Be friends with writers. My pal and I go on writing dates where we sit around in some cool little cafe and ignore each other and write. We have this kind-of joke -- "first one who breaks is a bad writer!". It's nice. I get to feel like I've spent time with my friend, and I think we're both really productive when there's another person around to make us accountable.
Perfect timing with this video. I work full time, mom of 3 (one with disability) and working on my first book - now in process of final edits. 😣 The struggle is real. Even harder when being a perfectionist 😐 but writing is my passion 😀 so all is good. 😄
Such a great example of *making* time to write! I can't imagine how busy you are, and you're making your passions work for you. Best of luck in your final edits! You can do it :)
Living My Rhapsody Oh thank God. Someone at last who I can relate to. As a father of 4, working 10 hrs a day so I can take care of them 1 day a week for my wife to work, our sched. is a little insane. I too am revising from a Developmental Edit and it tough to find time to do the work. I end up using the time I have to sit while the kids go to sleep, and waiting time in the doctors office or other snippets of time. it helps that the laptop I'm using boot in like 15 seconds (really, I timed it). I'm comforted to know that I'm not the only.one with extreme time limitations.
Andrew Griffin yep. The challenges we face to pursue our passions are insane sometimes. There is always something that needs to be done in family life, work life, personal life, and "private" life. So many lives, yet only one person to live them 😅
I work two jobs and help take care of my family. And I'm the only one who can drive. Time for writing is very scarce, so I make it a habit to write something when I'm on my breaks.
I know I'm two years late to this one, but I loved the video! I have a full-time job that I love, and I try so hard to build a writing routine in the morning. For the most part, I can do it, but like you imply, life has many, many surprises. Living a full-time life takes up energy, and I also need that energy to write. Cheers.
I created a WhatsApp group on my phone with only me in it. That way, everytime I open the app, I see my most recent line and think about stuff. I write in it whenever I get ideas, then when I get home, I use WhatsApp Web on my computer to open up that group chat, then copy and paste it into my word doc. Hope this helps someone :)
@@mileymoo3235 Hey Miley. You make it with someone like your mum, then kick them :P My mum these days does the same to me XD I was recently added and kicked from a recipes group
As always, great advice. When talking about lists, during my family/work time, my brain never stops writing my stories. I just quickly pull out Evernote and jot down my ideas. That way I don't forget the awesome thoughts that I get during the day while being observant. Also, long showers are perfect for brainstorming what I'm going to write next.
Now that I'm working full-time, I've become more serious about my writing and have started getting up early before my shifts and spending that hour or two or three just writing before I need to get ready for work. It's helped me out a lot!
Don't marry, never have children and always reject taking on friendships. These are three unnecessary things that take up way too much time. Dedication requires sacrifice.
You goin drive yourself crazy... people need people. Some less so than others, but still, it's good to just spend some time with people. And if you want to write, you need inspiration and a sense of how people talk to write good dialogue.
This is so helpful as I've been struggling to keep writing since starting a full-time job late last year. Thank you! Definitely motivates me to try harder again.
I'm studying engineering, work part time, work 8 hours every day, do other stuff like eat, work out, meditate. etc and i still find time to write (though writing is more of a hobby for me). Setting a routine really helps me. Everyday, 30 minute before bed, I work on a story. It helps me relax, forget the day, and makes my brain tired which helps me sleep better. So I think setting a routine can really help.
Working full-time, I definitely use some of these strategies! Taking your writing with you (notebook and pen, or Google Drive on my phone) is how I get stuff written on bus and in my lunch break. 😊
Yes, I was about to say that! The tone and background in this video seems a little different to me than the previous one. -Cut social life. -Downsize. Move out from a bigger house to a smaller one. Passion may as well pay life's necessities without the need for a full time job.
I work out of my car, so I purchased a digital voice recorder, so I could take notes when I had a thought or epiphany and then review those notes once I get home.
