#54 The Write Routine: How to Balance Writing and a Full-time Job
How do people working 40 hours a week find time to write?
Hello,
Welcome to The Book People, a weekly newsletter on the business of media and storytelling.
There are two kinds of writers: first, the ones who have the leisure to dedicate hours on end every day to writing and other creative pursuits that sharpen their writing skills; second, the ones who have full-time jobs and household tasks, and struggle to find even a few minutes a day to write.
While the majority of writers fall in the second category, the advice and routines we see online usually don’t take jobs and domestic responsibilities into consideration.
Most people have seen Ursula Le Guin’s writing schedule on social media.
Haruki Murakami shared his schedule with Paris Review in 2004,
When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4 AM and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9 PM.
Many find these routines hilarious and jokingly call them the ideal writing schedules because it is obviously impossible for anyone with any responsibilities other than writing to follow these routines.
While these routines may make it seem like writing can only be done by dedicating hours to the craft, that is not true because for many, writing happens in between other activities: during a commute, before bed, or before leaving for office. The average person can only find one or two hours a day to dedicate to writing but most people find it difficult to prioritize writing during their free time when other responsibilities like work, cleaning, or childcare seem much more pressing.
The key isn't to mimic the schedules of famous writers but to find a rhythm that suits your own life and responsibilities. We know this from experience– Aishwarya, our Creative Director, tried Stephen King’s writing routine for a day. You can see what worked for her and what did not here.
Our Executive Editor, Michelle D’Costa, who has been writing for over 15 years and has a novel coming out in October with Westland, says,
When I have an idea, I pursue it relentlessly, which means I think about it all the time and return to it every day. Even if I don’t end up writing much, it’s great to even add one line on a busy day. This helps me build momentum and I end up finishing the project. This is how I finished my novel. There were days I was tempted to work on other ideas, but I kept at it, which helped me finish the first draft.
We’ve interacted with thousands of authors who each have a different approach to writing but the one they all vouch for, is to stay consistent. When, where, or how you write is deeply personal, and therefore how you stay consistent will also depend on your daily routine. Whether you write every day or every week, have your own writing space or have to find a quiet corner in a cafe, the most important thing is to keep writing because that is the only way to finish your first draft.
What writing approach works for you? Let us know in the comments!
Job Board
Discover the best opportunities in India’s publishing and creative industries.
Children’s Sales Manager - HarperCollins Publishers India- Gurugram-based
Candidates with at least 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in trade publishing, coupled with strong written and verbal communication skills are encouraged to apply. Know more about the job here.
Interested candidates can send in their profiles at Sapana.Solanki@harpercollins.co.in and osheen.patel@harpercollins.co.in
Copywriter - Mirchi- Lucknow-based
Candidates should have 4-7 years of experience as a Radio Copywriter or a similar role. Responsibilities include creating ideas and writing copy that makes for great content on air and across other mediums for the consumer.
Interested candidates can apply for the job here.
Weekly Learning
Deepen your knowledge and develop your skills with a new resource every week.
18 Magazines Accepting Submissions
Here’s a list of 18 international literary magazines that are accepting submissions in 2024, with guidelines on how to submit to them.
Found this useful? Subscribe for weekly updates and share this newsletter with your friends.
If you have any writing-related questions for the Bound editors, comment below, or reply back to this email!
I am lucky enough to have found myself in a profession that needs me to write everyday. I am a screenplay writer for children's animation, which helps me earn a living, though what my heart really wants is to write a good old-fashioned novel, which I have never before managed to find time for. Now, I have a fixed writing time from 10am to 1pm. During this period, most days I do my paid work but have now started using at least 1-2 days for my novel (ideation, research, outline points, character notes etc.). Since my brain hates to focus on active writing (anything that needs fresh, creative thinking) during the second half of the day, I spend that time reading, often about the craft. In all, I make sure I'm either writing or thinking and reading about writing for at least 3 hours a day. Over time, it adds up. Word by word, hour by hour.