How to Write a Novel when You’re Working Full Time

Rather than complaining about my progress, I thought I’d tackle how to write a novel when you’re working full time.

You remember the surge in hobbies recommended last year? And how one of them was writing a novel?

As someone who has been writing for years, it was frustrating. It felt almost blaise: have an idea; write it; done.  True, some people had extra time they could utilise, which always helps.

But what if you’ve got the idea, but are working full time? Fitting in time for hobbies is limited. Today’s post is focused on fitting writing into a busy schedule.

Doesn’t a schedule restrict the creativity?

Maybe. But when you have other things to do, it’s too easy to put off. I like ticking things off a list, so when the option is answering an email or write a novel… You see where this is going?

Having a framework not only breaks it into manageable tasks, but gives me smaller accomplishments I could tick off.

What works for one stage of the writing progress may not work for others. How can you measure word-count when you’re editing and taking words out? But the combination of the below strategies helps keep momentum. Which, we all know, can be the hardest thing to crack sometimes.

Break your project up

Writing a novel might be daunting.

But how about writing a chapter?

Making a plan?

Perhaps some brainstorming?

I’ve been breaking my novel into chapters.  Each week, I set a specific goal e.g write or edit a chapter. It’s a big enough task I have to focus, but one I know is achievable.

Word counts

I’m a pantser with writing. Which surprises me, given my need to plan other areas of life.

It means I sit down and let the words come, even if I don’t know where it’s going.

I adopt this more for fanfiction than novel work, but I’ll set myself a target, and sit and write until I reach it.

Timed sessions

Word counts are tricky when you’re spending time editing. Instead, I’ll set a timer for normally around thirty minutes. In that time, I’ll turn off everything else and focus on that project alone.

Of course, distractions do occur, which leads me to…

Writing sprints

I’ve only just discovered these. It’s what it says on the tin: you write non-stop for a certain length of time, then pause and go again.

On days when I’m distracted, when I can’t reach thirty minutes without spending twenty-seven of them scrolling through Twitter, this has really helped.

Interval timers can be found online. My method is a ten-minute sprint, two minutes off, repeat. I managed an hour and a half of focused work using this the other day. The breathers let you check your feed – but only for two minutes!

I have to be in right mood for a technique to work. But different options and techniques to focus myself means I’ve written more in the last few months than I’ve done for a long time.

Do you have a system to help you write? I’d love to hear about it!

You may also like:

• Novel Progress: December 2020

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