Over the past week, I've received several messages from "weekend writers".
These writers are booked solid with commitments: a day job, a family, study... they struggle to find writing time, and when they can't find it, they're miserable.
I wrote about organizing your time if you're a weekend writer, and said:
If you're a weekend writer, it's essential that you develop organizational skills. However, even with just three or four hours a week to devote to your writing, you'll be amazed at how much you can achieve. It's possible to: write a book in a year; develop a copywriting clientele; and also to write many articles and short stories.
I know several weekend writers who are turning writing into careers, just part-time, so I asked them whether they have writing tips to share with other weekend writers.
They suggested:
* Use your lunch hour at work to communicate with your writing clients;
* Write article queries while you're exercising, using a digital recorder and Dragon Naturally Speaking;
* Read and respond to email before you leave for work in the morning;
* Take drafts with you in folders, so you can work on them while waiting for the kids to complete their activities.
I hope these suggestions work for you.
Voice recognition software: saves your hands and your time
I commend Dragon Naturally Speaking to you. (You can often find older versions on eBay.) I use it myself; it saves an enormous amount of time, and it saves my poor RSI-afflicted hands too.
Expect it to take several weeks before you get used to speaking your thoughts, but once you get used to it, you'll love it.
Happy writing, dear weekend writer. :-)
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