Is finding time to write your biggest obstacle to writing regular blogs, finishing that novel, or getting started on the title you have in mind? Have you announced you are going to write a book and are now embarrassed by your lack of progress? Here are some tips to try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It happens to everybody<\/strong> I could use the excuse that I was improving my craft. Recently, I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference. It was a great experience, and I met a lot of wonderful people who were generous in sharing their knowledge. If you get a chance, you should attend a writer\u2019s conference near you or not near you! It will fire up your creative juices or just give you a kick in the pants, which is what I need from time to time. After forgiving yourself for not writing, take a look at your schedule to see if it reflects your priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What your schedule tells about your priorities<\/strong> What your emotions tell about your priorities<\/strong> How do you find time in a busy schedule?<\/strong> Mark your calendar<\/strong> If you have the luxury, arrange your schedule so that you write when you are most creative. If you are a morning person, get up earlier or see if you can adjust your schedule such as moving your gym time to after work. If you are a night owl who comes to life after 8:00 pm, resist the urge to turn on the TV, surf the internet, or check Facebook. I suggest you use your less creative times for editing and rewriting. I think you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your turn<\/strong> Kathy<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Finding time to write can hinder regular blogging, finishing novels, or starting new projects. The post encourages writers to forgive past failures and prioritize writing by examining their schedules and emotions. Tips include scheduling according to priorities, designating “no,” “maybe,” and “go” zones for writing, and identifying optimal times for creativity. Attending writers’ conferences can also provide motivation and support. Ultimately, it emphasizes being intentional about making time for writing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141515810,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[1403],"tags":[1450,1451,1406,1437,1452,1443,1444],"class_list":["post-25793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-write-on-writing","tag-fcwc","tag-florida-christian-writers-conference","tag-heart","tag-priorities","tag-time-for-writing","tag-writers-block","tag-writing-habits"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pggpsu-6I1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25792,"url":"https:\/\/writeonwisdom.com\/?p=25792","url_meta":{"origin":25793,"position":0},"title":"Writer\u2019s Block Buster","author":"Kathy Thomas","date":"February 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"My last blog addressed the importance of establishing momentum to keep your writing flowing. Momentum isn\u2019t something that can be conjured up. It comes from diligently practicing good writing habits. 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\nOK, I\u2019m embarrassed too. Interesting that I should be writing on this topic when it\u2019s been weeks since I wrote my last blog! First of all I\u2019d say to both of us, \u201cGet over it.\u201d Let\u2019s not allow our past performance to paralyze our future. Let\u2019s make progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTip #1. Schedule according to priorities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\nConsider your activities of the past week. Did you find time to write? If not, discover what consumes your time. For the next week, keep a log of how you spend your time. Note what activities took priority. Maybe these are more important than writing right now. Or maybe you might discover you are not doing what you want to do at all. You are in reactionary mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIf your story is like a fire shut up in your bones and finding time to write seems impossible, you may notice you are a little grumpier than normal. If requests for your time leave you feeling resentful or even a little angry, it may be an unconscious reaction to your goals being blocked. Examine your heart and determine what you are longing to do. Then make it a priority on your schedule and guard it from interruptions. Be intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTip #2. Schedule writing zones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\nI\u2019ll say it again, it\u2019s about priorities\u2014making time to do the things you love. It\u2019s interesting all the ways we describe time as if we really had control of it: spend time, waste time, save time, take time. We can\u2019t really make more time, but we can plan what to do with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGo back to your schedule. Take a typical week or month and block out three different time zones\u2014maybe use colored highlighters. First, cross out all the regularly scheduled activities that you can\u2019t change like your time at work, church, or regularly-scheduled meetings\u2014indicate these as your \u201cno\u201d zones. Next, highlight activities that you have control over. Some of these you can choose not to do or do at another time of the day or month. Label these as your \u201cmaybe\u201d zones and use them for writing every chance you get. Finally, look at what is discretionary time\u2014your unplanned time\u2014this is your \u201cgo\u201d zones. Put these on your calendar as writing appointments with yourself that you cannot break.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTip #3. Write at your optimal time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\nPlease use the comments section to share what works best for you!
\nWrite on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n