How to Become a Full Time Writer Just Because You Can
- Blake Rice
- Dec 16, 2014
- 3 min read
Many people go through their lives not doing much, but still doing a lot. By this I mean they run errands, clean house, work, drive around, wrap Christmas presents, spend time with family and friends, etc, but in reality how much of it is just for them?
People get burnt out on life pretty quickly; I know I did. I worked from the time I was sixteen years old, still in secondary school, until I was almost twenty and in college. At several points during this time period, I was a fulltime student with two jobs, and I realize now how foolish I was to do what I did by spreading myself so thin. I noticed that I hadn't read a full book for pleasure since my freshman year of high school, and I hadn't made hardly any progress with my WIP books at all! So, after NaNoWriMo 2-14, I decided enough was enough.
At the ripe old age of nineteen and a half, I quit my job as a personal assistant to pursue my education and my writing at my fullest potential.
It was the best thing I could have done for myself.
Now that I'm not working, many people have asked me, "What are you going to do next, you know, like for a job?" They all look at me, terribly confused and worried, when I respond, "Nothing. I'm not working for a while." Now, I'm not suggesting you all go quit your jobs and live in a Starbuck's surviving on WiFi and crumbs. I was lucky enough to have a support system of people who are willing to take care of my needs, should they arise, while I take this haiatus (sp?) from "working for the man," as it were.
However, if a support system such as this is unavailable to you, that's OK! There are still ways to find time to write. It's called budgeting your time, and it functions just as a monetary budget would, only with time instead of money.
Let me show you:
First, make a list of your daily routine. Sometimes it changes, but write down the basic stuff that you know you always do; brushing teeth, checking the email, television, candy crush, etc.
Then, circle the things on that list that don't necessarily need to be done on a regular basis, the things you do to pass the time, or just because you're bored. These are things that you should be willing to cut out of your daily routine, like candy crush, facebook, and the copious amounts of Netflix you watch. Number these from 1-5, 1 being the least likely for you to give up, 5 being the easiest to say no to.
Next, cross out everything you've circled that isn't a one or two, and write next to them "My Writing Time."
There you have it! You've identified specific times during the day that are indeed available to you to write! You could also take it a step further and highlight the things that don't take your full attention, like baking, going to the bathroom, or those times when you eat by yourself, and use those times to give yourself a speed-writing challenge; "Write 1,000 words before the timer goes off," "Write ten sentences before I finish this BM," or whatever you think would motivate you best. In fact, it's these little moments throughout the day that tend to amass the most amount of words or ideas.
Cheers!
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