Recently graduated from college and currently looking for a (paying) job, I found myself with something that I haven’t had in a long time: time to write.

I was excited by this prospect. Finally, I could write for hours and finally finish that novel I’ve been working on. Additional motivation was added when a fellow writer suggested we exchange weekly chapters. And yet, I found that I was struggling to get the words on the page. It was easier to become distracted and prioritize other tasks, some of which truly did need to be put first.

These and other thoughts about my writing career were pinballing in my subconscious while I was listening to an episode of Writing Excuses from last year. The topic of the episode was deciding what kind of author you want to be, and making that decision early on. While I believed that I had already decided on the best style of writing life years ago, my reevaluation made me realize that I needed to change course. I always thought that the best thing for my career would be to sit down for eight hours a day and write, and I was disappointed when I could only fit two to four hours in. But looking back, I’ve realized that my writing is at its best when I’m writing in the cracks.

Obviously, the answers for me won’t be the answer for everyone. There are plenty of examples of successful authors who are full-time, and that’s wonderful. Every author’s career will look different from another writer. The goal is to find what works for you.

Right now, for me, I realized that I am able to get enough writing done in two hours a day to write a novel in a few months. Finding those cracks in my day where I can write focuses my creativity and helps me to create prose that is strong enough to stand on its own. The time I spend writing is a privilege that helps me to find joy in my life. Writing is something to look forward to, something to give me a break from a humdrum routine. Trying to do that for an entire day seems to water down my work; it’s oversaturated by time.

I do want to point out that this is only the answer for me at this point in my life. I can’t say that it’ll always be this way, that I’ll always have another job I’m doing while writing in the cracks. This is just the solution for me for now. This is what will work best in my situation currently.

Honestly, I look forward to the different times in my life where I’ll need to reevaluate again and make changes to my writing career. Changes are a chance to grow stronger as a writer and as a human being.

Before I forget, happy Martin Luther King day! Thanks for reading and keep your eye out for more updates. There will be some exciting developments in the near future.