Having writing as a second career and a full-time job is not exactly the easiest thing to do. Many times, time never seems to be enough and as soon as you think you have an hour or so free, that’s when your baby decides to wake up.
Unfortunately, it is not only work that takes up our time. But also family, especially if you have children to take care of.
Looking at it in this light, there does not seem to be much hope but do not be discouraged, there is a way to balance work and writing and in this article you will learn everything you need.
Before we start let’s be clear: You’re never going to ‘find’ time, you can only MAKE time.
Unless you make use of some ancient witchcraft, no one can add hours to your calendar. You can only learn to make better use of the time you are given.
Not everyone can afford to give up their day job to concentrate on writing, but with a daily habit and a few little tricks, nothing will stop your manuscript from blossoming.
In this article, you’ll not only learn how to make time for writing in your life but also how to defeat the hated writer’s block.
Balance a Full-time job with your Passion for Writing
1 – Make even one sentence count
Often writer’s block does not happen because of some curse, or your full-time job, but it exists because writers demand too much of themselves.
What does ‘make even one sentence count’ mean?
It means that even on days when you don’t feel like writing at all, you are still a writer.
And even if on those dark days the only thing that comes out of your pen is a dirty joke, you will have done the best you can.
You must make sure that no day is a zero day.
If you write nothing it’s a zero day, if you write a phrase it’s a no zero day. Make every day count, even when it seems impossible.
You cannot be the best version of yourself every day and often inspiration only comes AFTER you have started writing.
So don’t be afraid to open that computer, give yourself five minutes to write something and then you can feel free all day.
You can laze around without the guilt of not having written, because even if it is by a little, you will always be one step ahead of the day before.
And that brings us to the next point.
2 – Write every single day
I do my best to give you advice but that does not make me the perfect writer.
On the contrary. I know what it feels like not to write for months despite wanting to so badly, and I know how bad it feels when you feel a story getting out of hand.
The advice I am giving you is the only antidote to this problem, it may sound like ‘lazy’ advice but look at all the problems it will save you from.
Indeed the bad side of writing is that the more you ignore it the more you:
- forget your story
- forget your excitement
- loose your ideas
Writing requires you to work out your creativity every single day. So write, even 1 phrase, every single day if you really want to be called a writer (aggressive I know, but sometimes the truth must be heard).
3 – Use your phone to write
If you have a full-time job, you know how good free time is at slipping away. It is easy to lose essential minutes and hours to simple distractions.
Although it is normal to want to take moments for yourself, to relax, my duty in this article is to help you balance work with writing and I intend to do just that.
Being at work can in fact turn out to be a blessing at times, especially for those with children at home who can’t wait to have you all to themselves.
When you are at work and you have those moments when you are not doing anything, what is the first temptation? Picking up the phone of course.
But it is not the best option for someone to do more than her full-time job allows her.
In those moments ignore the apps. Block them if you can.
The only one you’ll need are the notes on your phone.
(if your phone doesn’t have them download google docs)
And start writing.
If you use your lunch break well, by the end of the day you will have been writing for at least 40 minutes.
And if your job allows you to be at the computer, and have time gaps, you are super lucky. Use those hours to write your best-seller.
If your days will always last 24 hours, use every single minute to your advantage. Use everything you are allowed to create the life of your dreams. Make the ‘lazy’ time useful and full of creativity.
4 – Skip scenes
Don’t crucify me.
It hurts me too to give you this advice, but as annoying as it is.
It’s annoyingly workable.
Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s not just lack of time and your work that stops you from writing. Sometimes the problem is that you have no idea what to actually write.
The blank page is there, you have a wonderful 10 minutes of absolute silence and BAM!
Nothing.
The pen doesn’t move, the keyboard is untouched and you wonder if it is really worth it after all.
worth it after all.
Writing a book is difficult, no one dares to say otherwise. But not for that, we are forbidden to make our work easier.
The ultimate goal, you know, is to have your manuscript in your hands, edited and gleaming.
But no one forbids you from taking the path you want to take to get to the finish line.
All this is to say that if the scene you have to write does not come out. If you have no idea how to continue the story but only have a vague image. Use everything at your disposal.
Write down in three lines what needs to happen in that chapter or so (you may well change your mind in the future) and go instead and write the scene in your book that excites you most.
Maybe the point where the protagonists fall in love? The final battle scene? The ball where the murder of the elf prince takes place?
Whatever arouses your excitement about the book, write that.
This, along with the other tips, is the real secret to fighting writer’s block. Don’t chase inspiration, it’s too fast, let it come to you.
You feel stuck due to full-time job and you have no energy to write the next thing on the list? Skip that scene and go to something more interesting. Listen to your creative needs.
5 – Try different things
Can’t afford to quit your full-time job to focus on writing? OK, then we have to find other solutions to turn you into the writer of the year.
The only thing writers have in common is that they love books.
Apart from that, we are all different people. Everyone has their own different daily routine and every writer needs to get to know themselves better to establish a habit for writing.
So let’s get to the point.
(if you need to save this article for later save the images on pinterest by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the article)
These are your homework:
- try writing 250 words every day
- try writing in complete silence
- try using music to write
- try writing only 2 days a week
Try each of these things and I guarantee you will find the thing that suits your creativity best. If you follow the tips listed in this article, NOTHING can stop you from becoming a writer. And if you want tips on how to be an EXCELLENT writer take a look at this.
The article ends here, I hope you have realised that you can become the writer of your dreams even if you have a full-time job. If you need more writing tips follow the blog on Pinterest and subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss any new articles.
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