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51.  Room to Write. Make a list of the rooms in your house where you spend the most time. Now set up writing spaces in these rooms. This can be as simple as having a kitchen drawer dedicated to providing space for your laptop, notebook, and pens. While you're waiting for something to boil on the stove, open the drawer, sit at the kitchen table, and give yourself five to ten minutes of writing time.

52.  Relieving the Telephone Blahs. Ever get into a long-winded conversation when someone is blah-blah-blah-ing? Why not have a notebook and pen by the phone and jot down phrases the person is saying or ones you are thinking? Use these to include in dialogue. You never know when someone will say exactly the right thing for your next story or article.

53.  Reality about TV Watching. Do a log of your TV viewing. If you watch TV for one hour each day, cut it down to 30 minutes or to every other day. Use the time you're saving by not watching TV to devote to your writing.

54.  Who Cut Holes in My Newspaper? Never just read a newspaper or magazine. Think of your writing projects or ideas. Cut out articles, research notes, and phrases that pertain to your projects. Put them into files for future reference.

55.  TV Writing Matches. When you watch TV, are you picking up any tips for your writing project? Quantum physics tells us that all life is interconnected. If you've felt the nudge or have an affinity for a certain television program, write about what you're learning from its characters or structure.

56.  School Spaces. At college or school, find quiet places where you can spend half an hour or more writing. This can be the library (if it's not too distracting), a bench in the hallway or outdoors, student union during off times, or in an empty classroom.

57.  Rent a Laptop. If you are a college student and don't have a laptop computer, check with student services to see if your college rents them on a daily or weekly basis. Many colleges are starting to do this.

58.  The Invisible Writer. Quiet doesn't have to mean no people or noise. Quiet comes in places where you can go invisible. Write in coffee shops, fast food restaurants, a bench at the shopping mall. Listen for dialogue. Look for characters. Observe life around you for topics and issues.

59.  Tina Turner or Mozart. Match the music on your radio or IPOD to the mood, tone, or theme of the piece you are writing. Some writing projects require classical music with Mozart to stimulate your brain; others require Tina Turner.

60.  Deliver a Writing Message. When you're away from home, send yourself a voicemail, e-mail, or text message with your hot writing ideas.

61.  Character Kids. Kids really do say the "darndest" things. Jot down those gems right away. You think you'll remember them but they're easy to forget.

62.  Get with It, Ma and Pa. No matter how old you are, get savvy about computers and the Internet. Everything in publishing these days is done through e-mail and the Internet. You don't even see a paper copy of your manuscript. Files are edited, sent, and returned electronically to and from publishers. These are all timesaving devices that don't require waiting for paper to be pushed around.

63.  The Right Equipment Makes Writing on the Run Easier. Try the AlphaSmart 3000 word processor from which you can transfer files to your PC or Mac. It was recommended in the July 2003 issue of Writer's Digest. Holly Niner writes, "I was unpublished and computer-bound. Now I can create while sitting in the school parking lot, on the floor at piano lessons, and in the dentist's waiting room. Now I write, touched by the breeze of a spring day. And I have a book contract."

64.  Breaking the E-Mail Addiction. Set up an AlphaSmart or laptop somewhere that you won't have access to the Internet. This gives you concentrated writing time without the distractions of researching and falling into an Internet puddle.

65.  Hotel Lobby, Luvvy. Whether you're traveling or not, go to a hotel lobby to write. Often there are lovely fountains and ambience. Definitely, there are characters.

66.  Lock Yourself in a Hotel Room. When you need a longer block of writing time, create your own writer's retreat. Go away to a hotel or motel just to focus on your writing project for a weekend or a few days. Maid service was made for writer's heaven.

67.  Maintain Your Privacy. Above your computer or on index cards in your writing spaces, write the words: "For my eyes only." This will cue your subconscious not to be fearful about your first-draft writing but to let it rip!

68.  The Early Writer Gets the Prize. Arrive 15 minutes early for your appointments so you can write prior to the meetings.

69.  Wow 'Em with Your Wisdom. Find a place where you can read your poems as performance art, such as an open mic night at the local coffee shop or bar.

70.  A Chef's Night of Writing. Create dinners based on a novel or theme of the novel with everyone playing a part.

71.  Let's Make a Deal. Ask for support from your family and friends. Tell them what times of the day or week you want to reserve for writing. Negotiate. Promise goodies and attention in return for being left alone during your writing times.

72.  Give Kids a Chance to Support Your Writing. If you think this is appropriate for your situation and you chauffeur your children to games and lessons, tell them that you'll be there to watch for a certain amount of time and the rest of the time you will be writing in your car or at a nearby fast food restaurant. Explain that seeing them play or perform is important to you and so is having time to write. Share some of your writing with your children.

73.  Writing as Service to Life. Each morning, ask, "How I can give service to life with my writing?" Jot down the first line that comes to mind.

74.  Make a Commitment to Writing As Service. Write the following affirmation fifteen times in your journal: "I am giving service to life through my writing.

75.  Ask Help from a Higher Power. Do a meditation or prayer each morning after reading an inspirational writing or spiritual quote. Contemplate on when and how you could make time and space for writing.

Part 4

Copyright © - Allen and Linda Anderson. - Reprinted with permission. Allen and Linda Anderson are authors and inspirational speakers who have been married since 1983. For a free subscription to "Writing on the Run" eZINE offering one quick, practical, inspiring, and creative idea each week to help professional and aspiring writers make time and space for writing, send an e-mail to writingontherun-on@mail-list.com or visit their Website: www.WritingOnTheRun.com.