As an author, I’ve taught creative writing and presented workshops and one of the reasons for “not writing” or “not finishing” that often comes up is “I have such a busy life, I just can’t seem to find the time to write.” To which I’d say, if you only write 1 double-spaced page a day, you’ll have written 365 pages. That’s a book (or more…most of my books average 300 pages or less). Maybe not a great book…you’re still at the first draft stage, but as the saying goes, “You can’t edit a blank page.” Here are a few tips to help you carve out an hour a day:

Prepare for a Writing Hour

“What is your most creative time of day?” In a perfect world, your writing hour would fall in this time. In an imperfect world, your writing hour will fall when it falls, and you will write during that hour because that is the time available.

Here are some considerations for making the most of the Writing Hour:

1) Write at the same hour every day. Just as writing every day keeps the story in your head, writing at the same hour every day establishes a routine. Some believe it allows our inner muse to know we’re serious, and so he or she starts showing up, ready to work.

2) Write in the same place every day. If you have to (or want to) leave home to write at a library, coffee shop, on your deck, this may not work for you. If you are a traveler, see comment #3. If you work at home, or if you must have research materials or notes handy, set up a writing station—a writing desk, a corner of the dining room table, a spot in the basement. Fill it with what you need to work, what you require for comfort, and what may perk or inspire you.

3) If you write in different places and/or need to get out of your home or office, make your Writing Hour easier by being organized. Get a bag that is used only for Writing Hour supplies: journal, pens, flash drives, note cards. Have it ready to go at all times so you don’t spend any valuable minutes searching for the last copy of your draft or an important revision note.

Get your Brain in Gear 

1) What may be the most difficult part of an uninterrupted Writing Hour is retreating from the world. Turn off your phone, email, TV and radio, and tune out: Social media and housework will still be there when you check back into the world in an hour.

2) Calm yourself. Take a minute to close your eyes or breathe deeply, and relax. Devoting a minute to physical preparedness is worth the sacrifice of a minute out of your hour.

3) Prepare mentally. Think about what you wrote yesterday and what you want to write today. If what you wrote yesterday stunk, and you can’t move on without editing it, accept that and revise instead of writing new words. If you are mired in a scene and have been there for several days, accept that and decide you’ll move on to a new scene. Be in your story before you sit down to write.

Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard

That’s really the magic bullet, the secret sauce, call it what you will. Butt in chair. Fingers on keyboard. Repeat. Good luck and happy carving!