I learned some time back to write in snippets no matter how small. Made myself write 500 words in a day. Doesn’t sound like much, but it became habit. . . but it also was easier to justify in my busy day. Think about it. . . sitting down and pounding out 500 words and then being allowed to get up and return to your life. But you know what that turns into? Writing 1,000 words. Because once the 500 words become entrenched, you find the urge to throw a few more in there. 

Soon you feel like you didn’t brush your teeth or your hair that day when you miss your 500 words. You can write 500 words before bed, during lunch, waiting in line somewhere in your car. . . even with a meal (like breakfast) at your left and your keyboard in front of you. This morning I ate my omelet at my keyboard while editing three chapters. It’s a matter of squeezing in the short times, because once you become eager to reach that daily goal, you push to find those moments.

As for family. . . they can throw you on a guilt trip, for sure. I miss the day or even two each week for family, depending on the event, but they also have been trained that my writing is serious work. So when I say I have to put in my word deadline, they part the sea, so to speak, and let me be.

But writing daily makes you also write faster. Waiting for the longer periods of time does not work for the grand majority of people. You have to build the habit, the pace, and retrain your family. Then it becomes part of life.