You Have Enough Time to Write

As a writer, you probably often tell yourself, "I don't have time to write today."

Then guess what?

You get busy doing other things and you really don't have time to write.

Well, you may not realize it, but you're focusing on something negative. You're focusing on what you don't want.

Instead, you should be focusing on what you do want. And what you do want is enough time to write.

To focus on the positive, tell yourself, "I have enough time to write today."

The key word here is "enough."

Enough time doesn't need to mean hours and hours of time.

You can get quite a lot accomplished in short periods of time if you stay focused, so try this:

1. Let go of the feeling that you don't have enough time.

Instead, tell yourself you have enough time to do the things that matter most to you, and writing is one of the things you really, really care about.

Relax and start envisioning yourself having an enjoyable and productive day that's busy but not overwhelming and includes time for writing.

2. Set aside short chunks of time for writing.

When you think you have to give yourself hours to write, and you know you don't have hours available, you tend to put writing aside and do something else.

You only need short chunks of time on a regular basis to get a lot of writing done within a few weeks or months.

If you're working on a novel, plan to write just one scene today.

Just one scene, not a chapter.

You can probably write a scene in 30 minutes or so.

If you're working on a nonfiction project, plan to complete just one short section or subsection, which might consist of just a few paragraphs.

3. Relax and let go of everything else during your writing time.

You won't need to feel guilty about taking time to write if you know you've scheduled just 30 minutes for it.

And as you sit down for one of your 30-minute writing sessions, let go of all thoughts about the rest of your world.

Close your eyes.

Take a few deep breaths and relax so you'll be able to focus on your writing without wasting time.

Now, focus on the writing and only the writing for just 30 minutes.

You have enough time to write today, so look at your schedule and block off just 30 minutes to get some writing done.

Try it!

Build a career writing about what you know and love. Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer's Coach, can show you how.

Learn more about her 10-week e-course and mentoring program, Fearless Freelance Writing.