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I often sneak in a half hour here, or an hour there while the kids are at piano lessons or before they wake up. Now that it's summer, I have them at home with me all day, but I can always write during their designated reading time. I'll sometimes take the kids to the park, bring my lap top and let them play while I write. It's not the most serene environment, but it's something.
Of course, there are those times when I'll sacrifice my much-needed beauty sleep for those long stretches of fast-typing, completely-in-the-zone, interruption-free writing.
And while I love having those great chunks of time, (I would never finish a book without them), I actually find I can make some pretty decent progress during those little snippets as well. Even if I have to stop right when I'm finally stepping into the character's head. Even if the scene is just beginning to unfold, revealing itself like a hidden mystery bursting into daylight. That's okay because I can muse on it while I go about my day.
When that happens, I'll type a quick summary of the scene, keep the emotions with me throughout a large part of the day, and, of course, take notes along the way of things I do not want to forget. If I fail to bring my notebook, the scribbles end up on random envelopes, crinkled receipts, or the back and or palm of my hand. The important thing, for me anyway, is that I stay with it. And I do it without sacrificing excess amounts of time. For me, it's better to keep the book in my head than skip the whole day all together.
Writing is important to me, but I wait all year for my kids to get out of school (school is such a time hog!), and I want to spend the summer with them once it's finally here.
What about you? Got a method that totally rocks? Have you found the perfect writer-parent balance? Well hurry and share it already; we want to hear!
Coming up sometime in the near future: my 'Query Tracker Premium Membership Giveaway!' Stay tuned for details.
Great post, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFor me finding time and finding motivation go hand-in-hand. If I'm motivated, I'll find the time. Like you, I often neglect sleep in favor of writing. I have no kids yet (but I will in about 4 weeks if the little-one arrives on time), so I'm wondering how much time I'll have to write, but I do hope I can snag an hour or two a day. I might be dreaming.
Congrats on your upcoming addition, Steven! And you made a great point: motivation totally goes hand-in-hand with finding the time. Newborns offer a great amount of competition, rightfully so, but they also sleep a lot. ;) Good luck to you; I'm sure you'll sneak in a few hours a day while he/she sleeps.
ReplyDeleteI think you just have to make time. I tend to write first thing in the morning. Late at night doesn't work for me - I want to go to bed! But we all have specific times that suit us best, it's just finding it.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I just have to snag a few minutes here and there. But I absolutely LOVE when I get to really get into my characters' heads and have a long period of time to write. It's the best. Great post and glad to have you back! :D
ReplyDeleteI have found if I think through my scenes well throughout the day, then I get the most bang for my buck when I find snippets of time to write, because I know exactly what I'm going to write. I have a netbook, which makes it really easy to take places... to the park, to the swimming pool... anywhere where my kids will be having a great time and I can take a few minutes to alternate between watching them and and writing. They are old enough now that this summer I told them to pretend like I'm working at my job from 7-10am, and that they're lucky, because I'm still home! At my job, they can still be around me and talk to me, but they can't ask me to do things for them until 10:00. So far, it's been working pretty darn well.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I like what you've done with your blog. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteI've got 3 little ones. My usual is to try and write a bit over my lunch break at work, and then in the evening after they are in bed and I've gotten some of the other things done.
ReplyDeleteYep, I write like you, but I have to admit that I lose sleep to writing almost every night. I keep thinking - I'll catch up tomorrow and then tomorrow comes, and I'm doing it again :D
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there's a perfect balance. I just try to make the most of every day and use little chunks of time like you. It's hard, but worth it.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I write when I can. Most mornings I get up early and write a bit before the kids wake up. I'll try to write more when they eat lunch and when my youngest takes her nap. Writing late at night is sometimes feasible, but usually I'm tired from chasing the kids all day and just prefer to read or catch up on my Netflix.
ReplyDeleteNo rockin' method. I'm in the snag-timewhen-you-can camp.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you find the time to blog, write, and watch the kiddies!
