Writerly Things: The Importance of Keeping a Schedule

Admittedly, I'm rather bad at keeping a schedule. I simply have too much to do. Which is why, I suppose, it's vitally necessary that I do keep a schedule!

I keep a little desk calendar, one I can set next to my computer as I write. It has all the deadlines marked on it, what dates I set for minor goals, and other important stuff like my daughter's school play or when I have to have certain bills paid.

Without it I'd literally be running on "Indian Time". 

Another thing that is important is that you should have a daily schedule you try to stick to. Not every day will be the same as the next, there are unforeseen events and detours, but as a rule of thumb it helps to find a steady rhythm. 

A better reason to keep a daily schedule is to force yourself to keep writing. Some days it is just hard to find the time, so you have to make the time.

As for me personally I tend to sacrifice my sleeping hours for relaxation and writing time. My daily schedule is pretty wild actually. Here's a typical break down.

5:30 am alarm goes off.

5:45 am second alarm goes off. I get up and take a shower.

6:00 am Get dressed, make a cup of tea. Check the news, weather, etc. Iron any shirts or clothes that need ironing.

6:15 am Get dressed.

6: 20 am Gather my school things (teaching supplies, materials, games, etc). Check emails on phone for any important messages I might need to read before leaving the house.

6:30 am Leave for work. The commute is just over an hour by car.

7:45 am Stop off at Seven Eleven for a bite to eat and a coffee booster. (I usually just eat a salad and maybe an onigiri -- Japanese rice-ball wrapped in dried seaweed.)

8:10 am Arrive at school.

8:45 am Classes begin.

Then work, work, work. 

12:30 pm Lunch with my students.

Then work, work, work.

4:00 pm Finish work. (I get to leave early because, well, I have to drive all the way back into town). Drive home.

5:00 pm Pick up daughter from piano, ballet, swimming, abacus, etc.

5:15 pm Arrive home. Get dinner ready (unless wife has already done so). Get bath ready. Play with kids.

5:30 pm Eat dinner.

6:00 pm Wash dishes.

6:30 pm Give kids bath. (They're still young, so we take baths together -- it's our fun time!)

7:15 pm Get ready for bed. Brush teeth. Put on body lotion, take medicine, etc. Wife puts baby to bed.
 
7:30 pm Television time / or reading time (for Dad -- although daughter often helps watch).

8:30 pm Get daughter in bed.

9:00 pm Get yelled at by wife for letting daughter stay up and watch TV with Dad.

9:30 pm Read daughter a story. Finally get daughter to sleep. Watch more TV or read more.

10:00 pm Write some.

11:00 pm Decide whether to stop writing or keep going.

12:00 am Tell yourself you're going to bed but keep writing anyway.

1:00 am Finally, go to sleep.

3:00 am Wake up to pee. Go back to sleep.

5:30 am (Next Day) Wake up, rinse, and repeat.

So there you have it, my insane daily schedule. One which I've been on for about 4 years now.

People ask me how I get so much writing done with a family and all the books or shows I go through. 

Some days I choose to go to be early, around 10 or 11 pm, but other times not. If I have a deadline, or a lot of editing to do, I will usually stay awake. 

But if you want to write and remain productive, and not fall behind, then I strongly urge you to work out a schedule that works for you. With that said, good luck, and keep writing!