With the different deadlines I face, writing every day is a necessity. But even before I had deadlines, I wrote every day—just a smidgeon.
If I didn’t, then it was even harder the next day to get back into the groove. And my short writing session would drag out longer because I was writing slowly.
Writing really is a muscle that needs to be exercised. It’s easier to get back into your writing groove the next day if you’ve written the day before. Every day you skip makes it that much more difficult to pick it back up.
Another important reason to write every day? You get natural continuity of voice, pace, and plotting in your manuscript.
Lack of time is the number one excuse writers give for not writing. But if you can find 15 minutes, you can make progress on your manuscript:
Make a plan. Before you stop writing each day, jot down what you plan on writing the following day. This doesn’t have to be a major outline. Something as simple as “Dialogue—Kathy asks Jenny about her feelings about the murder victim and where she was during crime” will work out great.
Note where you left off the day before. Your fifteen minutes will be shot to Hades if you spend it rereading what you wrote the previous day. Again, a short note works well: “Kathy finished discussing the crime with Sam, left the park, and mulled over the potential suspects.”
Be forgiving and uncritical. This is a quick writing session to move your plot forward as much as possible in 15 minutes. You’re not going to write spotless, perfect prose here.
Open up to writing on the go. We’d all love to have a quiet, scenic little writing cabin to escape to. The reality is that many of us are writing on lunch breaks, while waiting for the train to arrive, in carpool lines, or pediatric waiting rooms. If you can learn to block out the world around you and quickly jump into your manuscript, you’ll get a lot more done.
Come equipped. There’s nothing worse than finding a small pocket of time in your day and not having anything to write on. Make a point of having a notebook in your car, desk drawer, and purse. Make sure to pack pens and pencils. Sometimes it’s just easier to whip out a piece of paper and a pencil than taking out your laptop.
But what if you only have 5 minutes to write?
It can be done! I have done real work on my manuscript in five minutes. Here’s how:
Character development: In five minutes, you can list as many things about your character as you can think of. They’re people—what do they like, dislike, and absolutely abhor? What are their pet peeves? Although this list may never make it into your manuscript, the point of the exercise is to give yourself more insight into your character and provide them more depth when you’re writing about them.
Character description: This is an easy exercise to do in 5 minutes. Describe your character. What do they look like? Sound like when they talk (loud speaker, soft speaker)? Do they smell like peppermints? Use your senses.
Setting description: Again, this is the perfect exercise for a 5 minute session. Pick a setting in your manuscript and elaborate on it.
Brainstorm 5 ideas for the next scene in your WIP: You do have one. This is your perfect time to think ahead and, off the top of your head, come up with five ideas for it. They can be as zany or as sedate as you like. Who knows what direction your story could go in? A little quick brainstorming session can open up new possibilities.
If you’re squeezing writing into a busy day, you’re far ahead of the curve. And just five or fifteen minutes a day can put you on track for finishing your first draft.
How do you squeeze writing into your day?
I think I would be lots more productive if I would follow your excellent advice, Elizabeth. I’m working on it.
When I was teaching I wrote before and after school and I did make a note of where I’d left off and where I was going it did make a huge difference in my productivity for the little time that I had.
And, I’ve experienced getting away from the writing for more than a day and you are so right that the longer you stay away the harder it is to pick it back up. Love that writing as a muscle analogy!
Today I wasn’t ready to get into my WIP so I wrote my MC’s life up to the point where the story starts.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth – I know all about squeezing writing into short dollops. Sometimes, that’s the only way that I can get any writing done. Your ideas are just terrific, and I’ve used some of them myself. What I also do is this. I make a note to myself about a scene I need to write, or a character (e.g. “Scene where John finds the gun under the chair and shows it to Sam.”). That reminds me of what I want to do. Then, once that scene’s written, I’ve made good progress, and it hasn’t taken long.
Taking advantage of the extra few minutes you get each day makes a world of difference. Sometimes those few minutes can result in some of a writer’s best ideas. Great tips.
Yeah, I need to follow your guidelines, too, Elizabeth. Especially about writing each day. This made so much sense to me. Thank you.
Karen
Great post! The simple idea of making a note of what you last wrote is fantastic – I always forget where I was, so ‘everyday’s a new novel’.
NaNoWriMo was a big help for me because my family acknowledged that my writing time had to have priority and somehow I’ve convinced them it still does, so everything waits until writing and editing is done. I keep expecting them to catch on :-).
I often write in 15 or 20 minute chunks. I rarely have more than 30 minutes at a time. I’m not sure how I’d react with a couple of hours in a row!
Elizabeth, First of all this is great encouragement -write where you are with what time you have. And I needed the little reminder-how easy it is to start writing (and thinking) about character development. Thanks-Teresa
I need to do better in this regard. Often, if I only have 10 or fifteen minutes, I’ll spend it sifting through emails or checking the latest feeds on Facebook. I should be writing!!
