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I'm at about 90% I stopped due to holidays, family chaos, and now me my wife and our kids all currently have the flu so all that set me back but hopefully will complete my first book soon.

I just forced myself to sit down for at least 1 hour a day and type away, I put my kids to bed, brush my teeth, get in my PJs and get everything set for bed then instead of going to bed, I head to my laptop and start typing. Once I'm done I'm very sleepy and tied and since I completed all my obligations I just go straight to bed.

It's hard with work, taking the kids to school, picking them up from school and other obligations but I have to give up something so I chose to give up some of my sleeping time. No matter what happens I'm very happy and satisfied with my story and feel like the trouble and exhaustion has already been well worth it even if nothing comes from it.

If you are financially able, then yes you should try to find something less demanding as it will continue to sap your creative juices.

If it isn't feasible/in the meantime, work on your story in short 15 minute bursts if you get a break or lunch. Even if you only get to write 5 mintues here and there you will be surprized how much it adds up.

 Even if its a sentence that says "they go to the club and get into a barfight". Ya know more outline type notes rather than actual narrative? 

Good luck.

I think many of us are in this situation. Stephen King wrote Carrie whilst teaching English. He took the portable typewriter to work and wrote the first few pages during breaks. You can't so some writing in the early hours of the morning or while commuting to work?

I've done it, but it took years and years. Lots of times I thought I'd never make it, but I kept going and eventually got it out there. Mine was a trilogy, and one thing I found is that after finishing the last book - I had to go back to the beginning and do some rewrites/layering of the first book.

My best advice, get a routine that suits you and stick to it. Every time you sit down to write, you'll be chipping a few blocks off the mountain in front of you.

Good luck

Over a ten year period, while working a very demanding job, I wrote a 12 book series with a 4 book companion series. The two series consisted of over 1.6 million words. In there, I also wrote a stand alone thriller and another standalone mystery/thriller.

How did I do it? I committed myself to writing every day. I would come into work early and write for an hour. I would write over my lunch hour. I wrote on some nights and definitely on the weekends.

This year, I've written 3 books and a novella that will be a part of a mystery series I plan to release next year.

I would ask myself this question:
Do you want to be a writer or someone who watches TV? (Or some other choice that doesn't move you forward on your writing?)

You have to want it and you have to commit to doing it. The truth of the matter is no one cares if you write a book. You are the only one who does. You have to want it and then you have to do it.

As for balancing the job (which was both demanding and draining) and writing, I loved both of them, so it was easier for me.

It depends on the job and your personal discipline.

I believe that there's chemicals in your brain that you spend when you write fiction. I don't know what it is, but I can feel when it's empty. It's what hard caps almost everyone at about 5k words in a single day. It just depends on if your job is spending that same fuel. If it is, get in the habit of writing on off days.

Also, I really suggest cutting 30k from your first book, or finding a way to move some of that into the next one. Publishers get apprehensive over 120k words, in my experience.

I have a very mentally taxing job, some days I can't bring myself to write cause my brain is fried from work.

By the way, I don't want to ruin your goals in any way what so ever but if you're working on your draft at the end of 2025, you're not getting traditionally published at the end of 2026. If you're lucky enough to get a agent and get a deal and everything goes smoothly, your book could be maybe be out some time in 2027.

If you want to get an agent, you’re going to need to cut at least 30k (50k would b better). Debut fiction is easier to sell around 80-90k.

I get it. I wrote half of my novel in the break room of the Albertson's Bakery Department lol. Just keep writing--you got this. xo

I work a pretty fast paced job forty hours a week. I get two 15 minute breaks and one thirty, each day I chip away at story. Some weeks I take a day to write multiple chapters, but after that I always need a week to reassess the progress of the story. Without any real deadlines you can take as much time as you need until it’s done.

I shifted to a demanding job with later hours 4 - 5 times a month. Starting work at 3 - 4PM leaves my mornings free to write. I am about 50% through my first crime novel, which I wrote in 82 days, with a goal of around 500 words per day. I also slowed down on it over the holidays but hen I pick it up again I should have another 82 days to finish the basic ms.,

I'm about to self-publish my first novel, have a second completed for publication later in 2026, and am editing the second one in the series for publication in early 2027, with another book actively being drafted. I work a demanding day job in pharma R&D. It's not easy and other hobbies have had to take a back seat for a while (though I guard my sleep and social life fiercely), but it's doable! For me, the trick is to set clear goals. Don't get tempted by the siren song of endless editing. Get the book to a nice 8/10, get it out, write the next one.

I work a demanding job and have a baby at home, so writing is sometimes a bit challenging since I’m writing an epic fantasy series. What works for me is dedicating regular blocks of time to writing and letting go of writing the rest of the time.

On Wednesday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday afternoons I have 2-hour blocks dedicated to writing. They have to move around sometimes because of life but that’s ok as long as they actually happen sometime during the week.

