You DO Have Time to Write.

 

I hear this often.

Someone will say, “I do not have time to write.”

Recently, I was talking with a woman with an incredibly inspiring life story. She is thoughtful, capable, and responsible for many things that matter. Her days are full with work, family, and ongoing commitments that require her attention and energy.

When she said she did not have time to write, she was not making an excuse. She was describing what her life actually feels like right now.

I understood exactly what she meant. On paper, I have no “extra time” for a special project. Jeff is back in chemotherapy and has two procedures in April, we just scheduled Scotty for FIVE golf tournaments—just for June, it’s tax time, I run two publishing companies, my mother says I don’t visit enough, and I’m thinking of home-schooling Scotty next year. Guess what I’m starting today? 

WRITING A NEW BOOK!

Most people who say they don’t have time to write are not avoiding the work. They are already carrying too many responsibilities and endless to-do lists that this world of direct messaging, emails, voice notes, etc., put on our calendars. Writing begins to feel like one more responsibility, and it becomes difficult to justify where it fits. 

As we talked, I shared something I have seen many times.

People have the time. They just need to adjust priorities, and match the minutes accordingly.

For example, a working mother like me might think, Once I take care of Jeff, Scotty, clients, my team, cats, and taxes, I will work on my book. 

Creative friend, if I follow that line of priorities and thinking, how  long will it take me to even start, much less FINISH, writing a book? 

Now, if I were to say to my family, clients, team, and myself, “I am protecting 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. every weekday to work on my book. Thank you for helping me write to help others and reach my goal!” 

Let’s do the math. 

Option 1 - Use whatever time and energy I have left at night:

I can’t even calculate that because every day is different, and on top of being a caregiver, mother, and entrepreneur, I am also 52, so my hormones have all kinds of interesting plans for me. Ha!

So, let’s say I am successful 1 hour a week, meaning in 6 months, I’d spend 26 hours on my book.

Option 2 - PRIORITIZE my creative project: 

Let’s say that I am successful 4 of every 5 weekdays. In 6 months, I would spend 104 hours on my book.

If I follow my own advice, via my “Anxiety-Free Writing Process” and take one smart, doable, pressure-free step at a time, those hours compound, and yes, I can absolutely finish a book in 6 months! People who protect more time can move even faster.

The trick? MAKE YOURSELF and your creative project a priority. Did you know that creativity and anxiety cannot co-exist? Writing is an escape from all those to-do lists. Writing is healthy, empowering, and energizing. Just like exercise, you might be a little tired right after, but you will have more energy and positive feelings the rest of the day because you started your day with something just for you. 

Writing in the mornings before taking care of everyone else is NOT selfish. It’s smart.

Many people believe they need long, uninterrupted stretches of time in order to make progress. They imagine a quiet space, a full outline, and a perfectly structured plan before they begin. They imagine a week at a cabin in the woods with no interruption. I’ve tried it all, including personal retreats. What works best, time and again, is a dedicated and PROTECTED window of time, 3-5 days a week, in the mornings.

Meaningful work is built in smaller pieces through steady, consistent effort rather than ideal conditions.

While some people optimize, daydream, get resentful, and procrastinate, other people give their projects as little as 20 minutes a day and make progress until they are successful.

The people who complete their books are not always the ones with the most time available. They are the ones who understand what they are creating and why it matters to them. They are the people who commit the time, protect the time, and keep going.

The woman I met last week does not need a different schedule. Think about it. Sometimes, the busiest people we know are the most accomplished. They know how to manage their time. They are proactive, not reactive. 

If you have found yourself saying that you do not have time to write, it may be helpful to pause and consider a different question.

Stop right now and answer this question: What time block can I reserve each morning so I can work on my book? 

About the Author

Jody Dyer is the Founder and CEO of Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media, two publishing companies that help writers turn meaningful ideas into professionally published books.

Jody and her team guide authors through writing, editing, publishing, and marketing so their books create impact, credibility, and long-term legacy.

If you are thinking about writing or publishing a book and want thoughtful guidance before making decisions, you can schedule a free Publishing Pathway Call to explore your next step.