Written By Shalisha Bynoe
The Brutally Honest Guide to Writers and Time Management
Writers are about as good at time management as cats are at swimming. Some can pull it off, but most of us are just flailing around, struggling to keep their head above water. Writers are full-time daydreamers, and part-time experts in the art of “I’ll start after I do the laundry.”
But here’s the kicker: if you want to actually get published you need consistency. You need to pretend you’re a professional. Not just for the dream of holding your own book, but also for the dream of fans flooding your social media with emojis.
Many writers sit around waiting for the “moment of inspiration” but inspiration is like a deadbeat daddy; it shows up when it feels like it.
The secret to success is called time management.
Find Your Magic Hour
When do you feel most creative? Early morning? Late at night? Test different hours of the day. You might find your peak creativity happens at 2 a.m. while watching a Seinfeld rerun—embrace it.
Set Realistic Goals
Don’t expect to write thousands of words, while cleaning your house and learning Mandarin.” 30 minutes of writing a day can eventually grow into an epic marathon.
Treat Writing Like a Job!
Make your schedule and respect it. Don’t show up late and lovingly pour yourself into it like its your first Tinder date. Don’t skip it unless your house is on fire or if your ex-boyfriend threatens to show you old pictures of a bad night in Cancun.
Eliminate Distractions
Social media? Block it. Your phone? Hide it. Give yourself the gift of focus—and commitment!
Also, don’t forget to take breaks. Try the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of break. It’s like tricking your brain into thinking work is just an endless series of snack breaks. If you stick to it, you’ll go from being an occasional writer to a word witch in a matter of days. Good luck!
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