You’re right about making a note about where to start. Sometimes I spend all my time editing and re-editing the previous day’s writing instead of adding. I’ve heard some people leave off in the middle of a sentence to make it easier to jump back in! I also benefit from carrying a notebook in my purse for brainstorms or jotting ideas. Thanks for the post!
Lori Lowe
http://www.LifeGems4Marriage.com
These are all excellent suggestions. I’ve used a few of them myself. When my life was way too hectic to do anything at all, I used to tell myself – sometimes at work, at one of those moments when I paused, gasping for breath between other things – Just Write One Sentence.
When you have your life under more control, you can do some advanced things to keep it flowing. That’s why I blog my ongoing Novel Dare – because one thing that will keep you going is if you have to report progress every day. (But beware if you are one of those 15 minutes a day people, blogging takes up more time than that.)
This is great!
I always look for chunks of time and never find it. Thank you!
You stress an important point here. I can’t miss a day of writing because it throws me off. I even write on holiday. I love your pointers as to what can be done in 5 minutes. I waste so much of my life waiting and I spend those minutes planning for my next writing session… so I guess it’s not a waste.
ann
The story of my life–squeezing it in when I can. But it does work. I’ve written three novels in two years and am starting my fourth.
Yours is one of those great writing related blogs I mentioned in the *** of my post today.
~ Wendy
Really great advice, Elizabeth. I keep notebooks in my purse and always have a clipboard full of scrap paper or my favorite, index cards, on my desk and end tables.
I really need to be more like you, Elizabeth. Your time management skills astound me.
Because when I started writing, I had 2 small children and a full time job, I had no choice but to write in small chunks. 15 minutes was the ideal time for me–it was easy to squeeze out 15 minutes waiting in the school pick up line, or in the dentist’s office, during part of my lunch. My trick, which I shamelessly stole from some blog post or another, was to leave off in the middle of something. A sentence, a paragraph, a scene. That way I had a place to start, rather than spend my limited time bemoaning a blank page.
So funny you are exploring writing time. One of my big whines. Excuse me ex-whines.
I’m learning the value of flexibility. It stretches a long way.
You post the best things. Every time I comment I feel as if I say ‘what a great post’ but I really do mean it. The making a quick note for the next writing session is something I do when I know where it’s going. Sometimes I don’t, and it always takes longer to get started the next day. I can also vouch for brainstorming the next scene in spare minutes. Especially when I haven’t left myself a note about it.
Notecards and little scraps of paper, backs of envelopes, the margins of newsletters. I jot it down where-ever I might be standing or sitting. I’ve even used the white spaces in the church bulletin (we’ll keep that between us – don’t want to hurt the preacher’s feelings). This is becoming useful as I flesh out new characters for my drama.
Very helpful and encouraging, ESCRA. In our busy lives, we must find ways to write daily, for all the reasons you said. Yes, I will steal this for my writing workshop. And give you credit, of course
You are so right! (Or is the write?)
15 minutes here and there is how I’ve always written! Once in a while I get a long stretch, but I’d say 90% of my work was composed in 10-15 minute intervals. I often write 1-2 hours a day, just not in a row.
So that’s either genius or I’ve just got a short attention span!
I find it hard to write every single day due to my crazy schedule, but I’ll definitely keep these practices in mind and try to use them to make my manuscript go faster and be more alive!
Good points. It’s easy to just give up and figure you don’t have “enough time” today so you don’t write at all. But as you’ve so aptly pointed out, ANY length of time is usable if you get focused and go about it right.
Marvin D Wilson
Great suggestions! I recently started using your, “Make a plan” idea and find it works well for me. I try to leave myself at least 3 or 4 ideas for the next session. I can now get right into writing without losing time hem-hawing around wondering where I’m going.
I have pretty much always kept my writing to the weekends and it’s worked out more or less fine. For the last couple of weeks, though, the writing hasn’t been flowing and has lead to a lot of anxiety on my part. I keep thinking: This is my only writing time! and If not now when?? I know that if I incorporated your suggestions I’d live a happier writing life. I’m glad I found this post. I’m going to use the rest of my lunch break to flesh out a new character. Thanks, Lauren
I go everywhere with pen and paper, even when jogging (in which case I have a tiny pen and scrap of paper in a small wallet–finding a flat spot to write when the idea strikes is the hard part. Plus it can interfere with keeping up my heartrate). The writing muscle atrophies when you don’t use it everday, and I’ve discovered that editing doesn’t count. I have to write at least a few new paragraphs to really keep the imagination limber.
I like the analogy of writing as a muscle. Using it strengthens it. Very true. Good points as always.
Best Wishes, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I can write pretty much anywhere, so short spurts aren’t a problem.
Patricia–Hope it helps!
Paul–It’s almost like our brain has forgotten how to put words together or something. It’s a terrible sensation for me–I try to avoid it. :)
Margot–So you’ve got your writing points, you write it, then you feel successful about your progress! It’s win-win.
