Snatch Writing Time

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin


“What are you writing these days?,” one of my friends asked. I had to do some personal accounting for a second. I’m not currently facing a book deadline and I’m not cranking out a certain amount of words each day.

Most of my personal writing is emails to authors and my colleagues at Morgan James. This type of communication does not show up in print.

If you aren’t writing much but would like to do so, are you committing time to regular writing? If not, then I suggest you take a step back and see how you are spending your time.


Maybe you are doing more reading or maybe you are spending more time playing games or watching television or spending time on social media such as twitter or facebook.  Each of these ways of spending time are OK but none of them include regular writing and do not move ahead your dreams and desires as a writer.

I’m writing these words on a two hour flight. As I look around at others. Some people are asleep. Others are making small talk with each other. Still other people are reading while some are playing games on their computer like solitaire.

As writers we can choose a different path and way to use our time. Instead of those other activities, I’m using my AlphaSmart and pounding out a few more words. I’m writing.


Prolific novelist James Scott Bell teaches writers to snatch time. Check out this video where he talks about it:


If you aren’t accomplishing your novel or your magazine writing or your blog, then I encourage you to take an accounting of how you are spending your time. If your writing is a priority, it will get done.


I’m choosing to write some words and get them out to you. What about you? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:


How can you snatch writing time?  This article has insights and encouragement. (ClickToTweet)

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W. Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. His work contact information is on the bottom of the second page (follow this link).  One of his books for writers is Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, Insider Secrets to Skyrocket Your Success. One of Terry's most popular free ebooks is Straight Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission. He lives in Colorado and has over 205,000 twitter followers 

 

3 comments:

Linda Wilson said...

Great article, Terry. In answer to your question about snatching time, it is a rare day that I don't write. My goal is two hours each day. I usually beat that goal. But I'm retired and have more time than most. While working I would get up early to write and could usually fit more in at quiet times during the day. Now I take my work with me wherever I go and at least get something done!

Terry Whalin said...

Linda,

Fantastic schedule and thanks for this comment. No wonder you are getting so much writing done with that schedule. Good for you and keep it up.

Terry

Karen Cioffi said...

Terry, great article. I write everyday for a number of hours. While I wish some of it was for my own writing, I'm still writing. Although I do try my best to write an article each week for my children's writing site and I post here once a month. Thanks for sharing.

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