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The fact that you’ve arrived here tells me two things. You want to write a novel, and you work full time.
Maybe you need a sample writing schedule for people with full-time jobs. Maybe you want some tips and advice from someone who has “been there and done that.” You’re in the right place!
I’ve written three novels while working full time, and I’m currently finishing number four. So let me start by saying, it’s totally doable. The key is to optimize what little writing time you do have. So let’s talk about that.
Writing a Novel When You Work Full Time
Everybody has their own method or process for completing a novel. There are many ways to approach it and many ways to schedule your day.
Even so, the scheduling and writing tips below will apply to most people who want to write a novel while working full time.
1. Write every day.
This is probably the most important tip in this entire article. If you want to write a novel with a full-time job, you have to find a way to write every day.
Sure, there will be the occasional “crisis” or unexpected event that prevents you from writing. It happens. But on most days, it’s possible to squeeze in some writing time – even if it’s just an hour.
It comes down to basic math. If you write every day while working full time, you’ll eventually reach the finish line. Even if you only write one page per day, you’ll have a novel worth of material at the end of a year. Surely you can manage at least one page per day, despite your work schedule.
Writing daily also keeps you close to the story and the characters who inhabit it. You’re keeping the passion alive and the fire burning. If you only take one suggestion from this article, make it this one.
2. Experiment with different schedules and routines.
Chances are, you’ll have to experiment with different writing schedules to figure out what works for you. It’s different for everyone. You might want to sketch out a basic timeline of your days, on paper, and see where you have an hour or so for a writing session.
I wake up early to get some pages down, before I start my full-time job. The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m., while the family is still asleep. My coffee is waiting for me in the pot. The computer is charged. My notes are on the table. All I have to do is roll out, pour a cup, and start writing.
But that’s just me. You’ll have to create your own schedule if you want to write a novel while working full-time.
Maybe you’ll create two writing windows – one in the morning, and one in the evening after work. Maybe it’s easier to do a single session in the morning or evening, while shifting your other duties around. You have to experiment. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
3. Set a daily page or word-count goal, and stick to it.
Once you’ve created a writing schedule for yourself, figure out much you can actually write within those windows. You can track it by word count or page count, whichever you prefer.
The idea here is to create a realistic goal for daily output, and to hit that goal as much as possible. Some days you’ll fall short. That’s okay. Don’t beat yourself about it. Just start fresh the next time and try to reach your goal.
I track pages instead of word count. Just a personal preference. I try to write three solid pages of new material every day. If I’m lucky, and things are really “clicking” along, I might get more. But three is my target. Three pages per day is two novels per year. That’s how I think of it.
So that’s my morning writing schedule. I’m up before the rest of the family, pouring my coffee, and sitting down to write those three pages.
In the evening — when I’m done with my “day job” of freelance writing and blogging for clients — I might do some story editing or journaling (see #5 below). But the bulk of my productivity happens first thing in the morning.
I’m not the fastest writer in the world. Far from it. I tend to labor over every sentence, rewriting until it sounds right in my head. So if I can keep up with this kind of writing schedule on top of a full-time job, you can too!
4. Aim for quality time, instead of quantity.
When you’re developing your schedule and writing habits, try to focus on quality writing time. Quality time is when you have the fewest interruptions and distractions. It’s when you’re feeling your most creative.
For me, quality time occurs in the morning. My wife and daughter are still asleep. The house is quiet. My mind is fresh and ready to create. That’s what works for me. You’ll have to try different things to see what works for you.
Once you carve out some quality time every day, you’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish. Use that time to hit your daily goal, and you’ll have a first-draft novel in six months or less.
5. Have your writing notes ready to go.
Do you keep a writing journal? Do you have notes ready before you sit down to write? If not, you should start. You’ll become a more efficient writer, getting more done in less time. And that’s huge, if you’re trying to write a novel while working full time.
When I start a new novel, I go to CVS and buy a fresh notebook. Nothing fancy, just a Mead single-subject notebook or something similar. I write the novel’s title on the front cover. This is my writing journal. When I finish a writing session on the computer, I jot down a few notes in the notebook.
What needs to happen next in the story? How does the character feel at this stage? What does he or she want? What challenges or obstacles can I throw into the mix? All of this goes into the journal.
The goal here is to have some notes on paper every time you sit down to write — some thoughts and ideas on what needs to happen next in the story.
Index cards work as well. In fact, the notecard approach is simpler and cleaner than the notebook method. You can sit down with a card or two in front of you, instead of leafing through a notebook. Try it both ways and see what works for you.
I think you’ll find this strategy boosts your productivity. Instead of spending the first twenty minutes getting your ideas and thoughts together, you’re ready to jump in. You have those thoughts on paper already.
So there you have them, five tips for writing a novel when you already have a full-time job. Write every day. Experiment with different schedules and times. Set a daily page or word-count goal. Aim for quality writing time, and have your notes ready to go!