How Do I Make Tiime to Write?

I ask myself that question everyday. There are never enough hours in the day...not to get everything done that needs to be done and still have time to write.

I fill up my day as a mom, a wife, a volunteer, a leader, a teacher, and of course a writer. But finding time to write can be a challenge, especially when you are pulled in what seems like other more urgent directions. But somehow I always find the time...and I tend to find it in the most unexpected places.


Here are my top 5 times and places to write:

1. Poolside at swim practices. It is a perfect place to open up my computer and tap away. (or edit my book, or work on cover art, or plot my next story, etc.)

2. Driving from place to place. (Don't worry, I don't actually write while driving, but I plot and brainstorm ideas. I have solved many story problems behind the wheel.)

3. Carpool lanes.

4. During breakfast. Most days, I set an hour aside in the morning while I eat breakfast to network and write.

5. Between 10PM and Midnight when everyone else is asleep. The house, phone, email, and neighborhood is quiet and still. I also use this time to wash dishes and catch up on my favorite TV programs.


Time never stops (or even slows) to give us a break, so how do you keep up with everything and still find time the other stuff?

I'm Taking a Walk

The worst part about writing is staring at an empty page with the cursor blinking back at you. The words swimming around in your head, making little sense at all. Nothing stringing together to make even one coherent sentence. 

Nothing but blankness...empty...void of words.

So, what to do?

 

I say- go for a walk!

A walk- not a run, not a bike ride- a walk! 

Walking is known to increase circulation and provide more oxygen and glucose to our brains. Running, biking, and other aerobic exercise tends to take all that oxygen and glucose to the other muscles.  

A long walk and increased circulation to the cerebral hemisphere can improve concentration, creativity, the list goes on…

Walking is also known to decrease depression and anxiety. According to the Mayo Clinic, walking releases “feel-good” chemicals, reduces the immune system chemicals that worsen how one feels, and increases temperature. 

Walking gives you a sense of self-worth, power, and control and promotes feeling of happiness.

Overall- walking is just plain good for everything! 

A walk typically helps me solve my latest plot hole, increases ideas for the story and all my characters. I think if I just keep on walking, I might be able to finish the whole novel- problem is? I can’t walk and type at the same time. At some point, I have to return home and write all the thoughts that are filling up my brain.

So if you’re stuck, feeling down, angry, confused- whatever- get up and go for a walk! I'll join you!!!