How Do You Find Time To Write? 5 Ways to Increase Your Writing Productivity

I’ve said it. You’ve said it. Everyone (if I may be so bold) who has ever had an inkling to write has said it:

“I don’t have time to write!”

From day jobs, to family commitments, to hobbies, emergencies, travel plans, and a plethora of other you-name-its, it can be absurdly easy to completely forego writing by chalking up the decision (subconsciously or not) to a lack of time—especially when we’re first dipping our toes into the unknown waters of words, which can be plain ‘ole frightening.

But not to fear, my comrade! I promise there are crumbs of time lurking around, and my job today is to assist you in finding them.

Most writers don’t do all of the following things, but even actively pursuing one or two can help your writing start rolling. Therefore, without further adieu:

1. Write on your lunch break

I’ll never forget my years working in a call center. Hundreds of voices swirling around an atmosphere of tense problem solving to the rhythm of ringtones, keyboard punches, and mouse clicks. A flood of tones, accents, and attitudes greeted us every hour with a multitude of inquiries, each requiring a different response: quiet and encouraging, decisive and firm, intentional and explanatory.

These were exhausting times. I’d be lying if I said I wanted to write when the work day was over. My introverted self only wanted to curl up on the couch, watch a movie, and forget that tomorrow I’d be speaking to dozens more.

But after a few months, I realized that I had a small consistent window where some writing could be found:

My one-hour lunch.

It was a ten-minute walk to the car, so there was no point going anywhere on lunch. The impromptu nature of phone conversations meant we never knew if any given call would last two minutes or two hours, so trying to plan lunch with co-workers was difficult.

The remaining options were sitting in the break room, alone, or sitting at the desk, alone.

I came to treasure those times. Social media turned off, headphones popped-in, and the next 60 minutes spent developing worlds. Crafting characters. Plotting stories. Conjuring dialogue. Writing.

By the time I left my call center job, I’d plotted an entire science fiction television mini-series from scratch, developed half a dozen story worlds, created in-depth, series-arching character arcs for 7 major characters, written a 150-page pilot episode, re-written the entire episode, and was well into crafting the remainder of the series.

All from lunch breaks. 520 lunch breaks.

2. Write on the bus, the plane, the taxi, etc.

Naturally, not everyone utilizes public transportation to commute, but if you do, could there be a more consistent time to write? And one that is available twice a day? Food for thought.

“I don’t use public transportation,” you say. Well, there are still a few ways you can take advantage of this method; they just require a bit of creative thinking, which, if you’re a storyteller, you’re probably pretty good at :).

Here’s one: During my call center years, my wife and I shared a car. Since she worked shorter shifts, it made sense for her to do the dropping/picking up. Most days, that meant I would arrive early and wait for a bit once work was over. I learned to take advantage of those times and write even a few sentences. I promise, those sentences added up.

3. Carry around scraps of paper…scribble a few sentences whenever a free moment arises

I see the stares. I’m pushing my grocery cart through the soup aisle, then abruptly squeal the squeaking thing to a halt, whip a piece of paper out of my back pocket, and furiously begin scribbling how the hero of my WIP hides his true motives from his best friend, who may or may not be related to him.

Reality in the form of a line of other grocery carts rips me back to the real world as I sheepishly notice I’m blocking vital access to Campbell’s Tomato Soup. Squeak, squeak, squeak…

Over the last five years, I’ve accumulated hundreds of handwritten notes by simply being prepared to write wherever I am: that 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper folded over and over until it fits in my back pocket and a G2 pen at my side. It might seem like a poor man’s way to write at first, but he who writes little-by-little, sentence by-sentence is still better off than the individual who writes nothing at all.

Technological Tip: Over the last couple of years I’ve started utilizing Evernote to write small snatches on my phone. While I don’t enjoy writing on my phone as much as I do writing on paper, Evernote is a fantastic app that allows you to sync an electronic notebook across your computer, tablet, phone, etc. It’s honestly been amazing to “type” a few lines on my phone, then pick up right where I left off when I can get to the computer.

4. Use voice memos when walking

As you learn to write consistently, random lines of dialogue, plot points, and various musings will begin to give birth in your brain without warning. Therefore, they must be quickly written down before they’re forever forgotten. Write anytime, anyplace, right?

After a few attempts at scribbling on the steering wheel whilst driving, I realized that probably wasn’t the safest way to ensure I’d be able to write for years to come.

So, what’s to be done when a particularly excellent sentence or two pops up and you’re unable to retrieve that piece of paper you’re carrying around in your back pocket for such a time as this?

If you have a smart phone, a trusty-rusty voice recorder app should do the trick! While not exactly writing by its technical definition, you can easily transcribe later on whatever words you conjure. And you can be truthful to your family when they ask if you write while driving :).

5. Wake up EARLY!

My wife would argue the exact opposite: stay up late to write. But whether you rise early or retire late, the principle is the same. Spending even 30 minutes (or less!) at one of the day’s bookends = making progress, especially if writing in the middle of the day just isn’t happening.

“But I’m just too tired to get up early every day.”

You’re right—it’s not always easy to win a stare-down with the snooze button of doom. But think of it this way: in 5 years, 10 years, when you ask yourself what you did with your time, will you be satisfied with the answer, “I slept more”? Or will completed short stories, published books, and journals bursting at the seams smile back at you instead?

View Part Two of “How Do I Find Time To Write” here!