How I found time to write academic papers (it was harder than you think).
When I attended my first new #facultyorientation, this tiny, smoke-smelling person stood up & declared:
"You need to find time to write. You will find it much harder than you think. You will find that teaching, mentoring, & service quickly consume every moment. Make the time now. So people learn to respect it."
I remember thinking that this smokey advice-giving person was nuts.
As a fresh #PhD, I spent the past two years just #writing papers. I could not imagine ever not having time to write.
Four weeks later, I realized that I was nuts. I found so many distractions. Setting up a house. Walking the dog. Class prep. Faculty meeting. Lunch. I was drawn in 100 directions.
To fit everything in & write, I extended my day - getting up earlier & going to bed later.
Less sleep did not make writing any easier - bc I was tired all of the time & super grumpy.
So my problem became finding not just time but also the best time to write when I felt good.
So what to do?
First, I learned how to schedule writing time.
At first, I put it in my calendar so that other people could see I was busy.
People blew right through my placeholder if I put writing or research on my calendar.
Second, so I learned to construct placeholders that people could not ignore.
If people thought I was in a meeting, they respected the "group" time.
So, some meetings on XYZ paper were meetings with myself.
I had secured the alone time to write.
Third, I had to learn when to write.
We are not all equally effective at all times of the day. I have a tough time doing creative work in the afternoon. I like to nap.
I'm most effective at writing in the early morning & late at night.
So I woke up early or worked late into the night (note, I nap).
Fourth, I learned that social interaction made it hard to write.
When I rolled out of bed at 6 AM, showered, went to work, snuck into my office, closed the door, & just worked, I got a lot done.
If I stopped to socialize along the way, wrote emails, or sent text messages, I was distracted & writing time slipped away.
Fifth, I learned to be opportunistic.
I formed a habit of exploiting open moments.
I leave a #MSWord document open on my desktop. If I had a spare 30 minutes, I dive into it. You can get a fantastic amount written in 30 focused minutes.
Sixth, I found that I write best on Saturday & Sunday mornings.
The absence of #meetings later in the day meant my mind could focus on ideas.
I still get up early on weekends to write - usually from 7 to 10 before my teen gets up & the day begins.
I am more relaxed bc I fulfilled my #writinggoals - yes; some call me a #workaholic.
Finally, I learned to find my rhythm.
The small smokey person was right. You have to find a consistent, discernable pattern of when to write & make it a habit.
If you do that, you'll do just fine.
Best of luck!
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