Guide for penning a book while maintaining a full-time employment commitment

Guide for penning a book while maintaining a full-time employment commitment

Writing a book while working a full-time job ain't for the faint-hearted, but it bloody well can be done, chum. If you think every bloke 'n' gal who writes books has hours Upon hours to burn, you're surely living in cloud cuckoo land. Even old Stephen King couldn't live off his nap times and daydreams, mate.

The reality is, most writers I know have a damn good reason for clockin' and clockin' out at the ol' nine-to-five. Only two of 'em currently floatin' through life as unemployed aristocrats, if you catch my drift. So if you reckon you can't pen a novel while workin' your fingers to the bone, you better git yer priorities straight.

You don't have to hang up your hobbies and jam-pack every minute with write-offs to makeprogress, pal, but you do gotta give somethin' up if you're dead serious about this. Maybe skip that lengthy natter with your bestie this week, or just watch the one 'Gilmore Girls' instead of six in a row. And when it comes to the non-negotiable stuff, hell, you might be able to nab an extra hour here and there. Cook stove-top dinner for one this week, or jot down a few choice plot points durin' your lunch break. (I used to be a nurse, so I get it - a lunch break can be like a mythical beast.)

Now, I've got a cracking good writer pal who's busy as a one-legged cat in a room full of rockin' chairs, yet she squeezes out books like nobody's business. She records herself yappin' into voice memos while cleanin' up, then types 'em out later. Don't be afraid to give any ol' tool a whirl that helps you get your thoughts on the page, mate. The only way to write a book ain't at an ornate desk in front of a typewriter.

But here's the kicker: Having a plan - a map of your story - helps save ya time in the long run. Don't go rollin' your eyes at me, I didn't invent it. Your outline can be whatever floats yer boat. Maybe it's a simple list of bullet points, or a one-pager summin' up yer yarn, or a bunch of character arcs. If outlining don't tickle yer fancy, you just need to find a blueprint that clicks for ya. I even whipped up a nifty plotting system if that tickles ya fancy.

I know it's temptin' to just dive headfirst into the deep end when time is scarce, but trust me, planning your story in advance is gonna save ya time and tears down the line. You won't waste precious minutes diggin' yer way outta odd little tangents ya gotta yank out later, and you won't be stared down by an empty page for hours on end. Hell, you might even find yerself excited about what you're gonna write instead of dreading the blank page.

Some More Efficient Writin' Tips:

1. Schedule Your Write-Offs: Pick specific times to write, and stick to 'em, whether it's early birdie, late after work, or durin' lunch. Consistency is key to productivity.
2. Use that Commute: Utilize yer daily commute to write, brainstorm, or research. Every minute counts, mate!
3. Word Count Goals: Set achievable daily word counts to ensure progress without feelin' overwhelmed.
4. Adaptable Goals: Be flexible with yerself and adjust yer goals based on unforeseen circumstances. Don't let stress and burnout get the better of ya.
5. Boundary Setting: Set proper boundaries between work, writing, and yer personal life to protect yer mental health. Make time for self-care and important activities.
6. Tech Tools: Use apps that allow writin' on-the-go, like during breaks or while commutin'. Leverage organizational tools like calendars, to-do lists, or project management software to stay on top of things.
7. Support System: Connect with supportive people who understand the demands of workin' and writin', and join online or local writin' communities for encouragement and advice.

Stand yer ground, mate, and git yer story writ down. Ya never know - ya might just be the next big thing. Happy writin'!

P.S. For more writing tips and inspiration, check out our blog and grab some top-notch author tools from Writer Lifestyle on Etsy!

1. To make progress with novel writing while managing a full-time job, one can consider giving up some casual activities like lengthy chats with friends or watching fewer episodes of a favorite TV show.
2. A creative writer friend of mine, who is very busy, records her ideas into voice memos during cleaning and transcribes them later, demonstrating that any tool can help with getting thoughts onto the page.
3. For more productive writing, it's advisable to schedule specific write-off times, use the daily commute for writing or brainstorming, set achievable daily word count goals, and be flexible with those goals based on unforeseen circumstances.
4. To save time and frustration, it's essential to plan the story in advance through outlining or plotting, which can be as simple as a list of bullet points or a one-pager summarizing the plot.
5. Adopting aplotting system and utilizing technology, such as productivity apps and project management software, can help writers manage their time effectively and stay organized.
6. Building a support system with understanding friends, joining online or local writing communities, and practicing self-care are also crucial for maintaining mental health and productivity in the face of work and writing demands.
7. With the right approach, planning, and tools, writers can make significant progress on their book projects while balancing work and personal life, potentially becoming the next big thing in literature.

Read also: