Where do you find the time to write?

Writing a novel isn't an easy feat. Anyone who has ever done it will tell you this (well, let's say most people as there might be a few who found the process easy and carefree). One of the biggest challenges is finding the time.

I hear that question a lot from many people: "Where did you find the time to write a novel?" While I'm far removed from the first draft of Legend Has It, the short answer is: "Any way you can."

The long answer isn't too complicated, but it comes down to time management. Yes, it would be fun if I could tell you it's some super secret, overly contrived, multi-step process, but the reality of it - at least for me - is carving out small bits of time whenever you can.

I'm not a predominantly morning writer. I've found the time on off days and some weekends, but nights tend to be my most consistent window to sit down and start crafting. I have a family, friends, and a full-time job in marketing, so I have to account for those obligations. The workday runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (give or take a half-hour or so depending on the circumstances).

From there, the late afternoon and early evening are dedicated to dinner with the family, catching up on our days and spending time with them. Bedtimes roll around and my window to write tends to start around or shortly after 10 p.m.

But here is where it gets tricky. Sometimes your friends will be out and want you to join them. Sometimes there's a new movie you want to see. Sometimes you want to fire up one of your consoles and play a game. Sometimes you just want to lay on the couch and decompress.

These are the things that make writing a challenge. Trying to live a balanced life comes with its share of challenges. You only have so much time in a day and plenty of responsibilities. I tell my kids all the time to enjoy their youth because adulthood doesn't have those large gaps of free time that were once so plentiful.

On top of that, writing a novel requires cerebral capacity (I was going to say brain capacity, but I enjoy alteration when appropriate). There have been several nights when my schedule is clear and I just don't have it. I can sit in my writing nook and struggle to type out a few sentences.

So, like many writers, I'm not only fighting the demands of adulthood and fatherhood but also social opportunities, multiple distractions and biology (we all have to sleep sometime, right?). The funny thing is I don't think about these things that much, which is probably why it doesn't feel as overwhelming as it looks when I write it out. Now I'm starting to wonder how I do find the time. Ha!

The trick for me is to make strategic sacrifices. Do I really need to scroll through social media at night? Do I have to watch that new show tonight or can I tune in a month from now? Should I grab a drink with my friends or skip it and plan something else over the weekend or another weeknight?

All of these things are time investments. Most TV series are 30 minutes to an hour, and it's incredibly tempting to watch a second episode. Movies tend to at least chew through 90 minutes. Reading a book is another big time commitment. Your writing project has so many things competing with it.

The key is taking a balanced approach. Some nights, you just want to catch up on that riveting series. Other nights, you want to finish another chapter in that new thriller you picked up. Whatever it might be, if it brings you joy, it's worthwhile.

If your goal is to write a novel, then you have to find the places where you can make those strategic sacrifices. There are some weeks where my writing is flowing effortlessly and I dedicate my nights to it. There are other times when I just want to enjoy something that doesn't require a lot of brain power.

When I wrote Legend Has It, my goal was simple: one page a day. Some writers can produce much more than that in a session (as can I), but as a goal, it was manageable and kept me on task. It allowed me to live a more balanced life while also slowly creating a novel in the process.

Naturally, writing a novel is an individual experience and what works for some might not work for others. You have to find the methods that speak to you and allow you to build momentum. Adopting those little habits and strategic sacrifices will slowly get you to your goal. For me, it was taking it one page at a time.