Mini writing workshop: Can you write if you don't have time?
Thank you for checking out the mini fiction writing workshop. In this series I share small, actionable tips for writing fiction. Whether you're a seasoned or developing writer, hopefully you will find some useful information.
This workshop session is about determining where and how you might fit writing into your life.
Let's explore this!
Image source: Pixabay image by annca
Writing for the time challenged
I have no time. I'll just put that out there. But there's a well-known expression that if you want something done, give the task to a busy person. Busy people tend to find a way to add something extra to a full schedule.
I had to figure this out. I spent a lot of years wanting to write and being too busy for it. Then I realized that time wasn't going to magically appear. I wish I had figured this out sooner, because I would be much further along in my writing career than I am now. If you feel like you're just too busy to write, maybe there's a way to fit it in anyway.
I have a few tips to share.
Writing in the nooks and crannies
Some of it may be about mindset. If you think you need a solid stretch of time to write, think again. Maybe you can get something done in an hour. Try it.
And a piece of advice to go along with that. Try to let go of the notion that you can only write under certain conditions, whatever those may be.
Perhaps you need a cup of coffee next to you, and to be in a perfectly quiet place. Or maybe you only write when your wife and kids have taken off for the park on a Saturday. Those kinds of things will hogtie you. Try to get into the habit of writing wherever you are, whenever you can.
Writing on your phone
I know this is not ideal in any way. But if you have Google docs or another cloud-based program where you can write, use that when you don't have time to sit down at a computer. I have been known to voice text ideas and even scenes into Google docs while driving or cooking dinner.
Later, when you do have a little time, you can sit down and work on the snippets or vignettes you sketched out. But that way, you will instantly have something in front of you to work with.
Writing micro-fiction
If you are in a particularly busy period of your life, another option is to write very short fiction. Not only is it a great way to do regular writing practice, but there are markets out there for micro-fiction. Also I run a weekly micro-fiction writing contest, and you're welcome to join. Check out my blog for the weekly #microfiction tag.
In addition to running the contest, I also use the prompt to write a micro-fiction story each week. This keeps me in the habit of writing, no matter how busy life can be. You can see my latest one here: Fear of Heights.
How do you find time to write when life gets in the way? Please share your ideas in the comments.
The writing workshop collection
You can browse my collection of writing workshop posts in the links below.
Mini workshop series
Short posts on specific writing topics:
- Mini writing workshop: What should you write about? (Ideas for finding inspiration for your stories)
- Mini writing workshop: How do you start a story? (How to determine the starting point)
- Mini writing workshop: What is magical realism? (Exploring the magical realism genre)
- Mini writing workshop: Should you write in present tense or past tense?
- Mini writing workshop: Must your character do that? (About writing tics and character pet peeves)
- Mini writing workshop: What's it all about? (About story lines)
- Mini writing workshop: Must we fight? (About conflict in fiction writing)
- Mini writing workshop: What's the point? (About making things happen)
- Mini writing workshop: What prompted that? (About writing from prompts)
- Mini writing workshop: Who said that? (Tips for writing dialog)
Mini workshops in 50-word prompt posts
Brief workshops, typically 3-5 paragraphs, at the top of 50-word short story challenge posts:- Mini writing workshop on "tense"
- Mini writing workshop on the editing process (with a walkthrough example)
- Mini writing workshop on taking time to write
- Mini writing workshop on the power of editing
- Mini writing workshop on critique
- Mini writing workshop on fixing punctuation errors
- Mini writing workshop on mainstream publishing (with a resource for 50-word story authors)
- Mini writing workshop on voice and language (as compared to the importance of plot)
- Mini writing workshop about becoming a great writer
- Mini writing workshop on contests and challenges
- Mini writing workshop on what makes a story a story
- Mini writing workshop on demystifying story writing
- Mini writing workshop on 50-word short story writing process
- Mini writing workshop on the steps for writing 50-word stories
- Mini writing workshop on micro-fiction and writing succinctly
- Mini writing workshop on the "why" of writing
- Mini writing workshop on the challenge of micro-fiction
In-depth workshop posts
The original writing workshop series:- Writing workshop volume 1: The beginning
- Writing workshop volume 2: Exploring voice in writing
- Writing workshop volume 3: Say what you want to say
- Writing workshop volume 4: Serial fiction projects on Steemit
- Writing workshop volume 5: Getting organized and actually writing
- Writing workshop volume 6: Tips for writing anywhere, anytime
- Writing workshop volume 7: Should you write historical fiction?
- Writing workshop volume 8: Prompts, contests and challenges - oh my!
- Writing workshop volume 9: Pushing through insecurity and writing anyway
- Writing workshop volume 10: Perspective and POV in fiction writing
- Writing workshop volume 11: Second person point of view in fiction
- Writing workshop volume 12: How to write your character's background
- Writing workshop volume 13: What to do with all these voices in my head?
- Writing workshop volume 14: Write your story from a logline
- Writing workshop volume 15: Three tips for improving your fiction
- Writing workshop volume 16: How to accept criticism on your fiction writing
Note: The image is sourced from Pixabay.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://jaynalocke.com/2019/02/25/mini-writing-workshop-can-you-write-if-you-dont-have-time/
great tips @jayna. Im no good at writing on the phone. I do a lot of quick messages but never any posts or writing. Voice text is a good idea, new to me :-)
Let me know how it goes if you try it! 😁
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A very useful and really valuable post, dear @jayna.
When you have a busy or complicated life it is difficult to devote time to writing, but it is impossible if we do not get rid of some ideas. Steemit has been for me the place that has helped me to be able to write with limited time, in tension coditions... and it has turned out to be liberating. One thing that has been particularly productive for me is learning to deal with imperfection and to understand literary creation as a dialogue with readers that will not always reach the heights that we ideally place texts in our imagination. Understand that non-perfect texts can have grace and strength.
I so agree. A complicated life creates hurdles, but they are not insurmountable. I really like how you said this:
So true! There´s always a way; if you really want something done, you´ll get it done no matter what! ;)
But sometimes it takes a lot of extra grit and determination! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting.
Resteemed.