ReplyDeleteI vote for adding more time in the day. Can we do that? I usually write after my son goes to bed, but it's sometimes difficult after a long day of work to get in the right frame of mind (especially if there are good TV shows on the DVR). A lot of times I write during my day job (Shhh…do NOT tell my boss). I have my own office and during those quiet periods I get quite a lot done sometimes that way. So I really have no method either. I just write whenever I can. So far it's getting me there very slowly :)
ReplyDelete4am is my friend, and it is much more friendly if I get to bed early.
ReplyDeleteEeeesh. There really isn't enough time during the day. You know? I get all my writing done at night. When I'm not looking at other blogs and commenting...and twittering...sigh. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess I should have said tweeting. :P
ReplyDeleteYeah, my writing method sounds a lot like yours too. You put it to words very well! I had a brief stint with writing @ 5 am to squeeze in 2 hours before the kids woke up and while it was successful, I haven't found that nerve again!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how many people squeeze time out of their lives to write? I find it inspiring - all of us up at 2 a.m., creating something... I agree with the comments above. There is just not enough time! And I'm right there with you with jotting down flashes of inspiration on the back of a Walmart receipt :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot lately about people wondering how they can 'find' the time to write. I learned long ago you find time, you 'make' time. If it's really important to you to write, you have to prioritize your time. I taught a lesson once many years ago to a group of teen girls at church. It essentially said they could do anything they wanted in life, but they couldn't do everything. The only one who can decide what's the most important is you.
ReplyDeleteTime is the most precious commodity I don't own! I admire your ability to write in 30-min chunks so so very early in the morning. But if the book is to get finished, that's what has to happen, right?
ReplyDeleteBest of luck this summer!
Hey, fabulous Kim! I tagged you! Go to my blog for details. :)
ReplyDeleteNo great secrets, but I do the same - writing in snatches, usually when the kids are off playing with friends. I'm useless at night, so there are times I get up early before the kids and write then. And even that half an hour, forty minutes can be really productive.
ReplyDeleteKim, i haven't been online so I didn't see your new layout. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteAs for finding time to write...UGHHHHH. So hard. I try to sneak in little bits of writing here and there: When the kids are watching a movie, or playing so well together (I wish!), but most of the time I sacrifice sleep--early early a.m. while everyone's still asleep and late at night after the kids have gone to bed. ;)
It's REALLY hard to find time to write for fun, but I try my best to save a couple hours on the weekends to work on my WIP. I'm definitely too wiped out during the week to even consider sitting on the computer at night, but Saturdays and Sundays are my time to work on the novel. Knowing that I don't have much time is motivating!
ReplyDeleteFinding time to write is super hard. I work 50+ hours at my day job, plus have a family and three dogs. Always hopping. So, I sneak in 15 minutes at lunch some days, a bit late at night or early morning, while I'm waiting for a meeting, and of course -- weekends! Somehow, it all adds up! Keep on writing.
ReplyDeleteBut then writing is always fun :) Nice read :)
ReplyDeleteWill hope to see you @ Weakest Link :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! Isn't it strange that time is always at such a premium for writers? Maybe that's the case for other people as well, but I don't think so. I like to think that writers carry that crown.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal writing time is definitely after the kids and the wife are in bed. I'm almost always happy to sacrifice my sleep for my manuscript.
ahhhh. time. Never enough. Thank god for my understanding wife.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog Kimberly, and have passed on the 'irresistibly sweet blog award' to you. There are rules in accepting this however... Thanks for following my blog BTW.
T.B ( www.magickless.blogspot.com )
Hey Kim - I'm running out to my son's BBall game, but before I go, I wanted to tell you that I awarded you THE IRRESISTIBLY SWEET BLOG AWARD too! Yay Kim! You are so Wonderful! You can check out what to do on my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your lovely comments! And a big thanks to Travis and Brenda for the tasty award!
ReplyDelete