Finding time to write

Have you seen that meme going around about Ursula Le Guin’s writing schedule?

Some writers are early birds and swear by waking up early and getting things done while they are fresh and the world is new. Others are night owls, doing their best writing as the world quiets around them.

I have six children, which means that my writing routine is less of a regular routine than it might be for some writers! I tend to write in the evening once my kids are gone to bed (or in the case of the teens, gone off to their rooms to read/draw/chat online). That puts me firmly in the night owl camp! I’ve always enjoyed the coziness of doing creative work when it’s dark outside and everything seems to quiet down and settle for sleep.

That said, I often find great writing time by bringing my laptop along when I chauffeur my kids to various activities. I’ve written on my lap while sitting on a camp chair or bleachers at countless soccer or softball practices, crouched at the back of the gym during basketball, or while sitting in the waiting room at therapy or doctor’s appointments. I’ve written in the car with the seat shoved back so the steering wheel isn’t in the way while waiting for a kid to finish a babysitting job or a sports game. I’ve written in unfamiliar libraries, gazebos, picnic tables at parks, sitting on a bench at the playground, or at a fast food restaurant. I have my favorite perch at the back of the skating rink, and I hide in the shaded pavilion at the skate park. I adore “floater periods” in our homeschool co-op so I can sit and write a bit before I teach math or writing. I have come to value those places where I can plug my laptop in to save battery! (And yes, my kids are veeeeery active. And numerous.)

One thing I find very helpful about these short little bursts of writing time is that it inspires me to focus. When I’m home writing on my desktop, I might sometimes get distracted by social media posts or wanting to chat with friends on Discord. But when I know I have a limited amount of time to write and that I’ve made the effort to haul my laptop along with me, it guilts me into making the best use of my time that I can. (It also helps that I usually don’t have Internet access when I’m out and about, although that can be challenging when I need to do story research or look at name lists.)

I often like to sprint, setting a time for 15-20 minutes and writing or editing as much as I can before taking a short break. I find I can be far more productive in two hours spent at a sports practice than I am when I have two hours sitting in a quiet room at my desktop with too many distractions available. But making myself do sprints and set timers can force me to be more focused and simulate those intense writing sessions when I’m out and about.

What do you like to do to be creative? Do you write? Sing? Draw? Daydream? Embroider or knit? Do you find there are times of days when you are more creative or times when you are “very stupid?”