Monday, June 10, 2013

Stealing Time

After receiving lots of advice and encouragement from the writing community at the last Insecure Writer's Support Group, I had a lot to think about. My circumstances have changed and now I'm working full time and struggling to find time to write and edit or even blog.

What was your advice?

"You'll find the rhythm of writing and working that works for you."

"But I know so many writers who do manage a full time job, kids, and writing. I just figure they were super humans"

"It's really difficult to find time to write. You just have to steal time when you can."

"I have long moments I can steal. I have short moments I can hide away. I take the time I can get"

"I just force myself to do it. I set aside time in the evening and write no matter what. Well, if the house caught fire I'd probably stop."

"...I do the best I can- half hour here, five minutes there, 30 seconds jotting that idea down before I lose it... that little goes a long way to keep me going."

"Writing is only one of my 'super-powers' (lol) so I roll with the punches and don't crank out words just to fit some profile. I work when I can and fit in some down time. Publishing is not a race or a destination, just a mile-marker along the way."

"When I was working, it helped to tackle smaller chunks [it's not as overwhelming] and gave myself days off w/o guilt."

"... I think it's important not to let yourself feel guilty. You write when you can!"

I really took your advice to heart. "Stealing" time seems to be a popular concept among working writers. At work on Friday, I had a slow afternoon.  So I stealthily opened the outline on the second novella in the series I'm writing. I thought about where it was going. I actually asked myself what I could "do" to my characters to try to  prompt some kind of creativity in myself...

Nothing came.

So I worked a little. Looked back at the novella. Worked a little more. I finally turned back to the novella and thought of a plot point / scene prompt to add. Then added another. Two plot / scene prompts. That's about all I had.

But as it turns out, the direction in which those two scene prompts led me absolutely rocked! Because on Sunday when I opened the outline again (and mind you, it had been about two months before I even thought about working on it that previous Friday afternoon), I added another, then another and another plot point until I finished the outline in just a couple of hours. It's all done except for how Indigo gets rescued from her latest predicament, and I haven't decided how that will happen yet.

I wasn't feeling creative at all when I opened that document on Friday. In fact, the two prompts I wrote weren't even particularly creative. But it was those few stolen moments that actually led to a windfall of ideas that allowed me to complete the outline. For me, that's huge. I use scene prompts / plot points to write my books, so I know where they're going. I have a beginning, a middle and an end. I know what scenes I'm going to write. Heck, I'm practically done!

I always felt like I needed large chunks of space and time to settle into writing. And maybe I still do, I don't know.

All I know is that this time, a few stolen moments worked!

Thank you all so much for the advice!

You guys rock!

21 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing all the inspiring thoughts on this. You know I can relate to needing to steal time to write.

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    1. I do know, Natalie! You do a lot and you're an inspiration.

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  2. Excellent!

    I used to write during my lunch hour, but I was careful to use my own laptop.

    At my office there was a huge crackdown on computer abuse. I had friends get fired for using their computer for non-work related projects.

    Working during lunch or breaks gave me big chunks of material though. Your brain is in a different place at work and you can see things you might not notice in the quiet of home.

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    1. I'm lucky to be able to do some personal things on work time. I put in a lot of hours, and as long as I'm still doing my job, the boss is okay with sneaking some personal stuff in. I don't think I could ever get too immersed in my writing at work, though. That's for home.

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  3. I''ll be stealing writing time this summer when my kids are home. Unfortunately they aren't the quietest of individuals, and I'm easily distracted. :P

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    1. LOL, I understand, Stina. Kids will be kids. Enjoy them while you can, though, because all too soon they're off on their own and you'll miss them. Good luck on your writing this summer.

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  4. Yay! Glad to hear that it worked. I have trouble stealing time when the kids are home. Like Stina, I'm too easily distracted and can't seem to gather my thoughts that quickly.

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    1. I always think I need more space and larger chunks of time, Tonja. But we'll see how it goes. I may just have to try and grab chunks on the weekends.

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  5. That's how I've written all of my fiction books. Stealing a little bit of time here and there.

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    1. I'm just wondering if I can keep the big picture in mind while working in little chunks. *shrugs* I'll make it work, though!

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  6. Glad it worked! I tend to write in large chunks, but if I had to do it in short bursts, I'd make it work.

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    1. Large chunks works better for me in the writing department because I really like to settle in and get something done. But I did find that smaller bits of time works for basically writing down ideas or prompts for projects I'm working on. I'm determined to make it work!

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  7. I am so very lucky that my children are old enough to help out around the house. Their gift of time allows me to steal afternoons and evenings for my writing. For writers with small children who also work full time -- I honestly don't know how you do it!

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  8. Glad you were able to steal some time. Some of you are superheroes with all you do.

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  9. Writing is one of those things that turns into an avalanche. I hope your stolen moments work out for you :)

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  10. Great advice! Sometimes I have to remind myself that when I don't have hours for writing, it's better to take 15 minutes than nothing at all.

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  11. I never cease to be amazed at how supportive the IWSG group is. So glad the advice helped and I hope your stolen moments keep working for you. :)

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  12. Excellent! The writing community is, by and large, one of the most supportive groups of people I've ever met. Good luck to you :)

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  13. Thanks for sharing this! It's really encouraging to find support.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  14. Fabulous advice. Stealing Time. I'll have to remember that!

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  15. I try to do that too, although it doesn't always work. I'll often "steal" time and then end up spending a while writing... only to realize that I have to be somewhere right when I'm really getting into a writing mood. :(

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