Finding Time to Write in the Midst of a Hectic Schedule

What should we do when, despite our greatest efforts, we seem too busy to write? As life gets increasingly hectic, it becomes pretty easy to let writing fall by the wayside. I myself have been guilty of pushing writing off for weeks, or sometimes months, at a time because I felt I had too much else going on. Inevitably, though, when I return, my momentum is gone. So, how can we find time to write?


What Not To Do

Waiting For The "Right Time"

When I first started getting into writing, I was inclined to wait for those moments when inspiration overtook me. I expected "the muse" to lean in, whispering into my ear, and I would know immediately that it was time to write something incredible. 

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As you can probably guess, those magical moments didn't happen very often. There's a reason, I'll admit, that it took me five years to finish my first rough draft. Often, waiting did more harm than good. And you know what? The stuff I wrote when I was "in the mood" wasn't any  better than the stuff I wrote when I wasn't.

Trusting Your Schedule to Open Up

Believing your schedule will magically make room is also a recipe for disaster. You can't make time appear out of thin air. And if you're anything like me, you're not going to be able to write if you haven't initially been planning on it. 

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The "Serena Method"

What If You Don't Have the Time

If you think you don't have the time to write, re-evaluate. I am so serious right now. It may feel impossible to find writing time, but there is always room. And for those of you who disagree, do you want to bet? Let me lay out my current schedule for you.


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I'm in college right now. I know, "Boo-freaking-hoo," right? But believe me when I tell you that I'm not your average student. Right now, I am taking 18 credits of courses, working 20 hours a week, and I am a student intern for a national literature conference. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that, most days of the week, I wake up at 8 a.m. and am working, studying, or in class until 11 p.m., day in and day out. And each day, one and a half hours in that time frame are set aside for writing.

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You Procrastinate? You're in Good Company

If you are part of the large group of authors who only sit down and write on occasion, you are not alone. I used to be right there beside you. Heck, I used to be the president of the procrastination team. It wasn't until I started setting goals for myself that my outlook changed. 

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Setting Goals

The first time I really started making headway in my novel was when I participated in the 2022 NaNoWriMo event.


If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, let me explain it. The acronym NaNoWriMo stands for "National Novel Writing Month." Essentially, it is a time that participating writers set aside and decide to spend writing a book. More specifically, NaNoWriMo challenges participating authors to compose 50,000 words in the month of November. In 2022, I participated for the first time, and—*drumroll please*—I DID IT!

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As it turned out, all I needed to motivate me was a deadline. So, after NaNoWriMo ended, I started setting my own deadlines. A second, more detailed, rough draft of the same story was written by May. In seven months, I had managed to do what a younger me took five years to complete.

Peer Accountability

Do you know what's even better than holding yourself to a deadline? Having other people also hold you to a deadline. Shout out to my writers' group! 

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Let me tell you: There is something seriously powerful about letting other people be involved in your writing process. While in a writers' group, you know that you are expected to get a submission in by a certain time, and if you don't, you start feeling guilty about it. I know, it sounds kind of ugly when spelled out like that, but it's super effective. 

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Consider Setting Deadlines with Other Writers

Right now, I am in the process of getting my novel ready for beta readers. Anxious to meet a deadline, I have been editing a chapter a day for the last two weeks. And if things continue as they have been, I will have a complete beta draft by March 9th. Why have I been working so quickly? I was challenged by a fellow writer to try to get my book published by the time a certain writers' conference rolls around next year. 

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Do I think this is going to happen? Honestly? No, I don't. But I'm trying. And the momentum I've gained while chasing after this seemingly unattainable goal is absolutely unmatched. 

My Main Advice

So, what does this all boil down to? 
  • Add writing time to your schedule. I mean physically, too. Pick a time, write it down, and promise to use that time to write.
  • Set goals and deadlines for yourself.
  • Find writing peers you can be held accountable to.
  • Reach for the stars! If you don't think you can do something, put yourself up to the challenge. The worst that can happen is that you fail, and even then, you get some writing done, so you still win!
And that's it! These four steps completely changed my writing habits, and I believe that they can do the same for you. So...get ready, get set, WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!

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