If you are in a relationship, do talk about it to your partner so that you can work something out. Be prepared sacrifice some nights out and other activities since that’s basically the only way to make time for writing while also keeping time for your family and work.

Well, I haven't written a novel series but I have written a lot of novels and short stories (most of them are unpublished) while working on tasks that demanded 10-12 hours of work. One of the reasons why I could continue writing was because my work is also related to writing, blogs, articles, social media posts, forum content, etc

I make a rough draft during the week. I use prowriting aid to do chapter critiques you get three a day. I run the critiques through ChatGPT asking for ideas on how to change it paste the chapters into a document and then on the weekend I go through and edit everything chapter by chapter that way you’re not stick stuck on one chapter reading and writing it all over again and I work a full-time job and a part-time job and of course have a little puppy to take care of

Same! I work in a lab all day, so I’m not working from home or at a desk where I can type on a computer and get some writing in. What I do have is my phone on me at all times, so whenever I have a moment (even five minutes to myself), I pull up my Google Docs app and do some writing. As others have already said, it might take a bit more time, but it still happens! Especially when you get a burst of inspiration, you can get a lot done even in five minutes! Keep going!

Yes. I'm a Finance Manager for a UK off-shoot of an international company, so there's quite a bit of stress. All my writing is done with that as a background, plus a son who is studying at uni. It's what happens.

I wrote most of my series while being an Operations manager for a freight company, pulling 60-80 hours a week. It was my only form of escapism for two years.

Hi! Great question! I have an executive level job that is wonderful and stressful. I also have two young kids. Here are some things that have worked for me: because I don’t eat lunch and I’m in quite a lot of meetings throughout the day, I allow myself brain breaks when necessary- this is the positive side of being an exempt employee. I take 15 min once or twice a day and pull up my manuscript. I also write in my brain and using Siri in my car during travel days. The thing that has made the biggest difference to me is getting a really comfy setup with a great foldable desk in my car so when I’m at soccer/baseball/stem whatever whatever practice for one of the kids- that time isn’t wasted waiting for them. I easily get 5-10 hours of writing in a week this way. Then after they go to bed I try to get at least another hour.

I work full-time, in school and have 3 kids (two high schoolers, one toddler).

I have a lot going on with one kid in band and another in choir & of course assignments due dates. I also serve on the Band booster Board and our HOA Board.

I have written several short stories this year, a few of which are on Reedsy and completed two novels in the last four months; one of which I’m going through a developmental editor to get it ready for publishing (hopefully) while the other is tabled and I have a few new book concepts for next year.

It is difficult, but can be done. What I do is just put a hour or two a day or every other day to writing or 1000-2000 words, which ever comes first. I may not even get that completed and will go a few days without writing and that’s okay.

Another action I take in between writing is jotting down thoughts that come to my head for the book on Notes on my phone so I have them … because they can come at the most inopportune times.

Easily. I don’t let the book get in the way of anything important. It will take longer, but my job and my family won’t suffer (like others seem to suggest to do).

I write when I have time. I’m in no rush, and I have plenty of time at night when nobody’s committing crimes to brainstorm or write a few sentences parked in a patrol car.

There’s some months that are more demanding for me and I’m also in grad school while working full time. But I’ve tucked away an hour or so during my busy month just to write. Haven’t written much in December due to holiday rush and stuff but hoping I can get back into it while also working on my thesis in January.

I'm trying, and failing.

It’s so hard. I’ve completed book 1 in a YA fantasy series and am working on book 2, with a few short stories done in between. I work as a school psychologist so at least I have the summers, but I also have two young toddlers 😝. Take whatever you can get. Be extremely conscious about your time usage. Use your commute time if you can, that’s where I wrote a bulk of book 1. But also understand that some days you won’t be able to write anything. I think it’s doable, but it all depends on your goals as a writer, and what else your willing to give up.

Firstly, don't be too harsh on yourself for not writing because of the holiday period, demanding work, and family obligations that eat all your time. It happens, and it doesn't mean you'll fail at writing.

Secondly, having deadlines and milestones set is a good motivational tool, but don't stress about adhering to them strictly. Even large companies sometimes delay release of their products due to unforseen circumstances, or simply due to underestimating the workload and their ability to deliver on time. I'm glad to see you're saying that you are AIMING to finish by the end of 2026, not that you must do it.

