Prioritize Your Writing

Do you struggle to find time to write?

Do you have competing priorities?

If you want to be a writer, you must find time to work!

Here are some actions you can take to help you prioritize your writing that have worked for me.

Accountability is a big one for me so I can stay on track. I just participated in a writing challenge with a deadline. Knowing there was an end motivated me to spend the time I needed to complete it. I’m also a member of a few writing groups who share similar goals with me and we hold each other accountable. One of my favorite groups is Monday Morning Manifestors.

Focusing on one task or project at a time works better for me than multitasking. Creating an outline with my tasks and scenes gives me a head start because I already know what to write. I also need quiet. No one around, no music playing, no notifications dinging on my phone and computer. I have to be distraction free to do my best work.

Prioritizing what is important helps me stay on track. I still work a full-time job and it can make it more difficult to find the time I need to write. Getting up early is and writing before my job works for me even though I am not a morning person. Some people like to work late and that is fine too. I try to grab other times during the day like on my break or at lunch. I set my timer for 15 or 30 minutes and get as much done as possible until my next window of opportunity.

Hire a coach and/or mentor. Mine has helped me tremendously. She gives honest feedback to help me learn and grow as a writer. She shares her knowledge but leaves it up to me on how to move forward. I am much farther along as a writer since I hired her and the constructive criticism she gives me really makes me think. Sometimes you have to dig deep to find what you need to write.

Give yourself grace. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and this one is hard for me. Most of us are our own worst critic. I try to learn from my mistakes and keep pushing forward. Also, don’t forget to reward yourself for a job well done. Finish a scene and take a walk outside. Write and publish your blog post and start that new mystery romance on your nightstand. Write for five minutes and add it to your win list. All these small actions add up and keep you moving forward and advancing toward your goal.

I would love to hear about how you prioritize your writing.