Thread by @kavitharao

🧵1/ For a while now, I have been wanting to do a thread on how to make time for writing books if you are a woman caregiver, but I haven't had time. Today, I do, so here it is. Other thing that stopped me was ppl piping up saying "Well none of this applies to me" If so, ignore.

2/ I am also not interested in talking about why men don't have time to write books. Because they do. So start your own thread for that.

3/ Here's the good news if you are a woman- likely Indian-struggling with small children and ageing elders and all the stuff you have to take care of: You don't need time to write books, you need focus. Even just 30 minutes a day. Bad news: Focus is very hard to find.

(4) I have done the small kids/elders bit with no help, and I still don't have any paid help. I also do other stuff to earn money: freelance writing, training, teaching...These are the ways I find focus in a very packed day.

(5) Get up early: Sorry, there is a reason why Linked In bros harp on this. I am not one, but none of my books would have got written without getting up at 5.30 am. That early morning time- 2 hrs- is used for deep work ( an expression I hate but...).

(6) Get out of the house: You are unlikely to get anything done if you are looking at laundry and distracting yourself by mopping the kitchen. Go to a cafe or a library or a co-working space.

(7) You know how you are waiting for a room of your own and the kids to grow up before you write? Stop waiting. I have no room of my own. Work from the dining table. Kids will continue to take up mindspace. Clear a corner of your brain.

(8) Social media: I'd love to say give it up, but I get most of my best ideas from socmed ( my next book, for instance) But give up political Twitter, trying to solve complicated social issues on here, and calling out other people's bad opinions. Put that energy into your book

(9) Other time sucks I have given up: Since I do most of the family cooking, I cook very simple meals. Omelette and toast is a meal. Anyone who doesn't like it can cook their own. ( they do). I didn't and don't do festivals, house decoration, weddings, endless family events..

(10) I don't watch many movies. No Bollywood and very little Hollywood. 3 hour-long movies are time I could spend on my books.

(11) 30 minutes a day with your phone off is all you need, if those 30 minutes are good. I don't write every day, but I write most days. 500 words is a good limit to aim for. If you can't focus, try the Pomodoro app. Write the middle and end first, not the beginning.

(12) You do not need to write in a linear fashion. If you like the end of your plot best, start with that. The beginning is always the hardest.

(13) Impostor syndrome: I don't have it. Writer's block: Best ways to fix it is to have a very detailed outline.
Take a break and read books in your genre
Walk. Walking is the best.

(14) Deep work: An expression I hate, because it is a luxury mostly available to men. Like most women I know, I had to work around the kids and my ailing dad. No matter. You can get great work done while waiting at the dentist's or doctor's office.

(15) And lastly, don't wait like I did for less busy days to come your way. They never will. If you want to write a book- which is by no means necessary- start writing it now. No time like the present.

(16) Actually, one last thing. If you are a woman, every single person, man or woman, will ask if you are writing a children's book. If you want to write one, by all means do. But you don't have to stick to children's writing because you have ovaries.

(17) I will add one more: Most WhatsApp groups are an absolute drain of your focus and energy. Leave. Don't explain. I left my family group 10 minutes after I was added. Left my alumni group. Now a member of only 3 WA groups,each of which has less than 10 members.