How to schedual writing time

[hastalavista]

Hello!
I wish to know how you schedual your time to write without spending hours just gazing on the screen and writing a line every ten minutes.
I have the ideas on my head, I'm a fast writer as well. I used to write 6k words per day a few years ago. Now I'm attending college and have a part time job so I don't have as much time as I used to have and even in my free time I find myself distracted and only gazing at the screen for hours.
if some of you had similar problem, I wish to know how it was solved.
And if you think of a possible way to solve it then please say it.
I have a lot of accumulating ideas that need to be written.

 

[ChronicleCrawler]

Okay, how about making an outline first. Write the general flow of the story you want to write.

E.g>
Part 1: Frog's lonely
Part 2: Frog sees a beautiful princess.
Part 3: Frogs seeks the princess
Part 4:Princess scared of the frog
Part 5: Frog downhearted
Part 6: Frog wished to be a prince
Part 7: Mother Frog comes and smacks his head for a taste of reality. Wallah, he turns into a prince!

This way, you'll be able to make your words flow better since you see the structure. Of course, this is NOT limited to the writers we call "plotters" which uses outline and details to run their story. Pantsers actually find this useful for plot development. It's like your looking at a fog until it clears in the end. Set your time limit, 2 hours a day, 3 hours a day, etc.

 

[yansusustories]

even in my free time I find myself distracted and only gazing at the screen for hours

Turn off wifi and your phone. Find out whatever else is making you distracted and chuck it out of the window ... or something like that. The less that is around to distract you, the more easily you'll get to writing or at least it went like that for me.

 

[hastalavista]

Okay, how about making an outline first. Write the general flow of the story you want to write.

E.g>
Part 1: Frog's lonely
Part 2: Frog sees a beautiful princess.
Part 3: Frogs seeks the princess
Part 4:Princess scared of the frog
Part 5: Frog downhearted
Part 6: Frog wished to be a prince
Part 7: Mother Frog comes and smacks his head for a taste of reality. Wallah, he turns into a prince!

This way, you'll be able to make your words flow better since you see the structure. Of course, this is NOT limited to the writers we call "plotters" which uses outline and details to run their story. Pantsers actually find this useful for plot development. It's like your looking at a fog until it clears in the end. Set your time limit, 2 hours a day, 3 hours a day, etc.

I never tried outlining. Your outline is so simple, it might really work. I will try it now.

 

[hastalavista]

Turn off wifi and your phone. Find out whatever else is making you distracted and chuck it out of the window ... or something like that. The less that is around to distract you, the more easily you'll get to writing or at least it went like that for me.

What distracts me isn't my phone or laptop, it's my imagination that suddenly jumps to the climax of the story lol.

 

[yansusustories]

What distracts me isn't my phone or laptop, it's my imagination that suddenly jumps to the climax of the story lol.

That's a bit tougher then. Making notes might work in that case. Like, just jot it down in a few bullet points to get it out of your head, then continue writing where you currently are. Some people work better if they completely write out the scene they imagine so you could try that as well. Then use whatever sticks the next time around.
Personally, I think of the scene and then just ignore it But I guess that's very personal ~

 

[Moonpearl]

I try to do all my plotting prior to sitting down to write, and then reserve any extra plot-development for non-writing hours. It's better to have a finished story that I can play around with than ideas that stay in my head, or so I tell myself.

I've been writing for the Yuri Garden anthology for the past few months, and that requires sitting down to write every day no matter how busy I am. I've found that it comes down to just making myself do it, even if I only get a few lines written on some days.

It might help to write something that has a definite deadline to get yourself into the habit.

 

[hastalavista]

That's a bit tougher then. Making notes might work in that case. Like, just jot it down in a few bullet points to get it out of your head, then continue writing where you currently are. Some people work better if they completely write out the scene they imagine so you could try that as well. Then use whatever sticks the next time around.
Personally, I think of the scene and then just ignore it But I guess that's very personal ~

I've tried this once, outlining the scene itself, it worked great but that didn't go well for every scene. still, it's the thing I'm going for now.

 

[hastalavista]

I try to do all my plotting prior to sitting down to write, and then reserve any extra plot-development for non-writing hours. It's better to have a finished story that I can play around with than ideas that stay in my head, or so I tell myself.

