friday, three chapters on Saturday, and nothing on Sunday. Giving myself grace to rest has actually brought more joy back into my writing. Before I was stressed and felt if I didn’t produce as many words as another writer, I had failed. But that’s not true. I’m still a writer. A writer that will write whenever I can and give myself grace when I need a break.
Questions
Do you schedule your writing or reading time? Do you write or read at a specific time each day?
~Lamesha