Given the current state of events, I’ve been thinking a lot about time management and writing. Not in the sense of how to fit writing in, although I’ve written about that before. More in terms of organising your time, especially now many of us find ourselves unable to do our usual work. I’m not a full-time writer, just an enthusiastic part-timer, but I was curious how people who write for a living manage their time. Enter: the lovely Emma Grae!
A full-time writer, working from home at the moment due to the pandemic, Emma was generous enough to answer some of the burning questions I had about how she handles it all. I’ve summarised some of the key take-aways, I hope you find it as useful and interesting as I did!
Writing Different Things
Emma works as a journalist during the day, and works on other projects in the evening. Either commission work, or her own fiction. She explained that, as time has gone on, she’s been more able to take on extra work outside her journalism.
I wondered whether it’s difficult to write all day, and then all evening as well, for different purposes. Emma doesn’t find that too challenging though. Her reasoning makes sense to me as well—although I have this weird fear of ‘writing fatigue’, I typically find that the more I write, the more I’m able to write. It was nice to hear that supported by a professional though!
“Having a writing day job has actually kept me on better form for my own projects. The more you use a skill, the more it becomes like second nature.”
Switching up the projects that you’re working on can also make it easier to maintain focus for a long time. That said, when your whole day is writing, it can be useful to have something that marks the changeover from one type to another. That could be a break to watch TV or go for a walk, a nap or a phone call with a friend. Really, anything that helps you mark that change in mindset.
Time Management and Writing to a Schedule
I also asked Emma about routine and writing, and she confirmed what I already suspected: that routine is important. It can provide structure to your day in a way that might well be missing at the moment. She also pointed out that, aside from the immediate benefit, the practice of structuring your writing (and, by extension, your day, if you’re writing full-time) can be good for you in other areas.
Circumstances being as they are right now, this might not be the easiest time to work on your self-discipline. We’re all trying to adapt to a truly bizarre situation, which comes with unique stresses. But if you can manage to impose some structure for yourself, however limited, it can be of enormous benefit.
Goal-Setting and Writing
If you’re writing full-time, it’s even more important to set realistic goals and know your limits. There can be a lot of pressure to hit impressive targets, whether you’re writing for a living or doing it for a hobby. Social media, while amazing for creating a sense of community around writing, can add to this pressure in quite a damaging way.
Emma described the importance of knowing when to ask for help, and not feeling bad about accepting it. A lesson I think we could all stand to remember once in a while!
“I have been kind to myself though. I’ve set realistic targets and not been scared to ask and accept advice.”
It’s okay to revise if you set yourself a target that proves to be too much. Particularly at the moment, the internet is full of people who are doing amazing things with their lockdown. If you can knock out a few thousand words a day while you’re stuck at home, more power to you! But if you can’t, that’s okay. Set your goals based on what’s feasible for you. It’s better to do a little, consistently, than to burn yourself out trying to achieve something you know will be too much.
There it is: a full-time writer’s take on time management and writing!
Massive thanks to Emma for talking to me this week, I appreciated it immensely. You can find Emma’s upcoming book, be guid tae yer mammy, on Unbound.com. A darkly comic family drama set in modern-day Scotland, the book will (hopefully!) be released in January of next year. I know I can’t wait to read it!
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