I watched this a few days ago and this is honestly one of the most helpful videos about making time to write that I've ever seen. It's so practical - bless you! This is how anybody could make writing happen. So inspiring! :)
This was a great video. It can get really tiring writing sometimes while also working a full-time job, but I know that it's worth it. Thanks for the tips and the reminder that I'm not alone and that other writers are also working full-time as well!
Good tips, Vivien! Thought I'd share a tip with you since you mentioned getting a tablet with a keyboard. I bought the Belkin Ultimate Pro keyboard case for my IPad Air 2 and I love it! This thing made my life so much easier when using the iPad. Some cool and useful features include the ability to quickly and easily orient your iPad from landscape to portrait view or even remove it completely from the case if you find you want to do that. Also, you don't have to charge the keyboard for nearly a year which is great. Just make sure you get the Ultimate Pro and not any of the other versions Belkin offers such as the Lite version, as they are not as functional and even have some serious design flaws.
Elmore Leonard wrote ten novels from his basement from 5 to 7am every morning before going to his day job. He was already in his 60's when he hit the best-seller list for the first time . Fantasy writer and best-seller Brandon Sanderson wrote twelve novels during his quiet overnight shift working the front desk of a hotel. John Grisham arrived early every morning at his law office to write for a few hours before starting his day as a lawyer. This is how we got A Time To Kill and The Firm. Nearly every writer starts this way. It takes years to develop your craft and get published and build up a following to the point where you can write full-time.
Thanks for the video! I take my tablet with a keyboard every where I go. I picked up the Samsung Tab S3 and it works great! It's easily portable and I can work on my book whenever I have a few minutes.
Great tips. Ever since I started simple bullet journaling, my writing productivity has doubled. Add in writing apps on my phone, the extra 20 minutes waiting for my kid at school helps me finish a scene.
Yeah, I use Scrivener and I love writing at my computer in the evening, then editing in bed on the phone app right before I go to sleep. I find the different size screen/word layout helps me spot missing/duplicate words more easily too.
Thanks for this video, Vivien. I'm a senior who's working on a last year of majoring in Physics and Math, GRE preparation, applying to grad school, and a few different jobs. Needless to say, my schedule gets busy and making progress gets difficult. I'll definitely take these tips into consideration. (On the bright side, my crazy life has inspired my novel idea. Haha)
I use a Microsoft Surface Pro for outlining and editing and an Alphasmart Neo 2 for drafting. I love the Alphasmart because it's so light. I put the font size on the smallest setting because it has a tiny screen, though. It's also cheap ($40 on eBay), takes AA batteries (so I almost never have to charge it), and hooks up easily to my laptop. Just plug it in, open a Word doc, and hit "send" and it types it all out like a player piano. :)
Hey Vivien! Thanks so much for the continued inspiration. I'm in the midst of outlining my current project (have a full notebook already), and am going to start putting it down on virtual paper in the next week or so. Definitely going to check out your book!
I really liked the video! I am a Toddler Teacher, full time and I love to play my characters to them. What my character would say while lifting weight? How they would express themselves on good habits and bad habits (what do they do while nervous) and then on my lunch time i wright it down and I also use DICTATE while driving home to enter something else. Thank you! You are adorable!
regarding writing tools, write on your phone. I use the app Simplenote. It works pretty good, and you can just open the app anytime you have a chance :) i write a "lot" in the bus to work this way
Thanks so much for your speech as well as guide to me, We are daily basis programmer, and I think your speech is develope more just now, because of I heard it first time. you are also writer that is also know first time, So it is good I always aware of myself for the future but sometimes friends opinion and guidance is also helpful. Thanks again for your help.
Instead of Scrivener, I use Microsoft One Note. It saves my notes or work in the cloud, and you can put it on your phone (I have an android phone, it doesn't have to be Microsoft). So you have what you need everywhere. I also use this for my lists 😉.
New suscriber! ♥️ And already I have a video request: A video with tips or recommendatios of apps and writing tools would be great! I always have a notebook and my laptop but I would love to know if there's more I could use! Thanks!
I work 40+ hours/6 days a week. My current writing schedule is I make my notes and development during the week on the go and then on the weekends I spend the whole time writing everything I've developed.
