Elmer Meeker was obsessed with basements. When Elmer visited my previous house in Owen Sound, he insisted on checking out the basement. He had to enter through a trapdoor in the hall closet which descended to a four foot high dirt canal that ran around the perimeter under the house. The rest of the “basement” wasn’t dug out more than about 1 foot deep.
“You know,” he said with his head sticking out the trap door, “if you do 2 buckets a day, you could have a full basement in about one year’s time.” He would even supply the buckets. He had some spares in his basement, which he had hand dug out over a two year period, 2 buckets a day.
After one year and no buckets done, I stared at that trap door. If only I had done it, I would have a basement. Instead, I had a spider-infested hole. After two years, I thought: if only I had done just 1 bucket a day, I would now have a basement. But I did nothing because I was busy with every day life. After eight years, I sold the house and upon walking around it one final time, I thought: I probably could have dug that basement doing only 2 cups a day.
Writing a novel can be like hand digging out a basement. At the start, it’s a daunting task. Maybe all you have is a few characters and a rough idea for a plot but there’s so much missing. We all make excuses about why we can’t get it done. I’ve told myself for years that I just can’t find enough time during the work week to write.
No more excuses.
Lately I’ve been thinking that Elmer never made any excuses. He ran a shoe repair and retail store six days a week for 50 years. He often worked long hours into the evening and raised a family. But he wanted his basement so he found time for 2 buckets a day. It took him two years but he accomplished his goal.
The writing equivalent of 2 buckets a day
I decided that a bucket represents about 10 minutes of time. To do 2 buckets, I needed to find 20 minutes every day to write. Should be easy. However, from my basement experience, I knew I needed a plan.
One – Find and Protect the 20 minute slot
I needed to pick a 20 minute slot of time that I would have every single day, Monday through Friday. I experimented with different times to see what would work best: first thing in the morning (no); at a lunch break (no); right after getting home from work and before dinner (surprisingly, not bad); and right before heading to bed (in a pinch). Once you find it, protect it and remind family members that this is your 20 minutes.
Two – Specific plan for the 20 minutes
You might think that 20 minutes is not enough time to get anything meaningful done with writing a novel (other than maybe journaling). Here are some options that I use for my 20 minutes:
- Edit – go back and re-read 2-5 pages of your writing and do the editing that needs to be done, looking for places where you’re telling not showing; getting rid of adverbs, tightened up your dialogue, etc.
- Plot out a scene you want to write – think of the beats you want to create in the scene; how it will begin, what is the point of the scene, and where to end it.
- Write out a character profile with all the details for that one character. Not just their physical description, but what are the character’s dominant characteristics, weaknesses, their background.
- Write the first paragraph for a short story or scene from your book. Focusing on the small task will keep from feeling overwhelmed.
- Research one element that your story needs.
- Write out one dialogue section between 2 characters.
The key is not to think about writing your novel in 20 minute slots but doing some prep work or editing work on your novel.
Three – Check your progress
So how’s it going? Excellent! Since I started this in January, I’ve managed to edit over 50 pages, revised two short stories and write a third. I’ve done more consist writing. And instead of peering into that dark hole of my novel, I’m beginning to see walls and the structure. Reward time! (Cake, anyone?) Although it may not get my entire novel written, by doing this work in my 20 minutes means that when I do have a 1 or 2 hours to write, I’m ready. I have a scene I want to write, I have the beginning paragraph, my characters’ are ready. I’m not bogged down with the “small” stuff and I’m ready to make use of the bigger slots of time effectively.
Thanks Elmer!
