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Topic: Time?

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Busydonnelly avatar
Subject: Time?
Date Posted: 4/30/2012 10:26 AM ET
Member Since: 1/22/2009
Posts: 73
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So I have tried to write for a while now and attempted NANO last year. It seems I have some time but any advice on juggling life, marraige and full time work while attempting to dabble in creative writing?

xengab avatar
Date Posted: 5/1/2012 5:30 PM ET
Member Since: 10/13/2007
Posts: 36,445
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I work full time and am married too. BEST way is to set aside writing time 30mins to an hour each day.  IF you have a lunch hour then spend 30mins writing during that. When you get home, set aside another 30mins and write then. TELL people Xpm I am writing do NOT call me, do not disturb me. Then if they call DO NOT answer, if someone (hubby) asks you something reply "I will get back to you at Xpm, write down what you are needing".   They will soon get into that habit and stop annoying you.   Buy some headphones to wear to cut out noise/distractions, that way others will be less likely to annoy you as they will see you as 'occupied"

You MUST set aside time many times a week, or else just trying to snatch minutes here or there, nothing will get written. You need to set up a habit pattern and stick to it. If you attend sports or after work things, rather then going home or having coffee out or going early, just sit in your car and use that time to write.

 

zeke68 avatar
zeke68 -
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 5/2/2012 4:10 PM ET
Member Since: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,810
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You have to decide what is most important and what is least important; in other words, what can be cut out of your life temporarily while you are writing.  

When I was writing my last piece, I cut way down on my reading so that I would have time to write.  But I didn't set specific times for writing.  I just used the time that I would have been reading - on my lunch hour, before bed, after dinner, etc. - to write instead of read.  When I got stuck on a spot, I'd put the writing down and read.  I went from 340 books read in 2010 to 186 read in 2011.

My reading did suffer, but I wrote a decent book.  smiley



Last Edited on: 5/2/12 4:10 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Busydonnelly avatar
Date Posted: 5/7/2012 7:38 AM ET
Member Since: 1/22/2009
Posts: 73
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Thank you for your ideas, I am going to try to start a pattern this week and see where I end up.....