As a writer one of your biggest problems can be finding the time to actually write, or finding any excuse to avoid it. Your book isn't going to write itself, so if it's important to you then it's time to get on with it!
Here are some tips to help you fit in the time to write.
Schedule specific times
If you have a full schedule, the best way to find time to write is by actually scheduling it in. This may seem daunting because you might not feel like it's possible, but even half an hour a few evenings a week or an hour every Saturday morning will be better than nothing. If you make this part of your routine, it suddenly won't feel so hard to sit down and do.
Having a schedule will also help you keep to any deadlines and give you a better idea on when you will be finished and ready to move onto the next stage.
A more logical approach
I find this works very well for me. If you're writing a book (or a longer piece of work), approach it like a to do list. I write out a list of what needs to be written (for my book with multiple perspectives, this was set out as a grid). It meant I could complete the book in smaller tasks and I could also save time by knowing exactly what I wanted to achieve when I sat down.
This may also help you plan out your storyline and highlight any issues in your story such as inconsistencies, holes in your story and help with the overall flow.
Write what you have
A lot of the time it can be hard to sit down and write because your ideas aren't fully developed. While it's important to know where you're going to some extent, a lot of the time writing freely can help you to develop your ideas. You may not know where to start, so don't, write the middle or the end first. There are no rules to your process, so you should just do what works for you.
You also don't have to include everything you have written in your book. To get to know your characters more, you could write short stories about their past, or dialogues with other characters to develop their relationships. This will help in the long run, especially with getting to know your characters.
Consider your time
A lot of the time it might not feel like you have any time, but usually that is not the case. Do you ever spend a considerable amount of time scrolling through your phone? Get your laptop out instead and use your time more wisely.
Or perhaps you spend a lot of time sitting on a train/ travelling. This is the time you could be getting some work in. Although it's a much shorter amount of time, it builds up. Being able to work from anywhere is definitely a great trait to develop (especially if you travel a lot).
And finally,
Access
Setting yourself up to write from anywhere is a great way to get some writing time in. By using an online drive such as one drive or iCloud, you can access your work from your computer, phone, iPad etc meaning you can fill these short windows of time with some work. Train delayed? Sit down and write. Waiting for a friend? Write. Waiting for an appointment? Write.
I think the key is to find out what works best for you! In the long run it will be worth it, you just have to put the work in. It can be hard, especially when you feel so far away from the end. Sometimes remembering why you started can be the motivation you need to carry on.
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