How to Find Time to Write (and Make a Cozy Writing Space You'll Actually Use)

A common question I get asked by aspiring authors is ‘How do I find the time to write when life gets busy?’ The answer is simply: you make the time. My schedule has changed over the years, and what works for me now isn’t what worked for me ten years ago (yes, I’ve been writing that long!). Also, what works for me might not work for you. With that in mind, here’s my current writing routine:

I try to write every day Sunday - Friday. Saturday is my ‘rest’ day, but I will use it as a make up day if I miss one of the week days (or if I happen to have a down weekend). I aim for an hour a day, but will count any writing as a win. While I have a full time day job, I’m lucky that I’m able to work from home 2 days a week—on those days, I ‘leave for work’ at the same time, but instead of getting in my car, I get in my writing chair + get to work. On the days I go into work, I aim for writing in the morning. If I miss that, I squeeze it in on my lunch break, and if I made it until the end of the day without having found the time, I’ll do it before bed.

Working around the full time job, I try to spend at least 50% of my writing time writing something new, and the other 50% is split evenly between Marketing (blog, newsletter, social media, etc) and Editing a previous book (or querying literary agents, when applicable). My favorite time is when I’m in the early stages of drafting a new book and I have nothing to edit, because then I can dedicate the majority of my time to the story itself.

If I have a really busy day or I’m too stressed to write, I try to use some time during a commute or over breakfast to at least think about my story and what I want to happen in the next scene. That way, the next time I sit down to write, I’m better prepared.

With all that in mind, my typical writing work week ends up looking something like this:

• Sunday: 1 hour writing / 1 hour planning (Marketing, Editing, etc)

• Monday: 30 mins writing /30 min editing

• Tuesday: 1 hour writing / 1 hour Marketing / Querying

• Wednesday: 30 mins writing / 30 editing

• Thursday: 1 hour writing / 1 hour Marketing / Querying

• Friday: 30 mins writing / 30 editing

That ends up being about 9 hours a week dedicated to writing. Some weeks—especially when I have a deadline—end up being much longer (most of the extra time coming in on the weekend). Some weeks are busy and I end up with less writing time, but this seems like a good summary of an average week.

Finding the best writing routine that works for you:

1. Eliminate distractions

Maybe you already have your writing time set aside for you, but you trade it in for a few more hours or sleep, or you open your phone to check your notes and end up doom scrolling on social media… we’ve all been there. Carving out the time to write is half the battle—if you’re finding yourself distracted see if you can eliminate distractions like putting your phone in ‘do not disturb’ mode, closing your door, or changing up your routine. For instance, if being a morning writer isn’t your thing, can you try writing before bed instead? If you’ve eliminated all your distractions and you’re still struggling to write, writers block may be the culprit.

2. Find the time

If it seems at first like you don’t have the time to write, think about how you spend your day. Be intentional about it. Is there any time where you find yourself bored, scrolling your phone, or engaging in an activity that isn’t really necessary? Watching TV and social media are great places to cut back on, but if you don’t have time for that, there could be other areas to look into. Maybe you can meal prep to free up dinner a couple nights a week. Even 10 minutes of writing time a day can add up fast. And these days, you can even write on your phone!

3. Consistency is Powerful (But Not Everything)

If you can write consistently—even in small bursts—it creates momentum. Ten minutes a day, five days a week is still nearly an hour of writing. That adds up over months. But if writing 2 hours every weekend works better for you than spending ten minutes a day, go for it! Finding what works for you and sticking to it is most important.

4. If Now Isn’t the Time, Prepare for When It Is

When you have an idea for a story, it’s often so exciting that you want to get started right away! And that’s great, you’ll need that! But before you burn out or set unrealistic expectations that will disappoint you when you don’t met them, think about how much time and energy you truly have right now. If you’re working two jobs or taking care of a newborn baby, you might simply not have the time to write right now—and that’s okay.

There are still ways to set yourself up to write when you have the time. Some ideas include:

• Listen to podcasts on craft or author interviews during your commute or chores.

• Jot down ideas in your notes app or a notebook. A great character voice or story spark might strike when you least expect it.

• Collect inspiration— save articles, quotes, or images that evoke a feeling or idea you want to explore later. Pinterest is great for this!

• Listen to audiobooks and jot down some of your favorite lines or scenes to come back to later with your writer lens (to see what made them resonate with you).

• Follow authors on social media so you can get ideas & build a network for when you start writing.

