There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Maya Angelou

If you feel that you cannot make the time to write and publish a book then it would be best to walk away now and spend your time on other projects. However, ensure that when people ask you about whether or not you are going to write a book respond with ‘I’ve decided that is not the best project for me at the moment’.

Please don’t respond with ‘I don’t have time’.

This is about the fact that we all have a choice and we can decide how we will spend most parts of our day.

Is this what you really want? Is this the time for you to do this? If the answer is yes then jump in with both feet.

You need to work out what activities that you are going to exchange for your book writing commitments.

Try some of these:

Prioritise writing.

Take time away from watching your favourite television show. Skip catching up with a friend for coffee. Friends will understand. TV can be watched later. Think about activities that you can substitute to work on your book.

Use any spare moment.

Whether you are waiting for public transport, or in a queue. These are moments that you can use to put some words and ideas down.

Use what you’ve already got.

Take a few moments to print out what you’ve previously written. What do you see?. Is there a great foundation for your book? (Or even two!)

Save some time with dictation.

Many people find it quicker and easier to record themselves speaking and then have the words transcribed. If this sounds like you ­–start talking!

Call on your network.

There is only so much time. Knowing this there is a price that you need to pay. Either your time or your money. You will need to decide what you want to do. Pay with your time or with your money. If you have the budget, get someone else to edit your ideas or even write the book for you. Or employ someone to do jobs that take up your valuable writing time.

Schedule time.

Diaries tend to fill if you don’t put blocks in them. Take the front foot and make time for you to do this. Start small. Initially block 15 minutes into your diary. Preferably each day. You want to create a habit. What would be a good  time that you can stick to every day?

WARNING: Beware of time-wasters. Phone pings, messages, inboxes – all the usual suspects. Let them go and leave yourself in peace to do your writing.

Find the time. Make your choice and run with it.