I work as a technical writer, so I write 9-5 then come home to write some more. Some days I look at the screen for 40 mins and switch it off. Other days I write 6000 words and stay up until 3am. I can't pin it down.
When is your book coming out?? Totally needed this video. After NANO 2016, Ive been struggling to make some writing time between my 1.5 jobs while also trying to grow a private practice.
There are alternatives to scrivener for phones. Google Docs is my favorite. I can access the files on my phone or any computer just by signing into my gmail. I don't even bother with scrivener now. And its free!
Finding time to write with a full-time life is hard for me. These tips will be helpful, though. Especially prioritizing my week. There’s hardly a day where I don’t have a full plate. But if I can find ways to streamline it, that would be extremely helpful.
I must have a pen and paper in the car or in my person. When we had a tornado scare the one thing I grabbed was my prized Pilot fountain pen and a notebook. Husband thought I was being ridiculous for bringing my laptop to the bathroom so I opted for the manual tools.
It's so hard to be a writer with a full life. I have a job, so making time to write is tough; in between wanting to chat with people as well. I'm trying harder to ease up on my multimedia (it's mostly on work days) so I have time to write before work. I have taken to bringing a notebook with me so I can write on my break (I usually sit in my car to do this). Now that I have an idea that I want to work on, I'm trying to buckle down so I can actually get my novel written. Kind of hard to change my habits but I'm working on it, lol.
If I'm not mistaken, Joyce wrote the majority of Ulysses while fleeing from city to city with his family, avoiding the destruction of World War 1. And I thought reading the damn thing was difficult.
I'm jealous of everyone who has Scrivener, period. I try to "steal" time whenever I work to write. I'm fortunate that I have a couple of writing apps on my phone where I can knock out a paragraph or two. Ideally, I would like to write on my lunch breaks because that's when I have the most time to myself. That doesn't always happen. So I write when I can.
well... when you dont have a social life things get easier :) friday night? i could write... weekends? i could write after waking up later... going out with friends? a girlfriend? what is that? also, you can sacrifice sleep time ;)
Be friends with writers. My pal and I go on writing dates where we sit around in some cool little cafe and ignore each other and write. We have this kind-of joke -- "first one who breaks is a bad writer!". It's nice. I get to feel like I've spent time with my friend, and I think we're both really productive when there's another person around to make us accountable.
J. R. R Tolkien was an Oxford professor
also a soldier who fought war lol
Perfect timing with this video. I work full time, mom of 3 (one with disability) and working on my first book - now in process of final edits. 😣 The struggle is real. Even harder when being a perfectionist 😐 but writing is my passion 😀 so all is good. 😄
Such a great example of *making* time to write! I can't imagine how busy you are, and you're making your passions work for you. Best of luck in your final edits! You can do it :)
Living My Rhapsody Oh thank God. Someone at last who I can relate to. As a father of 4, working 10 hrs a day so I can take care of them 1 day a week for my wife to work, our sched. is a little insane. I too am revising from a Developmental Edit and it tough to find time to do the work. I end up using the time I have to sit while the kids go to sleep, and waiting time in the doctors office or other snippets of time. it helps that the laptop I'm using boot in like 15 seconds (really, I timed it). I'm comforted to know that I'm not the only.one with extreme time limitations.
Andrew Griffin yep. The challenges we face to pursue our passions are insane sometimes. There is always something that needs to be done in family life, work life, personal life, and "private" life. So many lives, yet only one person to live them 😅
If I had a hat I would take it off for you..but I have a hijab...but yes you absolutely are the kind of person who gives hope to losers like me.
So pleased you are back.
Tip #5: @01:27
Tip #4: @02:59
Tip #3: @04:16
Tip #2: @05:30
Tip #1: @07:20
(A list for when I need to review these tips.)
I work two jobs and help take care of my family. And I'm the only one who can drive. Time for writing is very scarce, so I make it a habit to write something when I'm on my breaks.
I know I'm two years late to this one, but I loved the video! I have a full-time job that I love, and I try so hard to build a writing routine in the morning. For the most part, I can do it, but like you imply, life has many, many surprises. Living a full-time life takes up energy, and I also need that energy to write. Cheers.
