The Big Obstacle To Writing: Finding More Time To Write

Today I want to talk about the one obstacle to writing that my workshop writers consistently identify as the biggest problem facing them. Any guess what it might be? You might think it’s fear, and that’s definitely up there. We’re afraid of all kinds of things when it comes to writing: being judged, thinking we’re not good enough, talented enough . . . actually, any number of things.

No Time to Write
But the one obstacle to writing that most students point to is the lack of time. Now I get that. We’re all busy with our lives, our jobs, families, kids . . . there’s no shortage of things getting in the way of our writing.

And because we typically view writing as an indulgence, that is, something that’s not very important, it’s easy to drop it from the to-do list, isn’t it?
When that happens, all our commitments to finally writing that novel this year, or finally getting to those short story ideas we promised ourselves . . . disappear. And here we are a short time later wondering what happened?

Two Tips To Find More Time To Write
So, yeah, the biggest challenge to writing isn’t talent or knowledge. It’s not about whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran. It has everything to do with finding the time to sit down and write. Now, it makes sense then, that if we can overcome this lack of time, perhaps we could make the time to get our writing done.

​That might mean turning off the Netflix for an hour every second night. Instead of binge-watching, how about organizing a binge-writing session with your friends. Here’s another thing you can do to make time to write. Get up half an hour earlier a few times a week, and use that extra 30 minutes to write. Many of us find this to be a powerful writing strategy.

I’m reminded of the Billy Crystal character in the movie Throw Momma From The Train. Very funny movie by the way. Anyway, he’s writing teacher and he tells his students all the time that a writer writes, always. So here’s something you can do right after this video. Take a few minutes and really think about everything you do during the day. Are there times where you can find a few minutes here, a few minutes there where you can write? Is there something you can give up for a few months while you work on your novel? Now, make a commitment to write more in the next week and see how it goes. Then do it for another week. And then another. Before you know it, you’ll be cranking out the words like a pro.