by Heather Kreke @HKreke

A writer’s work can’t be quantified, diagnosed, or measured. Most of it takes place in the mind as we are constantly brainstorming, researching, thinking about tone or voice, and for us fiction writers, talking to our characters. When we finally put something on the screen, we reread it and aren’t satisfied. So we edit, we polish and maybe, we even start over. This process can keep us up late into the nights or wake us up early in the mornings. So really, how do we fit it all in?

Get a planning system:

I don’t know about you, but keeping everything in my head is pretty much impossible. I need somewhere to put it so I don’t forget. So wether it’s Bullet Journaling, like Edie Melson does so well, or keeping things in your phone, find some kind of system to help you get organized.

Set Other Priorities:

While writing should be a top priority for all of us, we all have certain other things we need to get done each day. Work, cooking, running the kids places, laundry, whatever it may be that has to get done. So choose what is most important. Can the laundry wait? Can you have leftovers tonight? Figure out what absolutely must happen today and put it in your planner.

Set Writing Goals:

Based on our priorities for the day, set realistic writing goals. Remember to make them S.M.A.R.T. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Don’t just sit down and say, “Okay, time to write a novel.” We need to start where we are. Maybe we need to learn more about our craft or do research today. Maybe we need to write 500 words. Whatever it is, setting an actual goal helps us not to see a giant mountain, but a manageable slope.

Manage Our time:

Here’s where my planner comes in. Personally, I use a planner with an hourly schedule page so I can see my time in blocks. For example, church is from 9:30am to about 11:00am by the time we’re done with service and talking to everyone. So I draw a little square around that timeframe in my planner so I can literally see that time is taken. I take a look at what absolutely must get done that day and I block off the time it’s going to take me to do them. Then I look at what I have left. Thats when I write. I specifically block out the time I have for writing, then I guard that time. If someone asks me for something during that time, I have to decline. Turn off the internet, your phone, do what every you need to just write.

So What About When There Is No Time:

Too much other stuff to do in a day or just lots of writing to get done? Thats when getting up early like DiAnn Mills does at 4:30am is necessary. It’s crazy in my opinion, but it works for her, or you can stay up late. While Jerry B. Jenkins had young children, he would stay up until midnight to get his writing in. Especially when he was on deadline.

On top of all of this, we also need some down time. We need to make sure we are prioritizing some rest into our schedules so that we don’t get burned out. Even if it’s just a fifteen minute nap in the middle of the day so we can come back to our keyboard refreshed and ready to go.

We all need to find our time to write and guard it. When do you write?

Heather is a novelist who is passionate about showing teens and young adults  they can find hope in God’s plan for their lives – even through the darkest times. She is published on numerous blogs and in the Christian Writers Market Guide. She also teaches a writing class at her church and completed coursework through the former Christian Writers Guild.

Heather is a mother of 3 redheaded girls and has been married to a redheaded husband since 2004.

If you would like to be featured on Blueridgeconference.com e-mail her at heather@heatherkreke.com with the subject line Blog Query.