How Do You Make Time For Your Writing?

So, since I started this blog, a lot of people have been randomly asking me questions. I think it's in pursuit to have their question posted on here. Haha! Goofballs! Maybe I'll do shout-outs soon, if that's what you guys really want. :-p

I received this question a few days ago.

"How do you make time for your writing?"

You know... I don't necessarily make time for writing. My brain more forces me to write down what I'm thinking far before I ever have a chance to actually make time for an actual writing session. Then, later on, my brain starts racing with all of these thoughts for one of the dozen books I'm working on and just won't stop. So, I'm forced to find a stopping point in whatever I may be doing so I don't lose out on these brilliant ideas. I will bring up all of my book concepts and throw the thoughts I have down into each book and then go back to what I was doing. I think to have a writer's brain... you can consider it a blessing or a curse.

It's a blessing because your brain never stops going. You can write a whole book in a matter of days and blow your fans and yourself out of the water with the ideas and concepts that hit you.

The curse of it all is your brain never stops going. You can't turn it off. You'll be laying in bed, watching tv, driving down the road, in the middle of a concert, drinking coffee with the in-laws and your brain will target something in a book that you have been trying to figure out. Next thing you know, you're trying to find a way to either write things down or work on your book. After a while people get used to you jumping out of your chair and running straight for your computer. The problem is when nobody gets used to you doing that.

The biggest fear any writer has is support. If you don't have a support group in your life such as fans, friends who encourage and a spouse who reads and gets wrapped up in your stuff... you're doomed. You're doomed until you have those things. Well, most people are. I wasn't. I picked myself up off the floor, brushed myself off and kept at it.

Don't give up. Don't tune your writing thoughts out. Don't walk away from your own talents, even if you're the only one who currently appreciates them. Find people who are willing to read your work. Find your fans and surround yourself with them. Let them boost you up and encourage you. If you feel your writing isn't good enough, read other people's work so you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses. Read your book reviews to see what people think you need to improve on or what you were amazing at.

"Do you have scheduled writing sessions for yourself?"

I do find the time to write. I know I have a lot of ideas flowing through me everyday and I know I don't get a chance to write every single thought down that belongs in a book. I do find an opening in my week each week in order to get lost in my writing. It's not easy when you're incredibly busy but it is a necessity. I definitely wish there were more hours in each day. I also wish I was a lot less busy.