In a recent post, I suggested you should write every day. And it’s advice I’ve been taking myself for the last few years. Not matter what, I write–or work on something writing related–every day, almost without exception, even if it meant only working on something for ten minutes.
Ten minutes to write? That’s it?
Sure it is. There have been times where I didn’t want to write, but talked myself into sitting down at the computer and accomplishing something. Granted you won’t get a novel finished if you only spend ten minutes each day working on it, but there are plenty of things you can get done in ten minutes that will help your writing career.
Here are three of them:
1. Try writing a 100-word scene. Asking you to write a 100-word story in ten minutes would be cruel and unusual, but a scene? That should be a piece of cake. You could even write 100 words about eating a piece of cake.
2. Read a post from one of your favorite writing blogs. Leave a comment or respond to another reader’s comment. “Writing” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write. It includes learning about writing as well.
3. Brainstorm. Write a one-sentence plot idea for a short story. Don’t put a lot of thought into it; just jot something down. Do this 3-5 times and, who knows, maybe you’ll come up with something you can use.
I’d like to close with a quote by Ingvar Kamprad:
Time is your most important resource. You can do so much in ten minutes. Ten minutes; once gone is gone for good.
Let that sink in. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
So if you only have ten minutes to write tonight, make those ten minutes count.
This is excellent advice! This is also something I have started doing recently because I felt like I was spinning my tires and not getting anywhere. My brain needs more exercise and that’s what writing something, even just a few sentences does.
Also, in my short writings, I’m practicing certain things like character development or creating a more compelling scene. Describe that piece of cake in such a way that it leaves readers drooling.
Susan, that’s great advice too. Use a short scene to practice your writing and improve on a week point.
Great advice. There is always something useful you can do with a few spare minutes.
Yup. Put every single spare minute you have toward reaching your goals.