How to Author on a Busy Schedule
Maybe you’ve dreamed of writing the perfect textbook for your course.
…and then you take a look at your schedule, and your author dream gets placed on the shelf next to “Win the Lottery” and “Become a Tuba Virtuoso.”
Before you resign the dream, though, let us provide you with a word of comfort. The vast majority of our authors are highly busy individuals who, like you, had initial concerns about the time commitment.
It’s true: writing a textbook is a challenge, and it requires intentionality and a little bit of strategy. But ‘impossible’ is definitely the wrong adjective.
With the right techniques, it is possible to successfully juggle writing, professional obligations, and your personal life…and even enjoy the process!
To give you the confidence boost you need (#SelfEfficacy), here are our four unconventional time management strategies to help you survive and thrive as a busy author.
Know when to Say No?
We’ve all heard it before: the prerequisite to proper time management is knowing when to say, “Yes,” and when to say, “No.” In other words, if your plate feels full, then forget about saying, “Yes,” any time soon.
Most of the time, this is really good advice. But sometimes, you have to trust your gut.
If you have a passion project itching at your brain, don’t underestimate your ability to rebalance commitments and make time.
And by “make time,” we don’t mean an extra five hours per week. We’re talking one, maybe two, extra hours. If you have the right systems in place (*cough, cough,* keep reading), a small amount of time makes you dangerously effective.
It’s important to know your limits, but the proper motivation changes the game when making necessary schedule adjustments.
Exploit your Assets
Take stock of what’s working in your favor.
Do you have an upcoming sabbatical? Have you an eager colleague who wants to co-author? In working with your students, maybe you’ve noticed a real need for what your textbook would offer?
It seems like we’re wired to look at what’s against us (busy schedule, professional commitments, personal obligations, etc.). That may be natural, but don’t let it keep you from seeing what is working for you.
This simple perspective shift is surprisingly powerful. So much so, that it can be what makes your authorship venture a success.
Change your mindset, and take advantage!
Know Thyself
Feel free to take any external writing advice with a grain of salt.
The internet (we’re talking about you, LinkedIn) is packed with writing tips and time management strategies. That’s great, just make sure those strategies conform to you…not the other way around. All the productivity strategies in the world won’t save you time if you end up working against yourself.
For example, if you’re not a planner by nature, don’t force yourself to time-block your calendar. If you do best with a deadline and a more spontaneous writing schedule, embrace that.
Online writing gurus suggest creating a “writing sanctuary.” For some, trying to over-idealize the process triggers perfectionism and writer’s block. If this is the case for you, forget the advice and just jump into your writing sessions before you can overthink.
“Set a consistent writing time,” is probably one of the most commonly advised writing strategies. That still doesn’t automatically make it right for you. If you’re a parent with an irregular sleep schedule, your energy likely peaks at different times each day. As long as your writing sessions are somewhat regular, it doesn’t matter when they happen.
There really is no “right” way to go about authoring. Ultimately, give yourself radical permission to work with the way you’re wired, not against it. You’ll maximize your time if your writing process…is yours.
Challenges, Balance, & Fun
Time to practice what you preach to your students. A growth mindset goes a long way in preventing roadblocks from derailing you.
Pre-decide to adapt when obstacles come your way. It’s amazing how often you’ll solve your issues more easily than you expect. Intentional flexibility will keep you from losing too much steam as you problem-solve.
Speaking of problems, there is one way you can fix a lot of them before they even start: remember that your work-life balance is crucial.
There will be days you don’t meet your writing goal. It’ll be tempting to carry your writing into the evening hours, telling yourself it’ll only happen this once.
Rest. Is not. Optional.
Breaking your own boundaries increases your risk of burnout. In other words, you’re sacrificing future progress. Focus on consistency and work with (not against) your mental/emotional/biological rhythms.
Decide when you’ll “turn off” each day, and spend non-working hours with family or engaging in mental/physical rest. This will preserve your mental health and ensure your writing stamina remains constant throughout the project.
Finally, enjoy the writing process. Pleasure plays a crucial role in both creativity and output. This is your passion project, after all…have fun with it!
Conclusion
If you want to write a textbook, the best time management strategy is to know your strengths and lean into them. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you’re not fighting against yourself.
To thrive as an author with a busy schedule, your writing process doesn’t have to be “optimal.” It just has to be yours.