The most common writing advice I have come across since I began writing in 2008 is write every day. Confession: I am a miserable failure following this advice.

I don’t lack the desire to write. And even with a full-time teaching job, a wife, a two-year-old son, and graduate coursework, I can find time to write. So what is it? What is my problem? Why am I not producing as I should be? Being busy is no excuse because all writers are busy.

I think the problem is scheduling. As much as I want to, I can’t get up early and write. I’m not a morning person. Mostly I’m a night writer, but during the school year, night writing is hit or miss and I often find distractions due to exhaustion. So, what to do?

When am I motivated to write and have the energy to produce? Right when school gets out! Of course, I’m tired from being on stage all day in front of students, but it’s kind of like the beginning of my personal life each day. I can grade papers and work on graduate homework at night when I’m tired and my son has gone to bed.

For now, I’m carving out an hour after school. Will this schedule be best for me in a month? Or during the summer? Maybe not. And certainly there will be days when meetings, helping students, and picking up my son will interfere. But if I want to produce I must adapt and make time for writing when it best suits my energy and motivation.

Here’s to making time to write. Best of luck, all!