“You don’t need to quit your day job to be a real writer. You need to stop using your day job as an excuse not to write. There’s a difference.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
If I hear one more creative say ‘I’d write if I didn’t have a day job,’ I’m going to scream. Gently. Into a pillow. Because I love you, but that excuse has got to go.
The vast majority of published authors wrote their first books while working full-time jobs. Toni Morrison was an editor. Stephen King was a teacher. John Grisham was a lawyer. I built my career while juggling more jobs than a circus performer. The day job is not the enemy of your creativity—your belief that you need perfect conditions IS.
The ‘Stolen Hours’ Strategy
| Time Slot | How Long | What to Do |
| Before work (early bird) | 30–60 minutes | Write your most creative work when your brain is fresh. |
| Lunch break | 20–40 minutes | Outline, brainstorm, or write a scene. Eat with one hand. |
| Commute (if applicable) | 15–45 minutes | Voice memos, notes app, or reading for research. |
| After kids’ bedtime | 30–60 minutes | Quiet writing time. Guard this slot fiercely. |
| Weekend morning block | 2–3 hours | Your weekly deep work session. This is your power slot. |
| Waiting rooms/lines | 5–15 minutes | Quick notes, dialogue drafts, or character sketches. |
Mindset Shifts That Actually Help
- From ‘I don’t have time’ to ‘I have time, I just need to find it.’ You probably spend 45 minutes a day scrolling. I’m not judging. I’m just doing math.
- From ‘I need a full day to write’ to ‘I can make progress in 20 minutes.’ 200 words in 20 minutes = 1,400 words a week = a draft in 6 months.
- From ‘My day job drains me’ to ‘My day job funds my creative life.’ Reframe it. The paycheck buys you the freedom to create without financial desperation.
- From ‘Someday I’ll have more time’ to ‘Today I have this time.’ Someday is not a day of the week. Use what you have now.
Your Move, Creative
This week, find three 20-minute pockets in your schedule. Write during each one. Don’t worry about quality. Just prove to yourself that the time exists—because it does.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
