A Little at a Time
July 27, 2007
As you’ve probably guessed from my recent blogging (or lack thereof), life has happened at our house. I’ve suddenly found myself overwhelmed with everything that needs doing, with doctor appointments, soccer camp, and errands.
Typically, if I’m going to write, I like to have a 2 to 4 hour block of time. But that hasn’t been possible for a long time and won’t be for the next month either.
So how do you get things done when you’re coming and going and doing three chores at the same time?
Well, it’s not easy. I’ve learned this summer that you’ve got to take the little bits of time that you do have and work with them.
For example, I have a manuscript that I’m getting critiqued at this fall’s ACFW conference. I need to have it done in a couple of weeks, but as of yesterday morning, I had not one word written.
As of today, I have 817 words! All I had was half an hour, but that was enough time to get over three pages written. If over the next week I daily add that amount to it, I’ll have the fifteen page manuscript written and ready for editing. So that’s my goal — fifteen pages in whatever few minutes I can scrounge up.
What about you? Any time tips you can share?
- Next Monday–the winner of Mary DeMuth’s debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs. Follow this link to learn how to enter.
Comments
3 Responses to “A Little at a Time”
It’s so easy to get frustrated when you’re longing to write, you have a deadline, self imposed or otherwise, looming, and it seems everything in your life is conspiring to keep you away from your keyboard.
Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and take care of what needs taking care of, and sometimes you have to carve out time for yourself, a few hours, a day. I’m known to steal a Saturday from time to time to put work in on a WIP where I can’t access my email, my blog or the fridge.
I also try to get my family “playing on my team” by letting them know what I need most…facetime on the laptop and quiet. My kids are great about this.
And I try to remember that every word I write is another step toward the finish line.
You can eat an elephant, but you have to do it one word at a time. Write on. 800 words is nothing to sneeze at.
When I was working on my master’s degree a couple of years ago, I got so good at using every scrap of time available to me. I always kept one of my textbooks and a notebook with me. If I had ten minutes waiting for someone in a restaurant, I’d work on an assignment. It was not only amazing how much I got done, but it also kept my mind “in gear.” I didn’t have to do so much settling into the subject. I could use those small amounts of time because my momentum stayed built up.
Since I graduated, I’m having a hard time getting into that rhythm with my writing. I blame it on being burned out, but I really want to get back into that, because it truly is amazing what you can accomplish with a half hour here and there.
You sound like me! Summertime is the worst time for trying to get anything accomplished. I love routine and when I’m deprived of it, I wilt. THat said, I agree with the others that we have to use every scrap of time to get the words on paper. Also, I’m starting to use my “zoning” time on the treadmill to think about my story. That way when I sit down I have an idea where I’m going.