4 Ways to Make Writing Magic

Writing magician waving hands. Make writing magic. Read JP Robinson

We're all pressed for time. As I write, I am in the middle of juggling three (or four?) different tasks. How does a writer manage to make any progress in his/her next chef d'oeuvre? (For those of you who don't speak French, this means masterpiece).

Here are four solutions that really help me beat the time crunch and write to change the world.

Chunk it: I set my timer for whatever time I can spare. I try to do one hour blocks but if I can't spare that much time, I can work with thirty minutes. I think less than 30 minutes is not very productive; it's better to work on another "non-writing" task for another 15 or so and then use that extra time to make up at least a good half-hour.
Take days off: No I don't mean from work, I mean from whatever you are writing. When I'm dealing with writer's block and it takes about 4 hours to write one good paragraph, I think that taking a day off of writing actually improves my story content. It doesn't mean that I'm not thinking about the plot-believe me, I am!- but I get a little breathing space that actually helps me make a literary comeback the next time my laptop and I face off.
Say "No" to technology: When writing, I put my phone on "do not disturb." The written word is far more important that the dings,chimes and beeps that our mobile devices love to send our way. Shut it down for a while and focus on making written magic.
Believe: I created a small poster which reads: "Write as though the whole world is going to read your book. One day, it just might!" I have found that when I believe in what I am writing, I actually do a much better job expressing my thoughts and rounding out my characters. The plot becomes more exciting and I am better able to "breathe life on the page."