Fiction Scribe

This will be the last part of the discussion on time management. There will be more to come in future posts, and I’m sure the subject will be touched on frequently.

To finish up, I’d like to give some suggestions for moments you might be able to squeeze writing time out of. Many of these cross over and work for other categories to, so even if you don’t fit all of these, the suggestions may still fit you.

For the Student

§Waiting for class. When I was in college, sometimes I had to run to get from one class to another, but at other times, the break between classes wasn’t long enough to do anything other than get something to eat and then go sit for a while before class started. Get your homework done on time so you can use the time before class to work on writing instead of finish up homework.

§Lunch time. Lunch time can be your time to each fly through your salad or sit down to enjoy your pasta. Students are some of the best multitasking people out there, so I have faith you can chew and write at the same time.

§Take a little less video game/online/television time out of your day. Ten minutes less on any of them isn’t going to hurt you in the least bit, and writing might actually be the better alternative, considering some games/sites/shows.

For the Professional

§While having your morning coffee/tea. Mornings tend to be a bit slacking at work. At least all of the jobs I’ve had anyway. You and your coworkers may have a morning coffee or tea to start the day, or you may, as I did at one of my jobs, stretch, yawn, and trudge around until the day truly got started. You can still do all that, just do it at the same time as you write.

§Waiting for that person to arrive or that meeting to start. People are late, and be it for meetings or appointments, those are minutes which can be put to writing use. Yes, you’ll get interrupted mid-writing, but at least you’ll be writing.

§In transit. Public transport can be a blessing, even to the writer part of you. According to Sue Grafton’s article, Finding the time to write, “British crime writer Michael Gilbert wrote 23 novels… all while riding the train to his work as a solicitor. He used the [transit time] to produce [two to two and a half] pages a day, 12 to 15 pages a week.” Use your time wisely.

For the Home Mom or Dad

§Nap time. The most obvious one, but perhaps the most useful. If you have young young ones, nap time can be a blessing for you and your writing.

§Outside playtime. I have the utmost respect for how some parents seem to be able to see everything despite the fact they’re talking to their friend on the phone, getting the bills paid, and keeping an eye on dinner so it doesn’t get burnt.

§Movie time. It’s entirely possible (in most positions) to cuddle up with your child(ren) and keep your hand moving at your side. Just try not to let the writing distract your child(ren) from the movie like the movie might distract you from your writing.

For Everyone

§While brushing your teeth. Staring at yourself in the mirror can be fun, but you could be writing down notes while you’re doing it. It also gets you to brush your teeth longer (usually) which will be good for your dental hygiene.

§Take time away from the newspaper.

§Commercial time! Most people spend so much time watching television - and a lot of it is composed of commercials. If you can write during those times, you can probably get a lot more writing done during this time than you think.

Happy writing.