How much time do I actually spend writing? 🤔⏳

As a published author with a full-time job, I have to balance my schedule and create my writing routine carefully in order to fit writing around all my responsibilities and hobbies. Here's how I do it.
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[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

I can't imagine trying to write a book a year with a full time job - amazing!

[@searchingforsamantha]

Thank you!! It’s a lot mentally 😅 but timewise totally doable!

[@SDHegyes]

Newcomer here since YT suggested your video to me. This is so interesting. I love the breakdown of time.

[@searchingforsamantha]

So glad you enjoyed it!! 🫶

[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

I love this breakdown. Thanks for sharing. I get discouraged when I think about how I'm not sitting and writing for 3+ hours a day or something. have been trying to figure out my sweet spot on time spent on writing and all the other priorities.

[@searchingforsamantha]

It’s such an important balance! Because even if you did manage to give all that time to writing, you’d be neglecting something else. Finding what works for you is key.

[@madebymalayka]

Oooh 😮 It never crossed my mind to quantify how much time I spend writing! All I know is that I'm up wayyyy too late cranking out 20 words 😂 Super interesting numbers tho, Samantha ❤

[@searchingforsamantha]

This knowledge is a blessing and a curse I tell ya 😂

[@adarateranroldan]

Love this idea.

[@searchingforsamantha]

Thank you 🙏

[@gizwiz5477]

Super insightful video!

[@searchingforsamantha]

Thank you! 🙏

[@isabellajuanitalyn]

That's so cool!

[@searchingforsamantha]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ann-cathrin860]

Wow, thank you for that insight! These neat stats make my neurodivergent brain very happy haha 😊. I was surprised that only 2 hours per week would add up for you for cooking AND eating! I feel like that would add up to one hour a day minimum for me 😅. Also, I understand that these are not "functional hours" in a sense, but the morning and evening routines (dressing, showering, etc) and the times when you are "on the way" (commuting, getting somewhere, driving and so on) can take up a chunk of time. Would have been interesting to see those in comparison 🙈. Thanks again, have a great weekend!

[@searchingforsamantha]

It’s a good point - I very rarely am just eating 😂 it’s usually downtime for me because I’m watching a video. As for hygiene stuff, I counted some of it under sleep and some under downtime - showers, teeth, etc. are part of my bedtime routine so I counted them there. Sorry for not specifying!

[@ann-cathrin860]

@@searchingforsamantha Ah well, thats fair. Thank you :)

[@searchingforsamantha]

Of course! Happy to answer any questions.

[@katharinahuang3941]

Very helpful breakdown. Thanks!

[@searchingforsamantha]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Khatoon170]

How are you doing mrs Sam . Iam Arabic lady subscriber to several British and American KZbin channels since Christmas 2019 . We are as foreigners subscribers as overseas students want to increase our cultural level, improve our English and literature lovers but , first of all make friendships with people from different countries. Iam so happy to be subscriber in your channel. I hope I can learn a lot from your knowledge as author . I read about your profile you used pen name Sam gale . You originally from USA North Carolina, now you resident in England Bournemouth, with mr Alex your husband . You own successful marketing company . I read your debut novel summer house in santorini ( island located in Greece ) plot summary Anna lives predictable life , she sleeping with her boss and isn’t reaching her full potential because for . After her father dies . She finds herself in possession of beautiful summer house that needs doing up . She fall in love with santorini and with handsome Greek cella . Iam so sorry to be little long but reading and writing both are great ways to improve our English as none native speakers. Best wishes for you your dearest ones .

[@searchingforsamantha]

So glad you’re finding ways to learn! KZbin videos sound like a great idea. I should do that to improve my Spanish.

[@SamanthaGale]

Deadline mode = 🥵🥵🥵

[@searchingforsamantha]

And normal mode = 😌😌😌

[@ljh129]

Thanks for the video! It was super insightful for someone who is published (not just hobby writing) but also both writing full time. I’d love to see a video about how you and your partner balance things with you writing! My husband and I are about to be in a similar situation for a few months and it’s exciting but we’re nervous about the change in schedule.

[@searchingforsamantha]

Congrats! What does your partner do? Are you both remote, in an office, etc.?

[@ljh129]

My partner is a tech and I am a stay at home mom but he has the next three months off for baby leave (our baby was born almost a year ago though but we saved it until she was older!) I’ll be “working” on writing and he’ll be being stay at home dad so our roles are reversed for a few months 😂

[@searchingforsamantha]

Oooh very interesting! Yeah I can definitely talk more about my experience, but it definitely makes a difference that I don’t have kids.

[@amybucelewicz4718]

New to your channel. I'm neurodivergent too and would love to track how I'm spending my time. What did you use to make those graphs? I'm planning on starting my first novel this summer when I'm on break from teaching (I don't count my crappy 2011 NaNoWriMo romance novel lol).

[@searchingforsamantha]

Congrats on starting your first book! Though NaNo drafts always count 🙈 I just used Canva to make the graphs, and I tracked the hours themselves in my notes app so I could do it on my phone. I just did it at each mealtime so I would remember.

[@TheAndreaDonoso]

I have a question… well 2… 1.- how annoyed you were when realized that the number were wrong 😂 and 2.- do you take adhd meds? If not, how you deal with the brain noise when you’re writing?

[@searchingforsamantha]

1 - so annoyed 😂😂😂 and 2 - no meds, just raw dogging it 🙈 honestly, I hyperfocus quite well when I’m writing because I’ve trained my brain to be productive at that time and place, so it’s been much less of an issue for me with my writing than with other things in my life.