How to Utilize Writing Time

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By Smintch
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Many people dream of writing the Great American Novel, but most of their time is also shared with a career, a family, a social life, errands, chores and other tasks that pop up in everyday living. However, the key to starting your novel is not finding the time to do so. The key is carving out a set amount of time and the utilizing that time to the fullest. Many of us have heard the rule that if we write a page a day, at the end of a year, we'll have 365 pages. If you have a small block of time each day, what better way to utilize a short period of time and fulfilling your dream at the same time?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A story to tell
Serious desire to write
Focus
Pen and paper
Computer with word processing program

Step 1

Block out a set amount of minutes or hours on as many days as possible. Consider that 30 minutes a day for 5 days amounts to 2 1/2 hours of writing time.
Step 2

Charge ahead. Don't interrupt writing time to edit. That phase will come later.
Step 3

If writing at home, don't allow interruptions. Everyone has a tendency to put off the abstract until later. Until dreams become reality and your work is published, your writing career is a pretty abstract concept to most people. This sometimes has a tendency to rub off on the writer.
Step 4

Write at your own pace. One writer may write 20 pages a week and have 7 hours over a 7 day period. Another may only write 1 page in 2 1/2 hours over 5 days.
Step 5

Have fun and don't stop until "The End" is typed on the last page.

Tips & Warnings

If possible, join a writer's group, locally or online. Having the support of fellow writers can be quite beneficial.
Write as the story comes to you. Although editors and agents want to see the story in sequential order, if the first chapter comes to you last and the last chapter jumps on the pages first, write it. The most important thing to do is to get the story on paper.
Avoid the rewriting phase until you have finished your first draft. For beginning writers, this can be a lethal trap. Halt writing the story to do rewrites and you might not ever finish it.

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