I created a WhatsApp group on my phone with only me in it. That way, everytime I open the app, I see my most recent line and think about stuff. I write in it whenever I get ideas, then when I get home, I use WhatsApp Web on my computer to open up that group chat, then copy and paste it into my word doc. Hope this helps someone :)
how do you only add yourself to a groupchat because when i tried doing it, it said i had to have atleast 1 participant?
@@mileymoo3235 Hey Miley. You make it with someone like your mum, then kick them :P
My mum these days does the same to me XD I was recently added and kicked from a recipes group
@@reecenaidu6020 ty
As always, great advice. When talking about lists, during my family/work time, my brain never stops writing my stories. I just quickly pull out Evernote and jot down my ideas. That way I don't forget the awesome thoughts that I get during the day while being observant. Also, long showers are perfect for brainstorming what I'm going to write next.
Now that I'm working full-time, I've become more serious about my writing and have started getting up early before my shifts and spending that hour or two or three just writing before I need to get ready for work. It's helped me out a lot!
I love that fireplace!
Vivien, it's so nice to see you again. It's been a long time since your last video.
A... life? Haha, totally got one of those... and friends. Obviously.
siobhan murray yeah, a social life in general
same.
Don't marry, never have children and always reject taking on friendships. These are three unnecessary things that take up way too much time.
Dedication requires sacrifice.
Don't have parents either. If you can't avoid having parents, don't tell them where you live, and they won't be able to visit you.
I may love writing, but I aint gonna be a hermit.
That's my plan.
And no that's not sarcasm.
Perfect.
You goin drive yourself crazy... people need people. Some less so than others, but still, it's good to just spend some time with people. And if you want to write, you need inspiration and a sense of how people talk to write good dialogue.
This is so helpful as I've been struggling to keep writing since starting a full-time job late last year. Thank you! Definitely motivates me to try harder again.
I'm so happy to hear this!!
I'm studying engineering, work part time, work 8 hours every day, do other stuff like eat, work out, meditate. etc and i still find time to write (though writing is more of a hobby for me).
Setting a routine really helps me. Everyday, 30 minute before bed, I work on a story. It helps me relax, forget the day, and makes my brain tired which helps me sleep better. So I think setting a routine can really help.
Excited to see your new writing/video space! Hope we still get some cameos from your dogs every now and then :)
Working full-time, I definitely use some of these strategies! Taking your writing with you (notebook and pen, or Google Drive on my phone) is how I get stuff written on bus and in my lunch break. 😊
i subscribed to you when i first decided to write a book and its like every time i see the notification its usely exactly what i need t hear
Yes, I was about to say that! The tone and background in this video seems a little different to me than the previous one.
-Cut social life.
-Downsize. Move out from a bigger house to a smaller one. Passion may as well pay life's necessities without the need for a full time job.
I work out of my car, so I purchased a digital voice recorder, so I could take notes when I had a thought or epiphany and then review those notes once I get home.
It’s really a pleasure to watch your videos
I watched this a few days ago and this is honestly one of the most helpful videos about making time to write that I've ever seen. It's so practical - bless you! This is how anybody could make writing happen. So inspiring! :)
This was a great video. It can get really tiring writing sometimes while also working a full-time job, but I know that it's worth it. Thanks for the tips and the reminder that I'm not alone and that other writers are also working full-time as well!
I really need to get prioritized and manage my time a little better... -_-
I have so much trouble working out when to fit in writing with school and other interests. This is helpful, thanks :)
You're welcome! Glad I could help :)
Good tips, Vivien! Thought I'd share a tip with you since you mentioned getting a tablet with a keyboard. I bought the Belkin Ultimate Pro keyboard case for my IPad Air 2 and I love it! This thing made my life so much easier when using the iPad. Some cool and useful features include the ability to quickly and easily orient your iPad from landscape to portrait view or even remove it completely from the case if you find you want to do that. Also, you don't have to charge the keyboard for nearly a year which is great. Just make sure you get the Ultimate Pro and not any of the other versions Belkin offers such as the Lite version, as they are not as functional and even have some serious design flaws.
