'How do I find the time to do it?!?'

This has become a common question whenever I show someone a finished artwork or a draft of a novel I’ve managed to complete. And yes, in a household with 2 pets and 2 kids finding time has become priority.

And sure, I can say lazy things like, ‘I MAKE TIME’, or ‘I TURN THE TV OFF’ or ‘I set an egg timer and JUST WRITE FOR THREE MINUTES’.

But this isn’t really the truth, because I do not own a time travelling DeLorean nor do I turn off the TV nor do I set an egg timer much less HAVE an egg timer.

Sorry kids, but I must shatter some dreams for you here and now. Life as an artist isn’t about waffling around a studio drawing only when the muse strikes you in a fervent passion. It’s about goal setting, personal deadlines, and work.

What I DO do (if that is even proper English) is REMAIN AWARE OF THE TIME I CAN USE IN A GIVEN DAY, WATCH SHOWS ON TV THAT I ONLY REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LIKE  and WRITE WHAT I CAN WHEN I CAN.

I will now share with you a real world break down of the first rule I have, and that is, ‘being aware of the time I can use in a given day.’

The mornings in my household are pretty hectic so I write them off.

On average I come home from work at 5:30PM. I turn the PC on and let it warm up.

I help my kids with their homework and chat to them for a bit, then I’ll transfer some files from an SD card to my external drive. Knowing this will take 15 minutes, I run the bath.

I’ll check the files and alter them in Photoshop or Illustrator and get the kids into the bath. I’ll render and save the files - knowing this will take about 25 minutes I get the kids out and we’ll have dinner.

After dinner, I’ll check some more files, do a little artwork, then make dessert for the kids. We put them to bed at 8PM then I’ll do some more art, working until about 10PM.

If I’ve got a deadline, sometimes I’ll work 9PM to 2AM to get it done.

And VIOLA! I have created some new art and juggled kids in the process. It can be done.

Note that I said the naughty four letter word – ‘WORK’.

Because ladies and gents, boys and girls, sometimes that is what it is.

If a client is waiting for artwork or a story from you, it is WORK.

The other rules are self explanatory – there are a few shows that I am really into at the moment so on Friday nights I’ll sit down and watch a few episodes in a row – this is my REWARD, my SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

In between art jobs I’ll write what I can, when I can. As long as I’m writing, I’m doing something.

Good luck!