How do fellow writers out there have time to work on writing a book or getting it ready for publishing, keeping the blog that they love up-to-date, working and doing all other life things?
I’m at the AAAUUUGGGHHH stage. Too tired after work to write, too useless at 4am if I try to write before work. Waiting for summer vacation is doable, but I can’t “hold that thought” forever.
I completely understand that nothing may happen with my project, so I’m not being arrogant here. Just trying to make it happen.
Any advice?
saneteachers 
if we can find the time to do everything we want, we need to let go some of our activities, or try to make them work for us and help us reach our goals.
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Easier said than done!
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as everything in this life. 😉 it isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. we might have step-backs, but if we think that it’s just temporary we’ll be more motivated.
maybe you can find a middle term and spend less time on your blog? (writing fewer times or shorter posts)
some people say 20% of our actions gets us 80% of our goals. so, try to track what those 20% goes to, and the other 80% as well. so we can spend more time doing the 20% than the 80%. i think there’s an app for that! hope this helps. 🙂
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That’s smart to do. And you are totally right about motivation. I have to think about your comment more. Thank you.
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you’re welcome 🙂
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It’ll be impossible to do everything. Maybe a little at a time, Barb? One sentence a day kind of thing? Or a whole paragraph if you miss a week. At least it feels like you are doing something..just a tad slower. It’ll be a luxury to let go of everything else and just write! 🙂
My blogging has also taken a little backseat… 😦 but I’m not writing a book! LOL. 🙂
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My day job is what needs to go haha. Of course, since I haven’t hit lotto that isn’t happening. I got frustrated this morning and posted this. You are the 2nd person who has recommended focusing on shorter sections. Less overwhelming. It definitely won’t be one sentence a day. It would be a couple of hours, but then no blogging.
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I’m with you on the day job that needs to go…except there are bills to pay!
I guess something really has to give…sometimes, a blog post takes me a few days to write because I do a few sentences a day. An you are right, those few sentences do take a couple of hours too. Then I get annoyed when I got no blogging done. :p But I’ve got no intention of writing a book..hehe
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I had much the same problem with knocking out a 500 word essay every week, still I managed to do it because I committed myself to it. A book is made up of chapters. If you focus on the chapter, instead of the book, it becomes easier. If not a week, a month.
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That’s a good point. I try to blog frequently, and they are usually in the 400-500 word range. The memoir essays are a tad longer. When I know what I want to write, I can do that between 15 minutes to an hour. But then at least an hour editing those stupid 500 words. I like short “pieces.”
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There’s no good answer. I never have enough time. It’s just priorities and being realistic about how much I can do in any give day.
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C’mon now. I expect a magic pill!
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I am working on a time machine, but aliens from the future keep showing up and destroying my work…
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I hate it when that happens.
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I quite agree with Andrew Reynolds: prioritise and be realistic. Planning a few months ahead – as you say, for the extra time you might put aside during your summer holidays for example – could maybe make you feel better. But take it easy if life happens. I’ve come to an almost complete blogging stop this month, following bronchitis and more recently … being car mugged, with all the attendant admin problems. So I’m looking forward to an easier April 🙂 Hopefully.
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Wow! You have been through a lot. I agree with Andrew as well (although I teased in my reply). I have the summers more or less off and plan on writing a lot then. But then the blog might go. And this blog is like one of my children. I know that sounds crazy.
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Would miss you if you go! You could keep up the blog on a once-a-month type basis or something. Just to say hi! to all of us from time to time 🙂
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I’m definitely not going to slow the blog down too much until the summer. Thank you, Bea, for all of your support ❤
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Well, as long as it’s a slowdown eventually and not a goodbye 🙂
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Thank you.
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Good question. I feel like I’ve been in that same stage for years. I’ve got outlines and beginnings of a number of books that I hope to complete at some point, but life just keeps on happening. If you find an answer, share it. 🙂
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I feel like it will come down to continuing blog or book. Or blog much less frequently. I guess I want my cake and eat it too. I want to blog many times a week and write my other project many times a week. Too bad I need my day job *sigh*
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Good question. One thing I try to do is blog about the book creation process. That can save you some time, since you don’t have to spend time coming with a blog topic–you can just write about whatever you are working on.
I am fortunate in that my job is such that I can pretty much jot down book/blog ideas whenever I think of them. Don’t know if this is possible for you or not, but if there is some way to do it, that can save time.
Ironically, when I am writing a book, I pretty much cease to read any other books. I switch to audio books and listening to videos and/or the radio. This allows for more multi-tasking, which saves time.
Weekends/holidays are good days to pull all-nighters. I did a lot of this while finishing up “Majestic World”. (But it’s a deliberately weird book, so I could afford to write while sleep-deprived. That may not work for everyone.)
Hope some of this is helpful!
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Very helpful, thanks!
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I don’t have a full-time job, so time is not as much of a problem for me. But when I have a writing idea that I want to develop at a time when I can’t actually write, I just jot down the idea and file it away on my computer. It can be an outline of a story, just a sentence, or a scribbled idea. Whatever it is, it’s enough to “hold that thought” until I can actually sit down and write. So maybe that would keep some of the thoughts until summer hits?
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i have an iPhone, and I use the “notes” section to jot ideas down. But then I get home from work and I’m tired and have a blog idea and end up waiting until the weekends for longer writing. It’s great to hear how other people handle it and their tricks of the trade. 🙂
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Yes, I love to learn from other writers! And seriously, I am in awe of all you manage to accomplish with your schedule. I guess you just have to decide whether the blog or your other writing is the priority? And maybe the answer to that question won’t be the same each day. Creativity is hard work, no matter what anyone says!
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I can’t imagine in a million years giving up the blog. But doing both is impossible.
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Quit your day job. Just saying….
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I know! I haven’t started marking off each day yet, because that’s too daunting. But summer is approaching. We just have to get through the NYSESLAT and Regents then we’re hooooooooome freeeeee.
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Trust me…it ain’t easy. we’ve all been there. Being an Engineering student, I’ve had a hard time when it comes to finding time to write. It really crushes me but I’m struggling to put my house in order. Always remember that whatever you do with all your heart, your efforts will never go to waste.
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Thank you for this comment! I especially like your last line. I must remember that.
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You could always do what Stephen King does – set aside a period of time each day (he writes every morning) – write a set amount for a set period, and then leave it completely for the day. As for the blog, your readers will understand and won’t want you to burn yourself out, so either take some blogging time off, and don’t blog at all, or an interim measure is to do short posts (ie, a photo and no words) or – and this might sound radical – turn off commenting for a while. That way you won’t need to or feel tempted to reply to comments or even to read them.
I’m not a writer but when I’ve had to juggle other things with blogging in the past,that’s what I’ve done.
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My blog went on hold while I was writing my book, I’ve just managed to return 🙂
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I’m getting that advice from many people. But my blog is like my baby.
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Turn your clocks back 4 hours every day. Tons of time.
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Why didn’t I think of that?
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Paul’s blog featuring…
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Barb
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I hardly get time to write myself. I only write during term breaks. That’s when my mind is at peace with the world and I can actually get down to some serious writing. Writing requires your heart and soul, hence, it’s just not possible when you are in the middle of stuff.
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That’s very true. Although I don’t know if my mind is ever at peace with the world!
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