GINA GORDON: Finding Time to Write

As a writer with a full-time day job, finding the time to do what I love most can sometimes be difficult.

Under normal circumstances, it isn’t a problem. I have zero children to be responsible for and I'm pretty lucky in the husband department. His obsession with watching sports has finally come in handy. The more sports he watches, the more time I have to write!

But when there is a lull in the sporting world or when life’s everyday obligations get a little hectic, I have to get creative.

Ever try editing a manuscript while preparing dinner? I have. It’s not easy, but depending on the type of meal being made, it can be done.

Instead of catching up on sleep, I write during my very long commute to and from work. It’s damn hard to ignore the gentle hum of the bus that tempts me into falling asleep but I have super-secret herbal help that does the trick.

Recently, I've discovered my secret writing weapon--being out in public. I don't have an office or a room I can call my very own so removing myself from the everyday dullness of my home has worked wonders for increasing my productivity. I have become a regular at the café in town. A few cappuccinos and something sweet later, and the satisfaction of accomplishing my writing goal is the best feeling in the world.

I'm sure I'm not the only writer who squeezes in writing time whenever they can and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels guilty when not spewing words onto a page. In my own little world writing is my life but in reality, that just isn't the case. I often forget that I am a living, breathing being with family and friends and responsibilities that exist away from my laptop. I have to learn to remember that more often and more importantly, I must learn to get over the guilt I feel when I’m not writing.

But something in the back of my mind pushes me to focus on my dream no matter the cost as if trying to make up for the time I spent running away from it instead of toward it.

Making the most out every free minute in a day can make a difference. Any other writers out there? How do you make the most of your writing time?



Gina Gordon is an erotica and romance writer living in Ontario, Canada. Her newest release, The Only Exception, is now available from Breathless Press. To learn more about Gina, visit her website at http://www.ginagordon.net