{"id":877112,"date":"2026-02-10T17:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=877112"},"modified":"2026-02-10T17:37:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:37:53","slug":"five-top-tips-for-finding-time-to-write","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/five-top-tips-for-finding-time-to-write\/","title":{"rendered":"Five\u00a0top tips for finding time to write\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I knew I wanted to\u00a0write\u00a0a book, it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0idea, or the vocabulary,\u00a0or the\u00a0fact that I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think I was good enough that was stopping me;\u00a0it was the question of how I would ever find the time. Back\u00a0then, I was working full-time and had four children. I barely had a chance to have a relaxing bath at the end of a long day, so what chance did I have of\u00a0writing\u00a0a whole novel?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I eventually realised was that I was waiting for a perfect pocket of time: a clear desk, an empty house, candles burning\u2026 but that version of \u2018writing time\u2019 was a myth. It was never going to happen. Instead, I wrote for half an hour in my lunchtime, and another half an hour when I got home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most writers don\u2019t struggle with ideas. They struggle with finding the time \u2013 or rather, the belief that writing needs more time than they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t magically find more hours in the day; I just stopped waiting for those perfect writing circumstances that would never come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are my top tips for making writing achievable, even when it has to compete with work, health, caring responsibilities, or Peppa Pig in the background\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.\u00a0Set\u00a0realistic\u00a0targets\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Realistic<\/em>\u00a0being the keyword here. If you say to yourself,\u00a0\u2018Right, come hell or high water, I\u2019m going to write\u00a02000 words today\u2019, great! Go you! Look at you setting the bar high.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s say you have a meeting that runs over, or one of your kids pukes all over your laptop. Come the end of the day, you haven\u2019t even opened the thing, let alone written a word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That pressure you\u2019re putting on yourself? That sense of failure? It\u2019s the enemy of creativity. Writing a book thrives on momentum, not punishment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smaller, achievable goals will keep you coming back. That\u2019s how your book will get written. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. One line is better than nothing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be honest, if you write one line a day, and only<\/em> one line a day, it will take you a long time to write a book. But momentum beats volume. Every. Single. Time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That one line? That might be the line that hooks an agent. It might spark an idea for a twist. It might simply remind you that your book exists. Either way, that\u2019s progress; you can\u2019t edit a blank page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that one line need to be written on your laptop in tranquil surroundings? No. It could be on the back of a receipt, a napkin, a takeaway carton. It still counts. You\u2019re still writing a book.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Decide in advance when you\u2019ll write <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, this might sound contradictory given what I\u2019ve just said\u2026 but there will be moments when you can <\/em>carve out a block of time. Even if that means getting up an hour earlier than usual, or going to bed an hour later. Beth O\u2019Leary wrote The Flatshare<\/em> during her commute to and from work.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key isn\u2019t to say \u2018I\u2019m going to write a whole chapter at half past five in the morning\u2019. It\u2019s committing to getting up a bit earlier and opening the document. What you want to do once that document is open is up to you. You might want to research, or tweak what you\u2019ve already written. You might stay in bed and think. It all counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting this time in advance will take away the daily battle with yourself \u2013 the question of \u2018Will I\/won\u2019t I work on my novel today?\u2019. This is your <\/em>writing time. Be all L’Or\u00e9al about it. You\u2019re worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to read the rest of this article? Log in<\/a> or join our free community – you’ll get the rest of our top tips, plus a truck-load of other resources. Whoever said you don’t get anything in this life for free?<\/h4>\n\n\n\r\n