This is the second time in as many months where an illness has taken me by storm. I’m not used to getting sick this many times in a single winter, unless I do and I’m just not paying attention to it. This second bout isn’t quite as bad as the first one, seeing as how I’m able to write this out for you. It created quite the havoc against my writing intentions the last time though. A slight headache and a drippy nose aren’t quite enough to put me down for the count.
Nor are any other things that can get in the way of the writer’s path. Life has many things to throw at us, distract us from the daily word count or editing session. It can become quite the challenge to meet your quota, especially with unexpected events cropping up from time to time. That eight hour block of writing time you scheduled for yourself on Saturday? It’s gone if a family member drops by suddenly. That chapter you hoped to edit before the kids get home from school? Well, dang. Someone forgot to tell you it was a half-day and the kids showed up home at 11 am.
So how can we as writers make sure we get that writing time in? We have to make a break for it every time life gives us a break. Usually, this is in the early morning or late night hours. Bring lots of caffeine with you to keep you up! Also, there are times when you think you have to do something but your schedule suddenly clears up, giving you an hour or two in the middle of the day. Take that chance and run with it.
The thing to remember about scheduling writing time is that you need to be flexible. By dropping your writing on a dime, or vice versa, you’ll save yourself a lot of mental anguish in the long run. You will be able to make the time to write. You just have to keep an eye out for when life lets you.
The New Authors Fellowship 