These are great tips and I love that you gave examples! I am a list maker and when I don't make lists I waste so much time.
Elmore Leonard wrote ten novels from his basement from 5 to 7am every morning before going to his day job. He was already in his 60's when he hit the best-seller list for the first time . Fantasy writer and best-seller Brandon Sanderson wrote twelve novels during his quiet overnight shift working the front desk of a hotel. John Grisham arrived early every morning at his law office to write for a few hours before starting his day as a lawyer. This is how we got A Time To Kill and The Firm. Nearly every writer starts this way. It takes years to develop your craft and get published and build up a following to the point where you can write full-time.
Thanks for the video!
I take my tablet with a keyboard every where I go. I picked up the Samsung Tab S3 and it works great! It's easily portable and I can work on my book whenever I have a few minutes.
Great tips. Ever since I started simple bullet journaling, my writing productivity has doubled. Add in writing apps on my phone, the extra 20 minutes waiting for my kid at school helps me finish a scene.
Definitely! It took me a while to realize how many hidden pockets of time I had throughout the day. We gotta take advantage of every spare second :)
Cleaning really takes up too much time. LOL!!!
Your website says novel due Spring 2017 ... is it a typo? Does it mean 2018?
Yeah, I use Scrivener and I love writing at my computer in the evening, then editing in bed on the phone app right before I go to sleep. I find the different size screen/word layout helps me spot missing/duplicate words more easily too.
What a good video! I think this is something that every writer struggles with a little bit so this is super helpful :D
Thanks for this video, Vivien. I'm a senior who's working on a last year of majoring in Physics and Math, GRE preparation, applying to grad school, and a few different jobs. Needless to say, my schedule gets busy and making progress gets difficult. I'll definitely take these tips into consideration.
(On the bright side, my crazy life has inspired my novel idea. Haha)
I use a Microsoft Surface Pro for outlining and editing and an Alphasmart Neo 2 for drafting. I love the Alphasmart because it's so light. I put the font size on the smallest setting because it has a tiny screen, though. It's also cheap ($40 on eBay), takes AA batteries (so I almost never have to charge it), and hooks up easily to my laptop. Just plug it in, open a Word doc, and hit "send" and it types it all out like a player piano. :)
Hey Vivien! Thanks so much for the continued inspiration. I'm in the midst of outlining my current project (have a full notebook already), and am going to start putting it down on virtual paper in the next week or so. Definitely going to check out your book!
Thank you so much! :)
I really liked the video! I am a Toddler Teacher, full time and I love to play my characters to them.
What my character would say while lifting weight? How they would express themselves on good habits and bad habits (what do they do while nervous) and then on my lunch time i wright it down and I also use DICTATE while driving home to enter something else.
Thank you! You are adorable!
This saved my life. I got some plotting to do.
Brilliant advice! Will defo try some of these 👍
Dude, I’m impressed. Thanks!
Always enjoy your videos. I write full time and that's why the hoodie is over my head. I know no one anymore.....
regarding writing tools, write on your phone. I use the app Simplenote. It works pretty good, and you can just open the app anytime you have a chance :) i write a "lot" in the bus to work this way
Thank you for sharing these great tips!
You're welcome!
You're alive! Yay!!!
Thanks so much for your speech as well as guide to me,
We are daily basis programmer, and I think your speech is develope more just now, because of I heard it first time. you are also writer that is also know first time, So it is good I always aware of myself for the future but sometimes friends opinion and guidance is also helpful.
Thanks again for your help.
Instead of Scrivener, I use Microsoft One Note. It saves my notes or work in the cloud, and you can put it on your phone (I have an android phone, it doesn't have to be Microsoft). So you have what you need everywhere. I also use this for my lists 😉.
Awesome! Can you do a video on writing warm ups and practices?
New suscriber! ♥️ And already I have a video request: A video with tips or recommendatios of apps and writing tools would be great! I always have a notebook and my laptop but I would love to know if there's more I could use! Thanks!
