When I was in middle school, I wrote my first manuscript and was prepared to send it off to a publisher. But before I did that, I actually emailed one of my favorite writers of all time, Anne Rice. A few days later, surprisingly, she wrote back to me and told me that in order to be a good writer, you had to read a lot, and you had to write a lot. And fortunately, I did for the most part.

But now, things have changed. Like many of you all, I’ve got a job. I have school. I have loved ones I would like to spend time with. And that doesn’t leave me much time to write or read. True, I can read a page or two before I pass out at one o’clock in the morning, but that’s about it. Still, I managed to make time to read and write, though I don’t do as much writing as I did when I was younger. Below are some tips that could help you pursue writing, all the while maintaining your busy schedule.

Get rid of your distractions
I learned that there are a lot of distractions in our lives. And more often than not, those distractions follow us to our desk. So if you are passionate about writing, you need to get rid of the distractions. You have to learn to clear your head, so you can properly immerse yourself in the world you want to write about. Sometimes, that means clearing your desk. Other times, that means getting a separate room and setting up a studio. No matter what you decide, by minimizing these distractions, you’re able to get the most out of what little time you have to write.

Remember that anything helps
Whether it be writing on a napkin during your lunch break, or getting a few sentences in before you sleep, remember that writing anything helps. If you can find at least five minutes to write, then take it. Something is better than nothing.

Set a realistic goal
That being said, remember that you aren’t going to write a manuscript in just five minutes alone. It’s important to remember that you set realistic goals for yourself. If you try to finish a 30,000-word story in three hours, you might wind up very disappointed. But more than that, establishing these goals is essential in and of itself. Because when we meet these goals, we’re motivated to continue. It also establishes a timeline for completing our manuscript and gives us an idea of which part of the manuscript to prioritize.

Making time to write can be a hard thing to do. Bills have to be paid. Loved ones need to be adored. Our lives don’t stop for anyone. Even so, if writing is a passion, schedule times when you know you can write. Set realistic goals for yourself, and remember that anything at all can help, whether it be a stray idea in your head or a phrase you found funny. Writing is your personal art; don’t let it go to waste.