You DO have time to write a book

Posted on October 11, 2021

Want to write a book but don’t have the time? Chatting with a friend the other day, I realised that I do, in fact, have time to write a book; I simply choose to spend my time on other pursuits (or scrolling through Instagram!) rather than writing. With that in mind, today’s post is more of a reminder to myself than anything.

When I look at how I spend my ‘free’ time, I am definitely guilty of scrolling through social media a little too much, cycling between each app. I am also guilty of blaming work – I need to stay up to date on these things, right?? – but if I am completely honest, I could spend my time a little more productively. So, how could I spend those hours more effectively? By choosing to write the book that I have told everyone about but for which I’ve barely written an outline.

If you’re in the same boat, you might find the below tips a useful reminder of why you do, in fact, have time to write that book.

Set a goal

First things first, give yourself a deadline. A goal without a deadline is still just a dream. Give that dream structure. For example, set the goal to write a chapter by the end of the month, or complete the book before your birthday. Set the deadline and commit to it.

Start a habit

Getting started with any task is always the most difficult part – and often a process riddled with procrastination. Start small – make time for writing every day until you form a habit. Set the intention to write for 15 minutes per day and stick to it. Before you know it writing will become part of everyday life rather than just something on the to-do list. That 15 minutes, more often than not, grows into 30 minutes, an hour, and beyond. Creating this commitment builds momentum on your project, in this case your book, making it easier to get past that initial starting phase.

Choose to write it

The very crux of this post is that the biggest barrier most people say stops them writing is time. Yet we do have time that we choose to spend elsewhere – to losing yourself in a scroll-hole, to reading, to watching Tv. Find those areas of your life in which you could better spend your time and choose to spend that time writing.

Reach out

Taking on a challenge is so much harder when you do it alone. Reach out to a network of people with similar goals, collaborate, ask for help and allow them to hold you to your promises. Bookstagram is a wonderful community that is ready made to support writers and readers of every sort. Chat with friends, look through your existing networks (make the most of LinkedIn and Facebook Groups), and don’t be afraid to meet new people who you can both learn from and share your knowledge with.