Write Your Play Anyway

How to keep your writing alive while juggling jobs, family, and life’s endless to-do list

“I have a play in me. I just need to sit down and write it. But it’s impossible for me to just disappear for lengths of time because of [insert life challenge] (my job, my kids, my attention span, my living situation, etc.).”

Life’s ****ing busy. Trying to be a good partner, a good son, a good friend, a responsible human who cares about the world, pay my bills, stay healthy, and find a little joy for myself can drain every ounce of battery I have. When you’re expending so much lifeforce just trying to exist in the world, how does one find the energy or time to be creative?

When you’re a playwright, I’ve found, you can’t sit around hoping for inspiration to strike or waiting for a chunk of time to be gifted to you. You have to find time to write, and you have to create a consistent writing practice. You have to learn to live both your creative life and your daily life simultaneously. The question is how.

First off, I don’t ever want you to feel like you can’t be a writer. You can. Even if you don’t have a rich partner. Even if you have to work. Even if you’re always on the go. Even if you’re a parent. Whatever the case may be, I promise you, there is a way.

Here are some practical strategies and low-cost (mostly) ways that have helped me write my play even when life feels too full.

Go on Mini to Medium-length Retreats

Sometimes a new environment is necessary. It can be challenging to be creative in the same place you sleep, cook, bathe, and relax in everyday without becoming distracted or overwhelmed with chores, tasks, and anxiety—just ask that pile of laundry in the corner of my apartment. Don’t be afraid to switch it up. A change in your environment can be life-changing, and can give you the space to literally shift your mindset and free you up to be creative and focused.

Ways to get out of your everyday environment:

House or Pet sit.

Somebody somewhere needs some house or pet sitting. Tap into your network. Tell your family, friends, colleagues, and coworkers you’d be down to help them out. When the opportunity arises, you’ve suddenly got a couple of days in a new environment, cost-free, and you’re helping someone else out. Double win.

Go to a coffee shop or library.

Some library systems even have special programs for writers—like the Writers Room at the Seattle Public Library, for example.

Get an Airbnb for a few days.

I know they can be super expensive these days, but you can still find some deals. Find a lil cabin or a nice comfy place with a good view and write.

Pro tip #1: Start asking for Airbnb gift cards for birthdays and holidays.

Pro tip #2: If you have earned paid time off (PTO) from your job, you may be able to use it in conjunction with your Airbnb stay so that you aren’t just eating the cost, but getting paid to do so. You could also use your PTO around a holiday or a 3-day weekend and stretch it into a 4-day weekend, giving you a little extra time to write.

Retreat in place.

If writing at home really is the best environment for you, then declare a day or weekend for writing. Let your loved ones know so that they can enthusiastically and lovingly give you the space and support you require. Maybe even designate one friend as an accountabilabuddy. Someone who can check in on you and keep you on track. Sometimes—just like with a good deadline—knowing someone else is counting on me is a great motivator. Maybe consider meeting up with another writer for some dedicated writing time. If you have young children, perhaps your partner or a parent or friend could provide some childcare.

Join a writers group or organization with host events.

Gather a group of writers together and set a day once a month where y’all meet up and write.

There are organizations out there that are devoted to supporting writers. And some of them, like Rain City Projects, actually host one-off “retreats”—writing days that are completely free to attend. Some may be in-person, some may be virtual remote offerings.

Find the In-between Moments

If you have a particularly busy schedule and you find yourself moving from one obligation or activity to the next with little time between, look for ways to take advantage of the moments you have and make creative use of them.

Bookend your day with writing.

Find a period in the beginning, middle, or end of your day that will give you a window of writing time. Maybe you wake up an hour earlier than normal and write until sunrise. As for me, I’m currently writing this at the end of my evening. The night time quiets my brain, and I love writing after I’ve had the entire day to inspire me. Try adjusting your schedule a bit and see if you can’t find an hour or two.

Write on the go.

The thing about being a writer is you’re always writing…even when you’re not writing. Get out of your environment and go for a walk around the block. Before you set out, choose an aspect of your play or a character to think about. And as you walk, let your mind wander. Let it take in what’s around you. Let it take in inspiration. Let it reset. Let it refocus. In moments like this, you actually give your brain and chance to start putting equations together and problem solving. You might come back from your walk having thought of the perfect ending to act one.

Take public transportation. If you’re on your way to an event or work, and your schedule allows, consider hopping the bus or train. In these moments when you don’t have to focus on driving, use your notes app, your voice record app, or a small notebook to jot down or flesh out ideas. That could be an extra 30-45 minutes of writing time you find yourself with.

Pro tip: You may be eligible to get a reduced fare for your public transit system, based on your income. King County’s ORCA LIFT program reduces all fares to $1. Check with your local public transit system.

Find a flexible work schedule.

In an ideal world, you could just pick up a notebook or laptop and start writing at any time of the day. But that’s not a reality for most writers. We have to work. A more achievable goal could look like shifting other parts of your life to fit better within your writing life. Let’s say you’re a writer who feels more alert and ready to write during the day. You may look to pursue survival jobs that allow you to work evenings or even remotely. Finding jobs with flexibility in their scheduling will allow you to mold your work life around your creative life so that you don’t have to choose between them.

There are many different ways you can carve out a few extra minutes here and there for your creative life. Think outside the box! Finding little moments to write between tasks, obligations, and life events allows you to still feel the momentum. Even though you may not be able to set aside hours of dedicated writing time in the moment, you are still writing, you’re still working, progress is still being made. And knowing that goes a long way.

Apply for Artist Residencies

Artist residencies are a great way to get a longer period of dedicated creative time away from your home. There are so many organizations out there that want writers to come hang out for a week up to a few months and just focus on writing. Often, these residencies are located out in rural areas. Surrounded by acres of nature and being in community with other artists are common features of a residency. Some have fees associated with them, but many will be entirely subsidized with food and lodging included. Most residencies are highly sought after and competitive opportunities, but are absolutely worth throwing your hat in the ring for. If you can get one, a residency will be a one-of-a-kind experience that gives you the opportunity to travel, to build community with and be inspired by other artists, and a great resume line. To find residencies to apply to, check out my bimonthly playwright submission opportunity posts—there are dozens listed throughout the year.

Dear playwright, don’t fall for the lie that you can’t have a fruitful creative life. You can, you just gotta get creative. The play is in you. Now make the time, and go write it.