Making the Time

Many new writers seem to mistakenly believe that stories emerge fully formed; that if they wait long enough they'll be inspired to write. Within writing circles there is no myth that is more dangerous.

Writing is work. What's more, it's HARD work. No literary masterpiece has ever been written in the middle of dinner or while the author was watching television. Writing requires dedication. More than that, it demands respect.

Published authors don't write as an after-thought. For individuals like J. K. Rowling and Mary Higgins Clark, writing is a vocation. Just as we might head to the office every morning, writers head for their word processors. Writing is not a romantic pastime; it's serious business. The only way that we, as writers, will be regarded with any degree of respect is if we take ourselves seriously. This in turn requires that we take our art seriously.

If you want to become a published author, it's time to sit down and evaluate your priorities.

Ask yourself a few questions:

Perhaps the most important aspect of writing, whether you are trying to improve your skills or finish the all-american novel, is time management. You must set aside a block of time where you can give your undivided attention to your writing. In the beginning it doesn't matter how much time you set aside. It could be an hour a week or twenty minutes a day. Look at your schedule, determine how much time you can spare, and declare a portion of it "writing time."

The time that you set aside for writing should be used only for writing. Turn the ringer on the phone off. Unplug the tv. Forget about the dishes sitting in the sink. Just write.

In the beginning, the most important thing isn't what you write, it's that you write something … anything. Write about your day. Write about what you think your cat might be thinking. The important thing is to get used to filling this time with writing (and only writing). Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and don't remove them until your time is up. The aim is to be consistent, not brilliant. Remember that it takes seven consecutive sessions to habituate yourself to a task, and only one missed session to break it.

Writing is a skill and, like all skills, you need to practice. Olympic athletes train every day, why shouldn't you?

As I said earlier, writing is serious business. Until a time comes when you take yourself and your work seriously, no one else will.