Mason–You’re so right! And if I trickle my writing through the day, I seem to think about my story more and get more ideas.
Karen–I hope it helps. The hardest thing is starting back into a project, but if it’s broken down into tiny bits and short segments, it really does help.
Charmaine–Oh, it can be hard to get the family onboard with the writing. :) But especially if it’s in small chunks, they seem to handle it a little better. If I told my kids I was going to shut myself in my room for 2 hours, they’d think I’d lost my mind.
Jemi–If you’re like me, you’re so stunned to have 2 free hours that you don’t know what to do first!
Teresa–If we make it easy for ourselves by having a small plan, it really can go quickly. :)
Alan–I do the same thing! But I try to have my 15 minutes of writing first…then I’ll end up checking email for sure.
Ann–And that’s the way I feel, too. I’ll even go places a little early so I can sit in my car and write for 5-10 minutes. And now I always have a ready-made activity for all those days when I have to wait on something.
Wendy–It’s a crazy way to write, but if it works…then who can argue with it? :)
LJ–It’s a perfect amount of time, isn’t it? And great advice about leaving off in the middle of a sentence or an exciting scene to help jump-start you the next day.
Lori–Editing and re-editing sure does slow things down during the first draft…at least for me.
The Daring Novelist–That’s a great idea…ONE sentence. Which leads to more, always! And you’re right…the blogging takes a lot longer than 15 minutes. :) But I can probably brainstorm 7 or 8 viable ideas for blogs in 15 minutes, even if I don’t write one. The manuscript writing has got to come first, though–it’s more important.
Kristen–There are no chunks. :) I can’t ever find 45 minutes of straight writing time. Something always comes up..
Mary–I’ve used the blank offering envelopes at church to write on. The shame! :) Ah well. If I’m writing something down in church, it’s a pretty darn good idea.
Diane–Sometimes it’s the *only* way to write! Yes, we’re geniuses. :)
B–Crazy schedules are the worst. Especially if it changes at the drop of a hat. That’s probably when writing at odd times might work (even if you’re compiling the scene in your mind while you shower?) I know that experts fuss about everyone trying to multi-task, but sometimes there’s just no other way.
Marvin–It really doesn’t have to take long. I wrote my first book in 15 minute increments…one page a day.
Janel–Index cards! Those are the best…good point. They’re stronger and thicker than paper, but can still be crammed into small spaces for quick writing sessions.
Elspeth–I think it’s all desperation and a strong desire not to have to pay my advance money back because I missed my deadlines. :)
Jane–That’s great! I’m so glad it worked out for you. :)
Lauren–That’s the thing–if it’s important to you (and it’s obviously really important if you’re sacrificing your lunch hour at work), then you can definitely make it work in 15 minutes. But having a plan (just a little plan) is what *makes* it work.
Tamika–We’re all in the same boat (some of us are more in the boat than others–moms of young kids!). It’s still a struggle for me to get my writing time in every day, too…life is so crazy!
Terry–I frequently feel that way, but if I give into the feeling then I don’t end up getting as much done–because I’ll try to block off more time and won’t try to squeeze it in. And then, sometimes, disaster strikes (like my poor daughter, who is home sick with Strep) and that big block of time doesn’t happen. Then I’m writing at 11 p.m…which isn’t a great creative time for me!
Galen–Thanks. :) There must be some synapse in the brain that needs that daily connection. My biology is fuzzy, but the problem is real.
Carol–Thanks! Yes, you’re so right…having a brief plan for the writing day makes it a ton easier. I’ll usually just open up my laptop, check my note, and write the scene I assigned myself the day before.
Alex–And you probably are really productive…because you’re working it in.
Glen–Steal away! :) Hope it helps someone.
I agree. I don’t always do it but I definitely agree.
Jan–Thanks for coming by!
Loved the advice in this post! I’m going to go do my 15 minutes….no excuses anymore!
Write on! ;) It is amazing what you can do in only 5 minutes. Thanks for the reminder to keep on truckin.
Excellent advice, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing this. I have been incorporating many of these into my daily routine, otherwise it wouldn’t get done. I think it’s human nature to wait for that magical chunk of time to appear (to organize a room, write a novel, start a project, etc), and when that chunk never materializes, there goes the dream. We must take advantage of the spare minutes here and there.
Like the saying goes, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — so does our writing — a few minutes at a time, if need be!
I always feel incredibly guilty when I read such good advice on writing daily like your own.
I did for a short brief period in my writing life actually write for at least an hour each evening from Janurary until February and then once I’d finished one draft project somehow I became a lazy, coach potatoe do-anything-else person again and lost it. In fact I actually became more of a bookworm afterwards flying through my large ‘to read’ collection like a whirlwind if only because they were all good books. But I’m now buzzing with ideas for its sequel so I am determined to get into the swnig again. *fingers crossed* Thanks for advice! I’ll keep flicking to it whenever I start deviating.