Finally, the job you're describing sounds like the job I used to do for a few years that greatly contributed to me dropping pretty much all of my hobbies. Irregular schedule, long hours, and a very busy workplace really disrupted my flow, my circadian rhythm, my sanity even. At some point I changed a job, still with an irregular shift pattern, but the workload was much easier in me. In that workplace I'd sometimes have split shifts - meaning that I had 2-3 hours of an unpaid break that required me to stick around because going back home for 45min was just pointless. I'd take my books or laptop and read or write during that time in a local library or a cafe. During that time I realised how much it meant to me to have a more regular schedule and eventually I found a different job, that paid a bit less, but gave me a better quality of life that also allowed me to organise my life and time. I had to do some spending adjustments and settle with less lavish lifestyle, but I ended up being much happier and more relaxed than I was in the past. Even people around me notice how much more at ease I am, and how I even became a nicer person without all that stress lol

All the best!

I work a very senior job in healthcare (in the UK) - I manage clinical services. Practically speaking, that means I work in excess of 45 hours per week. I work on call. And, because of my role, I could be contacted at any time should services fail or should there be a major incident. I also have major commitments outside of work. I’m a photographer/videographer (doing voluntary work for NFPs) and I’m a carer to a relative who’s in hospice care, but still needs input.

I’ve finished a third novel in the last couple of months and am now querying. I’ve just finished a short story (7k words) which will be published (by a trad publisher) alongside stories from repped and award winning authors, late in 2026. So, in short, it can be done.

For me, the trick is discipline. I write 6 days a week without fail. I do so by getting up at 5AM and writing two hours before work. I tend to carry my iPad everywhere with me - which enables me to work, via Scrivener, while on the go. And my employer is pretty generous with holidays: I have an agreement with my partner that I get to use two weeks a year for writing only. Last year I went and stayed in AirBNB on the coast and was able to revise and finalise the manuscript for the book I am currently querying.

But, to answer your question, if you are able to get a job that enables you to free up more time to write - whilst still paying the bills, that would be the dream.

I work full time and have a partner and a cat and four kids. I write in the evening, about 10pm to 2am. I'm lucky that I function on around 4 or 5 hours of sleep and I'm a night person rather than a morning person.

I have had to adjust my ambitions though, as I find a full in depth thematic novel just consumes me and my every waking hour, so I'm switching to more low key 'popcorn' thrillers which are more fun to write and less involved.

Nights and weekends.

Writing about 6-8 hours over the weekends (while not procrastinating) and a few hours of revision and polishing after work.

It's not hard. You just need to commit to your new reality. Life does have a tendency to get in the way. But hey ho, better than regretting not doing it.

You can write a book in 20 minute increments. I know a NYT bestselling author who wrote the first draft of one of her books in single 20-minute daily increments. She had a demanding job at a non-profit at the time and a very young son. She had a guaranteed 20 minute block of time from when she dropped off her son at daycare and started her day job - that was literally all the free time she had in her day, but she needed to get her next book written.

She forced herself into the mindset that this is all the time she had, so she had to make it count. Kind of like a daily writing sprint. She created a music playlist that she'd listen to prior to starting each daily writing session so that it put her into the 'mindset' of the story. Became kind of a Pavlov's Dog thing - she'd hear the music and her mind began 'tuning in' to the story.

It's similar to the Pomodoro Technique, you commit to that block of time (Pomodoro specifies 25 minute increments) - you can keep going if you're able, but you have to commit to at least that one increment. She wrote the first draft of that whole book that way. She's spoken about this publicly in interviews before so it doesn't hurt to name her - Emily Colin.

If you really want to write, you can find a way, you just might have to get creative in your approach.

doing this and a full time student !

I’m am! High level software engineer about to launch my startup! Annnd writing the first novel of a trilogy.

I was able to write a screenplay I’m very proud of and its sequel. Basically all I do for fun is “not work” and write.

Otherwise I’m coding or handling startup business which will hopefully take over my day job.

DM if you have questions or want positive reinforcement.

So this year, 2025, I finally put pen to paper and wrote my first novel, the first in a planned series, while working my full time job which has several after hours commitments every week. Writing is the best part of my day. There were lots of late nights and finding creative ways to sneak in more writing time, but I finished in about 5 months (81k words) and then did two rounds of full manuscript edits over another 2 months before beginning to query agents. Querying can be exhausting, I’ve discovered, but I’ve found that I really love the whole process. I’ve started book two while submitting book 1 and eventually I’d like to do this full time. Until then, the day job is the stepping stone getting me to that point - and as underwhelming as it is some days, there’s still some appreciation tucked in there because it’s enabling me to pursue that creative passion. Best of luck!

Fill your shoes while retired with time on my hands. Have two years effort and 186k word modern romance written and revised. Have periods where I sinply cannot weite.

I am in a full time profesional (and very demanding) job, mother of 2yo twins, wife, and so on. Normally I try to write at least 800 words per day. Every day. How do I do it? Haha I don't know Seriously, I'm very serious with the time I dedicate on this. Even if I can't reach my minimum, I try to write something. Sorry if I'm misspelling something. English is not my first language.

I work 7-days-a-week, 8-hours-a-day, and I’m writing my fifth novel.

tl;dr: Yes.