The #1 Challenge Writers Face

Read time: 4.5 minutes

As an editor, I’m always eager to learn about the obstacles writers face.

So, I polled my newsletter community. I asked you all: What is your greatest challenge as a writer?

Your #1 answer: Finding time to write.

As a father of 3 kids ages 4 and under, I can relate. At the end of most days, I just want to collapse.

So while acknowledging the struggle it can be to carve out writing time, adopting the mantra “I don’t have time” has disastrous effects on your calling as a writer.

Common Traps

I’ve had many conversations with aspiring writers who say they want to write a book. Tragically, despite their good intentions, this is what usually happens:

• They have an idea but never start writing (stuck in ideation)
• They start writing but never finish (stuck in creation)
• They wait for the “right season” and it never comes (stuck in anticipation)

I’ve had this conversation a countless times. Heck, I’ve been there myself many times. Intending to write consistently. To stick to a routine. Then life happens. Urgent tasks demand my attention; writing gets pushed to the back burner.

And all the while, the same mantra plays on repeat: It’s ok, I just don’t have time to write.

But here’s the thing. It’s a lie.

And here’s a quick story to prove it.

The Myth of Busyness

Like everyone else, writer Laura Vanderkam felt too busy, overwhelmed, and stretched thin. So she decided to audit her time for a year.

In a fascinating New York Times article, “The Busy Person’s Lies,” she records her findings. Much of what she found was predictable as a busy working mother:

• Hours in train stations pumping breast milk
• Hours up in the night caring for children
• Hours doing laundry and chores

But she also found that she spent 327 hours reading gossip and fashion magazines. And more than 200 hours exercising.

Justin Whitmel Early summarizes Vanderkam’s conclusion:

“We chronically overestimate how much time we spend being productive. And we underestimate the time we waste on unproductive things.”

An Honest Audit

Vanderkam’s mindset shift is instructive. Instead of seeing herself as a victim of busyness, she had the courage (and discipline) to track her time, and then grappled honestly with the data.

She was willing to face the discomfort of looking head-on at her weakness—not to beat herself up, but to grow into the person she desired to be.

You and I may be tempted to think we have zero margin to write on a regular basis. But, like Vanderkam, let’s briefly muster the courage to audit our time. Right here and now.

No guilt trip here. Just food for thought. Ask yourself:

How many hours each week do you spend …

• On social media?
• Listening to podcasts?
• Watching Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming platforms?
• Watching news or sports?
• Doing optional things, not necessary things?

As modern people, engulfed in a world of digital distractions, we must ruthlessly debunk the myth that: We don’t have time to write. Chances are, you live a busy life. No one’s debating that. The point is, busy are you are, it’s likely you’re not too busy to write.

I know, this can feel heavy, gloomy, condemning. So ready for some good news?

A Little Goes a Long Way

The good news is, with minimal effort, you can accomplish a ton.

You don’t have to rearrange your whole schedule.

You don’t have to wake up at 3am (unless you want to).

You don’t have to write 1,000 words per day.

Just start small.

For example, let’s say you can only devote 15 minutes a day to write. If you do this 5 days a week, in one year you’ll log 65 total hours of writing. Not bad.

Just add 5 minutes to that, and in one year you’ll write for a total of 86 hours.

Impressive.

You Are Not In This Alone

I don’t know your schedule, or the demands of your daily routine. I don’t know your capacity—how much energy and focus you can devote to writing on any given day. You are the only expert on your capacity and availability.

Here’s what I do know: If God has called you to write, he will provide the margin you need. Ask him for wisdom.

To close, here’s a prayer I wrote for you. It’s for writers who—like me—struggle to be consistent. Who want to grow. Who sense God’s pleasure when they write.

I’m rooting for you.

Will

PS - Sneak peek: Next week, I’ll get even more practical about how to make time to write consistently. I’ll apply some wisdom from James Clear about the difference between goals and systems, and explain the 2 most important factors you need to maintain a consistent writing routine.

PSS - I want this newsletter to be as helpful to you as possible. If you have a question about writing or publishing, send me an email.