Tuesday, November 27, 2018

How To Start Writing In Your Spare Time

When you’re someone that dreams of writing, that dream never dies. It stays with you. Even when you go off into your career, when you forget about all things creative, and when you go off into your adult life. It’s still there.

Because writing comes with so much passion. When you love to read and create and get lost in an imaginary world, it’s only natural that your mind will often come up with characters and ideas, plots and plot twists. So whether you were a budding author as a child, or you were someone that just wanted to write features and stories and snippets from your life, you will still have that feeling until you put pen to paper. Or, perhaps more aptly, fingers to keyboard.

So, you might be interested in writing in your spare time with the intention of turning this into a career. Or selling a story. Or an article. But how do you do it? And how should you start? Well, let's find out.




Just Start

First, you just need to get started. Right now! When you’ve finished reading this post, open up your word processor or your Google Doc and just get writing. Getting started is often the hardest part, so if you just do it, you’ve beaten that hurdle.

Set Aside The Time

But at the same time, you need to make sure that you’re actually doing it. Don’t just get started, write once, and then stop. You need to find time to write by making time for it. So schedule it in. Whether it’s an hour in the morning, on your lunch break, or in the evening, slot it in. Because when it’s in the diary and the time is set aside for it, you will write.


Get Into A Routine

You then will want to make sure that you’re being consistent with it. So get into a routine of writing an hour a day or whatever you can commit. Because the more of a routine you get into with your writing, the easier it will be to build up a momentum.

Take It Seriously

But then there may also come a time where you feel ready to take this whole writing thing seriously. Maybe you want to look at online jobs from home where you can write to make money and then write in your spare time creatively too. Or maybe you want to think about getting a pitch together for a book proposal? No matter what you want to achieve, you will start to realize that there is a point where things get a little bit more serious for you.

Do Something Big

Finally, you may even want to make more of a move than that. You might want to do something big and exciting and different. Maybe starting a blog and publishing some of your ideas there could be perfect for you? Or maybe you would love to write your own book and self-publish it? Just make sure that you have some kind of goal that you’re working to, that something big you’re chasing that can help to keep you on track.

What are you waiting for?



39 comments:

  1. I have always loved reading and writing comes somewhat naturally to me. While I was still in the working world (bookkeeping) it was somewhat forgotten--then I started a blog. I started by writing for companies-then followed my passion after a while and have been writing book reviews ever since!

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    1. Same! I have always been a reader and wanted to be a writer since I was 7 years old. I started blogging over a decade ago, took a break to write my books, but missed it so much I had to come back to it! I didn't know you were a book reviewer! If you'd like to review mine, please click on the contact tab and get in touch! I would appreciate it immensely <3

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  2. Spare time is what I am having trouble finding.

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  3. I love to read. Writing is certainly not my forte. I am my worst critic when it comes to writing, luckily for me, I am surrounded by writers who are willing to review my work with all realness :).

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    1. I know what you mean, I am definitely my own worst critic. I keep on keeping on, though ;)

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  4. Great post! I love writing. But I always don't get enough time for follow my writing passion. Thanks for sharing the useful tips.

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  5. Great tips! it really helps to actually find time and have it for yourself. To start writing, expressing yourself on paper and achieving your dreams.

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  6. Recently I've been struggling with writing. These tips are very helpful. I hope with this i'll be back in setting up a routine.

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  7. I have been writing for as long as I know myself. But sometimes it's very hard to control the times when to write, as inspiration doesn't usually come only when I have free time. Thanks for your tips.

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  8. Just start - that's definitely the most important time. And find time. Even if it's only ten minutes - that's still ten minutes you wouldn't have written otherwise!

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  9. Finding time is so hard! i think for me I would really have to put it in my schedule to set aside time for writing like you said.

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  10. I need to get better about setting aside the time to do some more writing. I tend to get easily distracted. I will implement some of your ideas.

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    1. I know what you mean, I tend to get distracted by the internet... a lot, lol

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  11. I would love to add one tip. If you do begin writing as a career and work for others, make sure that you leave time for writing just for the love of it. Burnout can set in fast when you're not as passionate about your topic.

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  12. I read this post and thought... is this talking to me? I have done this numerous times--get started, write once, and then stop.Life gets so chaotic that sometimes I just don't make the time. However, I think you are right. We need to schedule in the time.

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    1. I've done that as well but in the past year, I decided that I would *make* time! It's so worth it!

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  13. Sometimes writing is hard for me especially when I'm not in a mood. But someone told me that you need to inhale and to exhale, reading is inhale and writing is to exhale.

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    1. I mostly work on outlines or lists of things I want to write about when I'm not in the mood...that way once the mood hits, I have a list our outline to go back to :) I love that, inhaling reading and exhaling writing!

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  14. I agree so much with your words. In my case, i have to say that the starting was the hard part but, after that and, when you got some discipline, it gets easyear and natural

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  15. Very well written blog Stephanie... i would follow these steps to every writing.. inluding my blog.. thanks for the inspiration.

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  16. I work full time -main provider in my home- and have two toddlers. Not much spare time here! But when I do find the time to write... what a joy!!!!

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    1. Wow, you've definitely got your hands full! I hope you do get some spare time, I'm tired just thinking about doing all of that, lol!

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  17. This is such a great and informative post. This can be very useful especially for thise who loves writing

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  18. Really great tips. I always start writing, but give up after a few weeks. I love it, but I just can't maintain consistency.

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    1. I get that way, sometimes, just go back to it when you can and keep on keeping on ;)

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  19. I do also love writing and reading poems and other literature. it makes my soul alive and relax. I just loose it one time but this time i would like to thank you for giving me courage to step forward again. Thank you.

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  20. Good, encouraging suggestions, Stephanie. I think often it's fear that stops us, but getting organised with practical tips like this helps remove the fear.

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    1. Thanks! Fear held me back for quite awhile, but not anymore! ♡

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