Very helpful. Thank you!!!
I work 40+ hours/6 days a week. My current writing schedule is I make my notes and development during the week on the go and then on the weekends I spend the whole time writing everything I've developed.
Writing is my full-time job, but it's great advice! Keep it up!!
I work as a technical writer, so I write 9-5 then come home to write some more. Some days I look at the screen for 40 mins and switch it off. Other days I write 6000 words and stay up until 3am. I can't pin it down.
Thank you, this is very helpful and practical
When is your book coming out?? Totally needed this video. After NANO 2016, Ive been struggling to make some writing time between my 1.5 jobs while also trying to grow a private practice.
Chris Fox's channel is great.
It's good to hear from you. I'm a new subscriber. :)
Great tips!
There are alternatives to scrivener for phones. Google Docs is my favorite. I can access the files on my phone or any computer just by signing into my gmail. I don't even bother with scrivener now. And its free!
Finding time to write with a full-time life is hard for me. These tips will be helpful, though. Especially prioritizing my week. There’s hardly a day where I don’t have a full plate. But if I can find ways to streamline it, that would be extremely helpful.
I must have a pen and paper in the car or in my person. When we had a tornado scare the one thing I grabbed was my prized Pilot fountain pen and a notebook. Husband thought I was being ridiculous for bringing my laptop to the bathroom so I opted for the manual tools.
Good to see you! New subscriber, btw.
Welcome! Thanks for watching :)
this is really helpful to me :) thank you
It's so hard to be a writer with a full life. I have a job, so making time to write is tough; in between wanting to chat with people as well. I'm trying harder to ease up on my multimedia (it's mostly on work days) so I have time to write before work. I have taken to bringing a notebook with me so I can write on my break (I usually sit in my car to do this). Now that I have an idea that I want to work on, I'm trying to buckle down so I can actually get my novel written. Kind of hard to change my habits but I'm working on it, lol.
Good advises
I am starting my second book but this one I want to go slow. I have listed down the chapters. First book I finished in 10 days
You look like a female version of kick the pj! Nice video!
:) I get that a lot!
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO THOUGH THAT
OMFG SHE DOES
Kayla Gisela OMFG I JUST NOTICED
well, they're both awesome people so understandable
thank you for this i live and work at a dog kennel but dream of finishing my book and eather moving out or taking ober the kennel
Iron out while folding laundry, nice XD
Anyone else catch that laundry pun at 5:00? 😂
anyone have tips on how to use driving time effectively? We cant write while driving but what can we do to support it?
I can only write when I am completely alone and in complete silence. Both things are extremely hard to achieve.
Can I work as a publisher and still have time to write?
I actually made a list and forgot to read it!! Ugh!!
Plan
To paraphrase Sheldon Cooper: if I made a list of things that make my life easier, lists would be at the top of the list!
A serious bit of advice: if you can't always have your writing tools with you, at least carry a couple of pens and a small notepad with you.
If I'm not mistaken, Joyce wrote the majority of Ulysses while fleeing from city to city with his family, avoiding the destruction of World War 1. And I thought reading the damn thing was difficult.
I'm jealous of everyone who has Scrivener, period.
I try to "steal" time whenever I work to write. I'm fortunate that I have a couple of writing apps on my phone where I can knock out a paragraph or two. Ideally, I would like to write on my lunch breaks because that's when I have the most time to myself. That doesn't always happen. So I write when I can.
well... when you dont have a social life things get easier :) friday night? i could write... weekends? i could write after waking up later... going out with friends? a girlfriend? what is that?
also, you can sacrifice sleep time ;)
"Have a spouse who works." - Piers Anthony
It’s like having writing as an addiction 😂😂
Instead of a tablet, you might want to look at a Surface Pro 3
you are adorable
I thought writing would be more romantic...
Nice tips. But can't resist saying, you look so cute I wished i meet you for coffee every other week may be.
WHERE THE FUCK YOU BEEN AAAAAAAHHHH
you look tired.
I worked 24 hours within 32 hours. I was definitely tired :)