Write like you drink: In little sips and large chugs!
With my funky work schedule, it can sometimes be hard to find large chunks of time to sit down and write. But I’ve learned to write like I drink (not necessarily alcoholic beverages either): Sometimes I take little sips, other times I really chug it down!
What does that mean? Let me give you an example. If I twenty minutes before I need to go somewhere, I might sit down at my computer and pound out a few paragraphs on my current writing project. For me, that is very much like taking a sip – a writing session that’s very short and too the point.
Likewise, on my days off, I will get a lot more writing done and write for about an hour (usually), take a break, then get back to work on my project. This is like chugging a drink – I try to write a little faster and I don’t worry about possible problems when it comes to grammar, holes in the plot, etc.
The point is, you don’t need consistent amounts of time to be a productive writer. If you can teach yourself to just sit down and write, whether it’s for 5 minutes or 5 hours, you’ll be surprised at how fast your writing projects progress. The key for this strategy to work is this: Don’t wait to feel "inspired". Just write!
Use the same strategy for reading!
With reading, it might be a little easier to use this strategy. If you’re in a waiting room (at the doctor’s office, for example) and you have a few minutes, then whip out that paperback you have and knock a few pages out. Spending a cold, rainy evening at home? Turn the television off and make yourself comfortable with that same book.
I’m really not proposing anything new here, just that you use your time wisely. But I do think that many people really dismiss those short five minute writing sessions as worthless. If you write for five minutes, five times a day, that’s almost half an hour right there. I can easily knock out a couple of pages in half an hour.
How do you schedule your writing time around your hectic schedule? Do you prefer short sips of writing, or do you like to chug it and write for hours on end? Let us know in the comments below!
Related posts
- Can you spare one hour each day?
- Don’t wait for inspiration – just write!
- Write down those ideas ASAP, or else!
- 6 time management tips for writers
- Write Now, Think Later!
Read More: Writing Tips
