Finding time to write

It's funny - when I'm home for the summer, it's almost impossible for me to write.  At school with a million things to do, though, I always manage to find time.  The NaNoWriMo time finder is really great for showing you time when you could be writing - and once you know that you spend 4:30-5:30 every day reading webcomics, there's the matter of turning free time into writing time.

I find that the best way to do this is a) remove your computer from the internet and b) find some way to designate it as "writing" time.  To get rid of the internet, just unplug your ethernet cable or turn off your wireless network.  One major source of distraction, dealt with.  Then, make sure your brain knows that it's writing time - wear a certain jacket or fingerless gloves, listen to your writing playlist, reserve one location just for writing.

If you're really having trouble making time to write, there are two simple but somewhat painful sources of time: getting up earlier, and going to bed later.  If you are a night person, stay up an extra half-hour and write.  If you're a morning person, get up a half-hour earlier.  True, this solution will rob you of precious hours of sleep, but that's an extra three and a half hours of writing time every week.  Finally, the best thing I can suggest is to carry a little notebook and pen with you everywhere.  Waiting in line?  Whip out your notebook and scribble down a few sentences.  Walking down a relatively straight path?  Hey, as long as you can write and walk, you're golden. 

Now I'd better get back to making time for my English seminar paper - graduation looms closer every day!