I’ve been dreaming about being a full-time writer since childhood. The desire to write for a living has been like slow burning coals in the pit of me as I’ve gone through degree programs and various jobs, waiting for some kind of landing spot where I could finally break away from the traditional 9-5 work culture for days filled with outlining, drafting, reading, hot tea, and walking breaks around the neighborhood at lunch time.
This dream has been so perfect and so seemingly touchable that those slow burning coals sometimes rise to a heated resentment. Thoughts of all of the writing tasks I could be doing instead of being at work for 8 hours sit on my mind throughout the workday, like a low-hanging cloud or a low-grade headache.
“If it wasn’t for this job, I’d be the prolific, sought after writer that I’ve always wanted to be!”
“This job is holding me back from the writing life I deserve!”
These are thoughts I’ve had, but neither is true. The truth is regardless of whether you’ve gotten to a place where you can write full-time or not, it’s this defeatist mindset, not your 9 to 5, that’s holding you back from a thriving writing and creative life. Here’s how to overcome 5 mind blocks that can hinder writers with 9-5s:
My job doesn’t leave enough time for me to write!
This is one that I have struggled with and still struggle from time to time. If you spend 8 hours at your job and then spend up to another 2 hours commuting to and from your job, it can seem like there’s not much time left for writing, especially when dinner has to be prepared, kids have to be taken care of, or cleaning has to be done upon arriving back home. On top of that, you might be trying to fit in a daily workout. You can see how writing can slip closer and closer to the bottom of the to-do list until it doesn’t get done at all.
I’ve had to change my approach to fit in short increments of writing time combined with freeing myself of the expectation that I will write and work on The Lush Lit Life every day during the week. My new schedule will allow me to focus on working out after work Monday through Wednesday and focus on working on writing and The Lush Lit Life Thursday through Sunday. First, pray and ask God to work with you to develop the discipline that you need to be faithful to the time you set aside for writing. Then, remember to honor the time you set aside for writing by minimizing distractions like scrolling for hours on your phone ( I’m guilty!) or watching hours of television. Give yourself grace to do these things within a controlled period of time, and then show up ready to write during your writing time. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done once you are not using so much brain power to worry about IF you’ll have time. You deserve to have time to write, so protect it!
I’d be further along in my writing career if it weren’t for my job!
I think of all of the mind blocks, this one is the most damaging because it seems like it is the most insurmountable. I’ve heard some entrepreneurs say that they actually managed time better when they were balancing a traditional day job and their side business which eventually became their full time source of income, and while that might be true, I think it’s somewhat disingenuous to pretend as if putting a small portion of your time into something is going to render the same or similar results as if you put larger amounts of time into it.
Let’s be honest, if we could devote all of our time during the day to our writing or other creative endeavors, of course we would be much further along than we would if we had to split our time between work, writing, homemaking, kids, etc.
However, until you arrive at the point where you can leave your 9-5 job, you need to figure out how your job can be an asset toward your writing career and not think of it as a hindrance. Find out if there are any fellow writers among your co-workers and start a writing group. Think of what skills would benefit your writing business as well as your position at your 9-5 when you sign up for professional development courses that are provided through your employer. Take on a mindset of gratitude that your job allows you the stability that you need to pursue a writing career. Keep a notepad or a note taking or project management app like Asana near you or open so that you can quickly jot down writing ideas that come to you throughout the day.
Many of our favorite writers started their careers while balancing a 9-5, and some even still work at their 9-5s. I know it can be hard, but try making a few of these mindset shifts and see how this weight starts to lift (even a little bit!) off of your mind!
I have to hide the fact that I write from my co-workers!
This is one you have to be careful about depending on what type of industry it is that you are working in, but chances are that you are not the only writer minded person at your job! Like I said in the previous section, start with co-workers that you trust and ask around to see if anyone would be interested in starting a writing group outside of work. Especially if you work in education, media, or a more liberal arts or social science based industry, you might find that your employer will embrace your writing aspirations more than deter you away from them if they see a potential for your success to bring good publicity to the company or, in the case of education, serve as a positive example for students.
As an academic librarian, all of my employers have championed my writing pursuits by adding my poetry book to the general collection, allowing me to plan author and writing centered events, and allowing me to share my writing at events that are planned by other departments. You’ll never know until you ask!
I’m too tired to write when I get home from work!
I start off my mornings revved up and looking forward to 5pm when I get to go home and get back to my writing. As I go through the daily ins and outs of the workday, that spirit that I started with wanes until all that’s left when I get home is enough energy to eat dinner, take a shower, and sink into the couch. I know we’ve all been there! This mind block can be the most frustrating of all because we sometimes are at war with our bodies, but we don’t have to be. There are a few obvious things we can do, like aim to go to bed at an earlier time, workout and eat right in order to be at our best energy levels health wise. We can also follow the advice of the major refrain we tend to hear in response to this issue…manage our time better. How do you manage time that you feel like you don’t have though?
One way is to think less in terms of large swaths of time and more in terms of short increments of time. Write during your 30min or hour long lunch time. Take 30 minutes in the morning before you get ready for work and after you read your Bible for the day to write a few words to a poem, story, or blog post. Use a voice recorder to record poetry verses or essay ideas. Keep some sort of note taking device handy at all times to jot down ideas or even flesh them out. A little can add up to a lot!
Take note of when your energy is at its highest and when it is at its lowest. For many of us with 9-5s, unfortunately our highest energy is also during the time when we are at work, and if this is you, there’s nothing wrong with taking 10 minute writing sprint breaks throughout the workday when things start to get a little slow.
My job doesn’t pay enough for me to pursue writing like I’d like to!
Many of us may have a list of dream writing retreats, MFA programs, and other writing opportunities that we are putting off until we have the funds to participate. Becoming a great writer, like many other creative pursuits, requires just as much of a financial investment as it does a time investment. If you have a strategy, you can have many of the same experiences regardless of your salary. Get a copy of DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira, and create your own MFA experience. Choose a weekend, book an affordable hotel room not far from your house, and create your own writing retreat. Check Eventbrite or your local news outlets to find out what literary festivals are going on in your area. And of course, start a short term savings account that’s just for your writing business so that when pricey opportunities that are a perfect fit come around, you’ll be prepared. Think creatively to figure out how you can create the same experiences on a budget!
Changing your mindset to one where writing is non-negotiable regardless of your 9-5 is how you will finally have the writing life you’ve always dreamed of. Don’t let resentment steal it away!