This author insists you have plenty of time to write every day—as long as you know where to look for those extra minutes.

by Sarah Budd

These days, it seems everyone is so busy with the never-ending commitments of work, play, and family that feels impossible to be able to write. Most people dream of packing in their day jobs and writing full time, but the good news is you don’t have to.

Most writers these days hold down full-time employment and manage successful writing careers, and I’m here to show you how it’s done.

You don’t need to spend hours at a time dedicated to your writing. It can just as easily be done in short, sharp bursts. Over time, as you practice this technique, you’ll find yourself developing discipline and the ability to quickly switch on your writing mind.

The first step is to set yourself a small writing goal of what you want to achieve within a set time. Always have something on you that you can use to write, such as your phone or old-fashioned pen and paper. Whatever works for you.

To be a writer, you need to be creative with how you spend your time. The time is there, you just have to win it back from your busy schedule.

Here are my five tips to get you started:

1. Get off social media

You will be shocked at the amount of time you spend on social media. And what does it really achieve? I don’t mean a complete ban of all your socials, but instead of spending half an hour looking at Twitter or Instagram, you could be writing!

Writing can just as easily be done in short, sharp bursts. Over time, you’ll develop the ability to quickly switch on your writing mind.

2. Turn your downtime into writing time

Instead of reading a book or playing with your phone during your lunch hour, use the time instead to write. Doing this just three times a week adds up to three hours of writing time.

If you use public transport to get to work, this is a great time to get writing or even make some notes on what it is you want to write next. You could even use this time for research into your idea.

3. The world is your office when you’re a writer

When I’m writing, I love to plan in my head, and the great news is this can be done anywhere. You can even do it whilst at work or in the supermarket!

4. Set aside a little time each day to write

A lot of authors like to get up an hour early to write, some even get up at 5 a.m. to write. Believe me, it’s a thing. This can be an incredibly effective way to write if you’re a morning person. If, however, you’re like me and love all the sleep you can get, then why not dedicate an hour in the evening instead of watching endless hours of TV.

5. Stay motivated

We all have bad weeks, and that’s fine. It doesn’t matter if you sometimes fail to meet your targets—the main thing is to keep going!

Sarah Budd grew up in Cornwall, England, surrounded by myths and legends, and has always been fascinated by anything out of the ordinary. Sarah’s work has appeared in over twenty magazines, including NoSleep Podcast, Diabolica Britannica, Tales to Terrify, Aphotic Realm, Sanitarium Magazine, Dark Fire Fiction, Mystic Blue Review, Siren’s Call Publications, Deadman’s Tome, Innersins, Aphelion, Bewildering Stories, and Blood Moon Rising Magazine.

Visit Sarah at her website, and connect with her on Twitter.