I've been writing for the Yuri Garden anthology for the past few months, and that requires sitting down to write every day no matter how busy I am. I've found that it comes down to just making myself do it, even if I only get a few lines written on some days.

It might help to write something that has a definite deadline to get yourself into the habit.

True, when you have the whole story ideas in head you won't even need an outline, that happened in my previous series. This one because it's new it needs ideas to link the plot points in my head. I'm a bit relieved that other writers are pushing themselves to write daily like me, really thank you.

 

[Moonpearl]

True, when you have the whole story ideas in head you won't even need an outline, that happened in my previous series. This one because it's new it needs ideas to link the plot points in my head. I'm a bit relieved that other writers are pushing themselves to write daily like me, really thank you.

If it's a series, I'd just plot loosely far enough in advance that I know what I'm aiming for, and then I'd plot the scenes for the chapter I'm writing somewhat more heavily.
I don't always stick to the outline, but it's useful when you need to write on autopilot.

It also helps to schedule time to daydream to develop ideas. I usually let myself get away with that when I've written X amount for the night.

(And good luck on your story~!)

 

[Deleted member 29316]

I always do my writing on my 'quiet' hours--those times when I have nothing to do and the house I'm living in is as quiet as a cemetery. If it's not available, I have my headsets ready for my favorite music while I write.

As for the duration, I always try to target a chapter done before finishing (though it's not always followed). Also, for the writing process, I try to finish an entire book within 3 weeks-1.5 month period. Plotting and planning ahead would always be helpful.

 

[lnv]

Hello!
I wish to know how you schedual your time to write without spending hours just gazing on the screen and writing a line every ten minutes.
I have the ideas on my head, I'm a fast writer as well. I used to write 6k words per day a few years ago. Now I'm attending college and have a part time job so I don't have as much time as I used to have and even in my free time I find myself distracted and only gazing at the screen for hours.
if some of you had similar problem, I wish to know how it was solved.
And if you think of a possible way to solve it then please say it.
I have a lot of accumulating ideas that need to be written.

Generally, it's a good idea to write first, worry about fixing it up later. If I get stuck unless it is something really really major that would effect the entire story, when I got stuck on a scene I would just put ... then move onto the next chapter. Then come back and fill it in when I get a better idea. Because putting words down on paper is more important before you forget them.

 

[Alienix]

In my prime, I could write around 4k a day. Now that I have back injury, I can only write around 500-1500k a day.

But I guess I have improved. Now I am steady at 1500 words a day

I dont create outline for it will just shackle me. I only write my worldbuilding.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

My strategy is to write in a paper notebook a little every night before bed, after I've turned off my computer. I've been too tired to write much lately, but I make myself write at least one sentence, and sometimes that leads to more. I often open the notebook and glance at it before I brush my teeth, and then I think about what to write next while getting ready for bed. It helps me set aside all the day's worries to focus on my story.

 

[hastalavista]

My strategy is to write in a paper notebook a little every night before bed, after I've turned off my computer. I've been too tired to write much lately, but I make myself write at least one sentence, and sometimes that leads to more. I often open the notebook and glance at it before I brush my teeth, and then I think about what to write next while getting ready for bed. It helps me set aside all the day's worries to focus on my story.

It's a process to stress relieve while produce new ideas. I've never used a paper to pinpoint my plot ideas, I will try it. Thanks!

 

[hastalavista]

In my prime, I could write around 4k a day. Now that I have back injury, I can only write around 500-1500k a day.

But I guess I have improved. Now I am steady at 1500 words a day

I dont create outline for it will just shackle me. I only write my worldbuilding.

Me too, I injured my back and shoulder and sitting on a chair would feel hellish after an hour or two.

 

[Alienix]

Me too, I injured my back and shoulder and sitting on a chair would feel hellish after an hour or two.

I feel u, comrade

 

[yansusustories]

In my prime, I could write around 4k a day. Now that I have back injury, I can only write around 500-1500k a day.

Me too, I injured my back and shoulder and sitting on a chair would feel hellish after an hour or two.

I had a similar issue but mostly with my hands. I switched from typing to dictating so I only have to use them while editing. Maybe that would be an idea for you to try as well?