5. Reassess

If you’re writing routine is working, go you! You probably aren’t reading this far. If it could use some work, remember that it’s okay to adapt. Just because something worked for you last year doesn’t mean it will forever. It’s okay to make changes and see how things go, even if you only decide to switch back to your original plan. It’s also okay to take some time off. When I know that something busy is coming up (a wedding, vacation, or important week at work), I decide to take the time off writing in advance. That way, I don’t feel guilty about not writing. And if I end up with even half an hour of writing, I’ll be happy because I wasn’t expecting it.

Making your writing space cozy:

Alright, this one I have to thank my wife for: she’s great at decorating my office with plants and cute cat pictures and candles. I bring the music—instrumental fantasy music, played over headphones. That’s really all I need. Some people find working in coffee shops or cafes cozy (I’ve done that—while I enjoy it, I find it better for editing or brainstorming—I find I get my strongest, most solid writing done at home).

Here are some ideas for making your writing space cozy:

• Get comfortable! Comfortable chairs, cozy cushions, warm lighting, etc can make all the difference

• Natural elements: think plants, wooden decor, seashells —whatever relaxes or inspires you. If you don’t have these things lying around, you can put pictures of them up on the wall or even create a digital background on your desktop.

• Inspirational Quotes: They may not be your thing, but I find them motivational. Quotes from your favorite authors, books, or movies can go along way!

• Candles (or other scented things)

• Tea, coffee, or your drink of choice

Making a cozy writing space can be helpful, but your writing zone doesn’t need to be cozy. Some of my best sentences have been created on the notes app on my phone while waiting for a lunch order!

Writing Tips: How to Craft Strong Character Motivation

There’s an age-old saying in theater, film, and writing that’s along the lines of ‘in every scene, your character should want something—even if it’s just a glass of water.’ I thought of this as I was rewatching the Fall Guy (yes, the movie where Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman turned bounty hunter—if you haven’t seen the movie yet, you should definitely check it out, it’s my favorite movie of 2024 so far… but I digress). The most noteworthy thing about this action-packed romantic comedy is the stunts—but there’s also some incredible writing. One thing I noticed: the main character is in desperate need of coffee. He asks for it at least three times, and just as many times we see him getting close to reaching this goal only to have it dashed by a broken coffee machine or a ninja-trained actress charging at him with a sword. It makes for some hilarious scenes and gets us to emphasize with his character. When we left the movie theater, my wife turned to me and said ‘I loved the movie, but I feel bad he never got his coffee!”

Of course, his motivation is deeper than just coffee—he wants to win back the girl he loves, find a missing actor, etc. But in the early scenes, his most immediate and relatable desire was simply coffee.

And getting an audience invested in a character wanting coffee isn’t easy. Here’s what goes into it:

1. Know Your Character’s Goals: Every character needs a goal, whether it's a long-term aspiration or a short-term objective. This is a great opportunity to flesh out your character by asking questions such as: What drives them? What’s the best thing that can happen to them? What’s the worst? Once you have their big-picture goal, such as ‘win back my ex-girlfriend’, see if there are any smaller more immediate goals that can make your character more personal, especially in scenes that don’t tie into this big-picture goal. We may not all be able to relate to doing cannon rolls to impress our ex-girlfriend turned movie director, but most of us can relate to feeling in over our heads and wanting a cup of coffee after an overnight international flight.

2. Establish Stakes: To keep your character motivated, establish stakes that matter. What does your character stand to gain or lose in each scene? Even a seemingly mundane action like getting a cup of coffee can carry weight if it’s tied to something significant, like meeting someone important or taking a moment to reflect on a critical decision.

3. Get Emotional: No, you don’t need to have your character sobbing to a Taylor Swift song, but it’s helpful to tie your character’s motivations to their emotional state. Are they seeking comfort, trying to escape anxiety, or looking for a moment of joy? Emotions are a universal language that readers connect with, making your character’s actions more relatable and engaging.

4. Reflect: As the story progresses, your character’s actions and motivations should reflect their personal growth and development. As they evolve, their goals should too. Make sure this is incorporated through actions, dialogue, or interior reflection.

5. Incorporate Subtext: Subtext can be a powerful way to show motivation without stating it outright. Perhaps your character’s need for coffee is a cover for something deeper, like a desire for something to go right in a chaotic world where everything is going wrong. This can add depth to your storytelling.

6. Ask Why: In every scene, ask yourself why your character is doing what they’re doing. If the answer isn’t clear, dig deeper. Understanding the “why” behind every action, no matter how small, will keep your character motivated and your story compelling.

Remember, motivation is the heartbeat of your character’s journey. It’s what transforms a simple action into a meaningful moment and keeps readers invested in your story. So, next time your character reaches for that cup of coffee, make sure they’re doing it with purpose and intention—and if you really want to get your readers routing for them, have the mug break before it reaches their lips!