Jul 21, 2011 / General Advice & Pro Tips

I’ve got 30 minutes to write this post | Live to Write – Write to Live

I have 30 minutes to write this post.

Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m in danger and if I don’t complete it within the time frame something bad will happen to me, it’s just that my day is packed and I don’t have the time to give it much more than 30 minutes.

This is what happens when you are a freelance writer who takes on several assignments at once.

Today I must:

  • Finish a book review
  • Write a parenting magazine column
  • Write a pet magazine column
  • Write a magazine article
  • Submit newspaper story ideas for next week
  • Respond to an email from a frantic chicken owner
  • Write two other blog posts
  • Interview a restaurant owner for a feature article

I also have to pick my kids up at the pool, contact a friend about some photos, attend a town event tonight, drop off some medical forms, and somehow find the time to get food in the house, the natives are getting restless about that one.

I’ve written before about the challenges of being a writer while having children (compounded by the fact that they all have diverse summer schedules) and I know that, and let’s be honest here, I’ve whined often about this predicament.

But you know what? It has taught me to buckle down and do my work. There is nothing like a time crunch for productivity.

I know I can write this post within 30 minutes because I’ve written so many before that I’ve found a groove. Same thing goes for the articles and book review which I will give each a whopping total of 45 minutes in which to write. I’ve done it before and based on that knowledge I know I can do it again and again.

I’m always amazed by people who claim they need weeks in order to compose a blog post and get it written. Oh for crying out loud, follow Nike’s advice and JUST DO IT. While I may submit copy that has a few typos in it (the bane of my existence) I end up submitting a post that although not perfect is something that is finished. A finished piece gets payment, a perfected, thrice rewritten piece that hasn’t been submitted because you don’t know if it’s good enough – gets you zilch.

It’s amazing what time pressure can do for your writing output. Now excuse me while I turn to my other work for today.

via Live to Write – Write to Live.

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  1. Wow! Erika your peace is both refreshing and inspiring. I just must take a cue and write me a blog post today. I fall into the category of bloggers who thinks that weeks nay months are needed to finish a blog post. Today, I chose to disassociate myself from them. Thanks for the inspiring post. Cheers.

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  2. This gave me a good laugh. I had a similar incident a few days back. I had to do a post, but I was only able to access a computer with internet during class. I had to type the thing during our break. I had already planned it out in my head, so it was not like I was completely at a loss.
    Thanks so much for sharing this. 🙂

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  4. Jessic Sideways hahahaha – too funny!! ^^^ But seriously, I just write about whatever I want, whenever I want. It eats time up fast, I learned that, and usually do set a time limit. But Jessica Sideways, actually, 20 min would work great!!

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  5. Great post! My blogging has always been very spontaneous and I nearly always do it in between millions of other things (not here, I have to say, I am new here and still dipping my toes in – I’ll be up to speed soon!). At the very most I will rush something out and save it in draft to tidy up when I get a minute later in the day but it won’t take me longer than that….

    Currently, I am at work, managing a case load and inputting data whilst working on my thesis, which is due in at the end of next week….Ta da!!!

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