How to write a novel when you have no time

One of the biggest challenges for most writers is finding the time. In my 20s and early 30s, I could sit for hours and devote entire weekends to writing without distractions. But life changes. Responsibilities pile up, free time disappears, and you have to adapt.

For a while, I thought I needed long, uninterrupted stretches before I could write. Otherwise, what was the point? I told myself that anything less than 90 minutes was pointless—but in reality, I was just putting blockers in the way.

I’ve since learned that writing a novel doesn’t require marathon sessions. It can be done in snatches, even 20 minutes here, a paragraph or two there.

If you feel like you don’t have time to write, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t finish a book. I’ve spent ages thinking about this and collected some strategies and wisdom from authors on how to write a novel when your schedule is packed.

1. Embrace the power of small writing sessions

It’s easy to think that writing in short bursts isn’t "real" writing. But it absolutely is. Many authors have relied on this method:

• Toni Morrison wrote before dawn, fitting in words around her job as an editor and raising children.
• Ian McEwan has said that even just 500 words a day adds up fast.
• Alice Munro wrote her short stories during her children’s naps, proving that even world-class literature can be crafted in stolen moments.

If you write for just 20 minutes a day, that’s over two hours a week—more than 100 hours a year. Small, consistent efforts add up far more than waiting for that mythical “free weekend” that never arrives.

Zadie Smith talks about how she doesn't believe the amount of intense writing we can do in any one day is limited:

It’s my belief that even the freest, most single and childless writers rarely do more than four hours of intense writing a day. I do the same, but I have much less spare time. If I lose a day to Googling, etc., then it’s really a problem because I have no slack and no extra time. 

Try these three writing tips:

• Set a timer for 20 minutes. Write anything—no distractions, no second-guessing.
• Keep a notebook or notes app handy to jot down ideas so you can go.
• Lower the bar—one paragraph still counts as progress.

2. Plan your next move before you stop writing

One of the biggest obstacles to writing in short bursts is getting back into the flow. If you only have 20 minutes, you don’t want to waste 10 of them figuring out what to write.

Hemingway’s trick: Always stop writing in the middle of a sentence or a scene so when you come back, you know exactly what comes next:

I never come back to a blank page; I always finish about halfway through. Hemingway taught me the finest trick : “When you are going good, stop writing.” You don’t go on writing and writing until you come to the end of it, because when you do, then you say, well, where am I going to go next? You make yourself stop and you walk away. And you can’t wait to get back because you know what you want to say next.

Personally, I’ve found this game-changing. If I spend even a few minutes thinking about my next scene before I sit down, I can jump straight in. No wasted time. No excuses.

Try these writing tips:

• Before stopping for the day, write a one-line note about what comes next.
• If you can’t write, daydream about your next scene while commuting, cooking, or showering—so when you get a spare moment, you’re ready to go.

3. Build writing into your existing routine

Finding time to write isn’t always about adding more hours to the day; it’s about making the most of the time you already have.

Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day, but even if you don’t have that kind of time, you can still fit writing into existing moments in your routine:

• Wake up 20 minutes earlier (or go to bed later).
• Use your commute or waiting time to brainstorm or dictate notes. Personally, I used to write on the tube on a long commute from North London to Hammersmith. I got so much done including most of a novel that eventually got published. 
• Set a word count goal instead of a time goal—even 200 words a day leads to an entire novel in a year.

Try these writing tips:

• Identify a dead time in your day (scrolling social media? Half-watching TV?) and swap it for writing.
• If mornings aren’t an option, find your best time—some writers thrive on night writing, lunch break sessions, or even voice notes while walking.

4. Let go of the myth of perfect writing conditions

Many of us (myself included) tell ourselves we need the right writing conditions—a quiet space, a clean desk, an extended period. But life doesn’t work like that.

Zadie Smith has written in noisy cafés. Agatha Christie wrote on napkins and hotel paper. J.K. Rowling wrote in cafés with a baby sleeping next to her.

The perfect writing setup is whatever lets you get words down. A noisy house, a cluttered desk, a few minutes squeezed between meetings. Whatever you can achieve, it all counts. 

Jodi Picoult: 'You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.'

Try these writing tips:

• Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Write in "good enough" moments.
• Keep a writing kit (notebook, app, or Google Doc) ready to write anywhere.

5. Don’t worry about making it perfect—just get it Done

Writing in small chunks means you’ll probably write messy. That’s okay. First drafts are meant to be rough.

The key is momentum. Once you have words down, you can revise them later. Don’t stop to edit. Don’t reread. Just keep moving forward.

Try these writing tips:

• Set a daily or weekly goal, be it a word count, completed scenes, or even just showing up.
• Accept that the first draft will be ugly. That’s its job.

Final thoughts: writing a novel is possible even when you're madly busy

If you don’t have time to write, remember: you don’t need hours; you just need a plan, and the plan can be as simple as these four steps:

1. Write in short bursts—even 20 minutes counts.
2. Always know what’s next before stopping.
3. Work writing into your day instead of waiting for free time.
4. Let go of perfection—messy writing is still progress.

The truth is, if you wait until you have enough time, you’ll never start. Writing is about finding the cracks in your day and filling them with words.

Start small. Keep going. The novel will come.