Writing, wow, who knew there would be such challenges to getting it done?
I’d like a hot cup of coffee, a nice QUIET place to write, and a three to four hour daily block of time to pour out the most inspired writing of my life.
And all writers start laughing now.
After a great wrestle, and I do mean GREAT, I’m resolved to the fact that there’s never going to be a perfect time or place to write.
‘Tis life, and ‘Tis the season of a bit more craziness than usual.
While I may get that cup of coffee, that nice QUIET place and 3-4 hours of daily writing time simply isn’t in my deck of cards at the moment. Even IF that perfect time/place existed, inspired writing isn’t something that often happens, nor is it necessary for writing to occur.
Life-Stuff happens y’all. The past year and a half has been emotionally and spiritually taxing. I can’t believe how much it’s impacted my ability to write, or the lack there of.
Though it’s been over a year since my mother-in-law passed away from cancer, we are all still very much grieving and dealing with the aftermath of her death. Five months after her passing, my dad suffered a heart-attack and nearly died. Praise the Lord he survived and is doing well. I also went from being a full-time writer and stay at home mom & wife to a full-time teacher, writer, mom & wife, which is a whole new world of crazy. And Just this week we quite unexpectedly assumed guardianship of our two nieces making our family of four now a family of six. So much to process, but wow, God is SOOO Good! Sooo good. So so so good. Unbelievably good. Will definitely have to catch y’all up on just how good soon! Anyway, I digress.
I’ve prioritized, said no to things I would have usually agreed to in the realm of volunteering, 
but I still find myself in the juggle struggle fighting for the time to write.
I don’t have, and more than likely won’t have, the ideal writing circumstances that my mind dreams up. But what do I have? Well, looking at my calendar for the school year…I do have a window of time…about a 50 minute chunk in the afternoons four days a week where I can write in my classroom after school, door closed, lights off, before I have to pick up my kiddos from school. Score!
I also have three Sunday’s a month from 7pm-9pm (sometimes until 10pm!) available to write/plot etc. Double Score!
Now…how to be”inspired” when I sit to write? First thing to do is kick that whole concept of inspiration out the window. Here’s what I’m gonna do:
1: Sit: So, from 2:45 to 3:35 I will be in the back of my classroom with my computer, and will turn off the wifi. (Sometimes I have to check my email like 100 times when writing… or Facebook…or Instagram…you know, just because. So wifi has to go!)
2: Pray: “God, it’s just you and me creating this story, so help me out, ’cause I’m totally not feeling the inspiration thing”
3: Write: Write even if it’s the worst writing ever. The goal is to slap down a 1,000 words in that 50 minute session and close the computer at 3:35. If I don’t hit a 1,000, well I hit something and that’s better than a big-fat-zero.
4: Repeat & adjust the writing times as seasons of life come and go.
What will happen to my writing schedule during summer break? I will adjust it accordingly in May as school draws to an end (18 weeks y’all!! Countdown!). Maybe I will get that 3-4 hour chunk of daily writing time then! Woohoo!
Here it is then. I’m resolved to:
1: Sit
2: Pray
3: Write
4: Repeat
Now that I’m resolved, I’m gonna bring some accountability to this deal. I know just the person…a fellow writer, with writing goals of her own.
The juggle struggle is real y’all, but there’s something to be said for setting goals, making priorities, accountability, and getting it done.
What are your writing goals? What’s your writing schedule like? How do you fight and make time to write? I’d love to hear your feedback. 🙂
Happy New Year!
About the Author:
Hannah Conway is a military wife, mother of two, middle school teacher, and speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns sure to thrill, and encourage. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My book Therapy. She and her family live near Nashville, Tennessee.
Check out her latest release, Up in Smoke ! Love it? Leave a Review on Amazon and let the world know!
