Finding the Time to Write

The toddler marched over to my laptop. I had been editing for an hour while giving a simultaneous commentary on her favourite CBeebies programme. Clearly this was no longer enough. She hit the power off button (She's two, but very bright) and hauled the laptop off my knee.

"Play with meeeeee, mammy," she pleaded and I had to realise that was my writing done for the day,

I was lucky to have had an hour and lucky to have a child who is easily distracted by the allure of CBeebies. I do fear my latest Work in Programme will have several random mentions of Mr Tumble or the Tweenies as my concentration slipped - but here is the thing - when you want to write you do it when you can.

Everyone has commitments on their time. Sure don't we hear constantly how life is busier than ever for everyone? A great deal of my writer friends hold down day jobs as well. Many are parents. Others have commitments to elderly relatives, or friends, or social clubs. There are few and far between who have the (I can imagine) unadulterated luxury of having no distractions to their time and are able to devote their lives entirely to their writing.

My own story is typical of many writers - especially those starting out. I work, full time. I have two children - aged seven and two. I started writing when my eldest was just two years old, which seemed delightfully easy at the time. Then I wrote through the pregnancy from hell and with a newborn baby to mind. And a house to keep. And a self employed husband to facilitate (we tend to work in shifts to manage childcare and other concerns). It no longer seems delightfully easy.

People look at me, as if I'm half cracked in the head, and ask how I manage to do it. My answer, which I am sure is the answer many writers would give is that, simply, if you want it enough you will find the time.

Writing is as part of my daily routine now as brushing my teeth and ignoring the growing ironing pile. I make the time. If you want to write, if you feel that sense of passion and commitment to you art, you make it part of your routine.

You cannot write books in five minute spurts while trying to do everything else. Something has to give to allow you to fulfil your dream. It's up to you to decide what that something is.

Everyone has a different pattern. Some writers I know are morning people - up early, coffee consumed, laptop on while the rest of the house are sleeping. Some are nightowls, burning the midnight oil while the rest of the family sleep - enjoying the quiet.

Evenings are my sacred time. There is something soothing to my soul about putting my children to bed and switching on the laptop. That's when I cease to be mammy and start to be me - writer, creator of worlds, someone who can get lost in her own world and create stories people will want to read.

I have had to make certain sacrifices to make that happen. Sky Plus is a great friend to me. Although I rarely see everything I've recorded. My friends have come to know that, especially around deadline time, I'm not available except in case of emergency.

I also utilise that spare bit of time at lunch time between finishing my sandwich and the clock hitting two, to devote half an hour to writing. It needs to be half an hour - you need the time to get into your groove - to warm up and find your flow.

Bedtime, and that twilight between waking and sleeping, are invaluable for plotting. I tend to go to sleep playing out a dialogue or scene in my head - keeping a notebook by the bed to write anything particularly impressive down. Thinking time is almost as important as actual writing time.

I do have to remind myself that I do have my own commitments as well. Adept as I am to multi-tasking (the edit V CBeebies), there are times when all writers need to put down the laptop and go out and see the world.

The greatest inspiration comes from seeing how people react and converse with each other. While running down the beach with my children, or playing in the park, the interaction between other people can fire up an idea which inspires the next chapter or the next book.

Writing, when it is at its best, doesn't feel like hard work. That doesn't mean it's easy - not by a long shot - but when you are in the zone you find the time. And when you are not in the zone, you sometimes have to jolt yourself into the zone.

Find your routine. Remember that what works for you, may not work for someone else. There is no right or wrong - each writer's routine is as unique as their writing style.

And if your toddler switches off your laptop mid edit, just accept now is not necessarily the time to write.