When my company retrenched me after seventeen years, I started exploring opportunities to earn an income online. I've considered a virtual assistant business; part of that is writing articles on my blog. When it didn't work out, I combined my love for writing and reading and started a book blog. When I started working again full-time, I wanted to keep writing and use it to create an additional income stream. However, balancing work and relationships seems impossible without throwing writing into the mix.

If you are serious about writing, you must make sacrifices and schedule writing time in your calendar. Your family must understand the importance of your writing since it is the only way they will respect your writing time, as they would with any other appointment in your schedule.

Remember that scheduling time is only half the battle - you must show up and do the work.

Tips to create a writing schedule that works

1 Remember your why

Whether working on a big project like writing a book or regular articles on Substack, the struggle of finding topics, keyword research for SEO, keeping track of research and sources, and other administrative tasks associated with writing drains my energy.

When I feel drained and ready to give up, it is time to remember my why. What has driven me to start this writing journey? What is it that I want to accomplish? I wrote it down on a card and displayed it in my writing area to always remember my motivation for writing.

2 Find a suitable time

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Depending on when you are most productive, you can get up an hour earlier or stay up later at night to write. It gives you quiet and distraction-free time while the rest of the household sleeps.

It is a valuable tip, but I don't do either as an introvert with hearing loss because I need to preserve my energy for the day's social interactions. At night, I am exhausted because of noise and listening fatigue.

3 Use short writing bursts

Always remember the value of short writing bursts. I wrote this article in a few spare minutes and often write a few paragraphs for my book during lunch breaks. It all adds up and helps you gain momentum with your writing project.

4 Time-blocking

As a non-fiction writer, it helps me to schedule time blocks over the weekend, which is especially beneficial when I need to do intensive research. I write for three to four hours on a Sunday morning, taking breaks as necessary.

5 Use a structure

When writing non-fiction, it is crucial to have a structure. It gives me a starting point when I start my writing session and makes setting and reaching realistic writing goals easy. When I began writing my non-fiction book, I did a brain dump to ensure I remembered essential information. Then, I created a structure to guide me as I continued writing my book.

6 Procrastination

When I am tired and stressed, it is easy to be less motivated to write. Scheduling a non-negotiable time in my schedule for writing makes it easier to sit down and start since I already decided to write at that time. Sometimes, I must use good old self-discipline, sit down and start writing. Often, starting is all I need to get into your writing, and when you finish, you will have a deep sense of accomplishment.

7 Take time off

Just as crucial as doing the work is the need to sometimes take time off. Working full-time and regularly writing in my free time leads to mental strain and fatigue. Time off to recharge, destress, and enjoy life replenishes my energy and gives me new motivation to write. After all, if I don't take the time to live, how can I write authentically?

Ultimately, developing a writing schedule is an individual exercise, and every writer - often through trial and error - has to discover what works for them. Take that first small step today and experience how regular writing boosts your confidence and impacts your writing progress.