“I’d finish my book idea, but I just don’t have time.”

We’ve all said it. Whether it’s about a novel, a blog, or really any creative endeavor, we’ve all made the claim that we just don’t have time.

Maybe it’s true. I can certainly imagine circumstances where you genuinely wouldn’t have time to sit down and write a novel. Life gets in the way.

But if you’re tired of life getting in the way, and you want to make more time for yourself, here are three ways that worked for me, even when I was still on that 9-5 corporate grind. (cue Dolly Parton’s smash hit “9 to 5”)

Step 0: Add writing time to your calendar

This seems like an obvious suggestion, but you’d be surprised how often people forget about it. How the heck are you going to make time to write if you never decide when you’re going to do it?

Carve out an hour once a week, or ten minutes a day, whatever feels like it might work, and slap that into your calendar app.

That time is now your sacred creative time. Do not allow it to be interrupted.

I know it might be silly that I added this on here, but it is the most important step. If you don’t do this, the other things I suggest won’t work.

But maybe you don’t know where to carve out that time? What if you’re already booked?

In that case, here’s what you do…

1. Quit or delegate something else that isn’t writing.

I know it’s hard. I used to be quite the perfectionist myself. Or maybe just a narcissist.

But either way, I was always saying, “It’ll be better if I just do it myself.”

There are many times that’s just not true. If it’s drawing something, or video editing, or taxes. It’s much better to ask another person to do it.

I was adding all these things to my schedule that I didn’t need to do, or could be done by someone else.

Write down your usual week, or look at your calendar or to-do list. Find one thing, just one thing, that you can drop altogether or pass to somebody else.

This can be big, like working part-time instead of full-time, or smaller, like asking your partner to do the laundry so you can write instead. Whatever works!

You may need to ask for help, and I know that’s hard… but it’s necessary.

Writing is a group project. Once you finish your book, you’ll need editors, illustrators, cover designers, marketers, publishers… get used to asking for people’s help.

Find one thing to drop from your list, and fill that blank spot with writing, before the rest of your life tries to take it over.

2. Tell everyone in your life that you are writing something.

This might feel obnoxious. It’s necessary.

You’re making a commitment. Imagine that you’re getting married. What would it be like to get married but tell absolutely no one? Not even your closest friends?

Commitments feel more real if you tell other people about it. Let people know you’re writing, and share your enthusiasm for the project.

If they respond by being a jerk, then talk to that person less.

But most people will be interested, and they’ll want to talk to you about it or find a way to help you.

Beyond just publicly making the commitment to write, tell people when your writing time is scheduled for. “Oh, I can’t go to that pool party, I write on Fridays from 3-5.” Make sure people know you will be writing, and that the time you spend writing is sacred.

Why do we do this? Because if we tell other people we’ll be writing, we’ll feel more pressure to actually go do the darn thing. And social pressure is a magical force of nature.

Speaking of social pressure, I’ve saved the best tip for last…

3. Join a Writing Group

Not a book club. This needs to be a group of writers who spend their time at the session either reading and critiquing each other’s work, or simply writing.

Joining a writing group will automatically do all the steps I’ve listed above for you: You’ll have it on the calendar, you’ll declare the fact that you’re writing to other people, and you’ll have to drop other things out of that time slot.

I was able to finish a novel in a year thanks to a weekly Saturday writing session like this.

MeetUp is a great app for this (that’s how I found my group!), but you can also try Facebook.

Struggling to get creative?

If you’re having a hard time writing, it might be more than just the time crunch that’s holding you back.

Download our free 21 Creativity Killers guide to find out what’s keeping you from the creative life you want.

It explains 21 causes of creative block and burnout, and tells you what actions to take to beat them.

Click the button below to download now and feel creative again!