Oh did I do some extensive research on the topic!
In today’s post, I share ALL the tested tips I found and now use to find time to write.
All the tips. In one post. WootWoot!
So, yes, all that time spent on research, it was worth it, but if I took the time to write instead, darn… I would have three books ready to query right now.
I’m being a little overdramatic here. And lying. Yeah.
I most certainly would have used that time to play video games.
Thing is, and you certainly heard that one before, writing novel was a hobby for me. Having a novel traditionally published was beautiful, unattainable, dream I would sporadically try to make come true.
I should have thought about what I really wanted to do with all those drafts waiting to happen before trying to find time to write.
When I got very darn, turning my life upside down serious about it, finding time to write was a little less hard.
After working on it for a while, trying different methods those super Mom bloggers were all talking about, failing, trying again, I finally succeeded, at getting my sh*t together and find time to write.
Author / Mom: know thyself, writer!
I said it before, knowing our own writer’s rhythm is crucial to be able to find time to write.
What works for one writer can be a horrible pain in the bottom for another.
Also, I would recommend doing something I find really, really hard to do: stop the comparison game.
That author writes way faster than you. That author published ten books before its 25th birthday. That author has 255K followers on YouTube.
Enough with that sh*t!
Focus on finding time to work on your novel and follow your own rhythm.
Therefore, all the tips down below come with a warning: don’t use it if it doesn’t fit your writer’s rhythm.
Tested by an author mom Tips&Tricks to find time to write
- Get organized, Mama
I hate this one. Often, it feels so hard or impossible. Plus, young kids are demanding and things may change fast.
Still, I :
– Cook meals ahead of time.
– Divided house chores between family members (my kiddo is now old enough to play « pick up your toys »; I know, it won’t last).
Oh, and important message to the significant others, male, female, non-binary: if you live in the house, you help taking care of the house chores, even if you are the sole provider of money. Understood? This beautiful new mama with whom you’re lucky to share your life with ain’t your mama. Got it? Moving on.
– Divided playtime time after supper between hubby-to-be and me, so I can (try to) get an hour of solid writing time between supper and bath time. - Ask for help
This one, I barely use, but I wish I could use more (both our family lives far away and everything). But when a big house chore lies ahead, we call for backups. That way, I can manage to keep the writing session schedule up and running all week instead of trying to do ten things at once. - Don’t obsess over the small house things
Like finding your living room floor underneath a sea of toys (grandma is giver).
That one, I just can’t live with. I need a minimum of tidiness to function. On the other end, I’ve learned to leave the grown-up’s dishes aside for the night; as long as kiddo stuff is clean and ready-to-go, I am too… now. - Create a writing space
We both work from home. Hubby-to-be works every weekday night, which means the bed is transformed into my writing space.
I do have a proper desk now, after years of working on the kitchen table. And it did make all the difference in the world. I have a dedicated space for my craft books, my dictionaries, my office supplies.
Since I’ve been working full-time from home, I use the writing space less for creative writing. - Create a (flexible) writing routine
Flexibility. With young kids around, that word can be used in a lot of different ways.
Up until 24 months, a kid’ play-eat-sleep may change every week, every two weeks, every two months. In short, the routine is to adapt to fast-growing kiddo.
A flexible writing routine is a must.
Now, to the brand new mama’s out there, to successfully create a writing routine, and by writing routine I mean a solid two to three hours of solo, you have to involve a third party.
The significant other, even if he/she worked all week, poor-tired-provider-blah-blah-blah (indeed yes, there was a debate in this house about it, yes, yes, yes), has to take care of his/her kid while you write.
That is it for my mama specific tips on how to find time to write a novel.
I am curious to know your tips to find time for writing, so please comment down below.
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Marie Alice Writes & Reads 