Writing is hard work. It takes time, dedication, time, practice, inspiration, time, persistence, time and time. Among other things. And being a professional writer isn’t just about the writing.
As Kristen Lamb explains, being a professional writer means writing, reading, perfecting the craft, editing, organising, marketing, planning, researching, blogging, speaking, teaching, and running a business.
So how do you fit it all into an already busy schedule??
Yuvi Zalkow has recently completed and posted the second episode in his “I’m a Failed Writer” series, and this one is about Time Management. In this episode, he advises that he can solve all of your time management issues with 3 simple words:
Have A Baby
Yuvi then goes on to talk about our relationship to time, rather than any specific time management techniques. It reminds me of the quote from Lucille Ball:
If you want something done, ask a busy man to do it.
The more things you do, the more you can do.
Although I don’t have a lot of “free time” I try to use it to my best advantage. And I do as much multi-tasking as I can. For example, I use the time spent rocking my baby to sleep to read other blogs, and plan my own blog posts. I also keep pages of my WIP with me all the time in case I have a few spare minutes to do some editing (eg. in a doctor’s waiting room).
What kind of relationship do you have with your free time?
Any tips you’d like to share?
(But in all seriousness, if someone finds a way to create and sell extra hours to add into a day, please let me know. I’ll be first in line.)
Jo Eberhardt is a writer of speculative fiction, mother to two adorable boys, and lover of words and stories. She lives in rural Queensland, Australia, and spends her non-writing time worrying that the neighbour's cows will one day succeed in sneaking into her yard and eating everything in her vegie garden.
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