Last week doesn’t count.

That’s what I keep telling myself this week as my work is compounding because last week did not go according to plan. It was one of those scenarios where everything decided to happen at once. I woke up on Monday to find that a hurricane was approaching. And so ensued hurried preparations: sandbags, food, water, moving patio furniture, etc.

But on top of that, I had a non-work-related to-do list a mile long that had to be completed before Wednesday. My car needed a few different types of maintenance, my husband and I had to work out insurance due to his new job, and we were switching to a new phone carrier. Not to mention we’d had a busy weekend so there were plenty of chores to be done around the house.

Well, I survived. . . only to jump into another uncertain week as my sister-in-law is in early labour and my husband and I are on standby to watch her house and dog when she goes to the hospital.

Have you ever had weeks like this? I’m not the only one, right? I’ll admit, I didn’t handle it the best at first. Flexibility—at least when it comes to my schedule—is not my strong suit. I like to know exactly what I’m doing and when I’m doing it. Changes are difficult for me to accept, especially when they’re last minute. So, as you can imagine, last week was a nightmare. There was so much to do that there were days I couldn’t get any work done. Regardless, I was going, going, going from sun up to sun down, and every day I plopped into bed exhausted. Even worse, I felt like a failure. I hadn’t even managed to complete the work on my book that I’d planned.

Towards the end of the week, though, I realised that things just weren’t going to happen the way I planned, and I rolled with it. Friday morning I woke up extra tired, so I took a nap after my daily Bible study time. I woke up at 10:00, made breakfast, fixed some coffee for my husband (I make a mean pumpkin spice latte), hung out with him, and then started work. Late. Did my workout. Late. Ate lunch. Late. . .

But was it really late at all, or is “late” just a way to punish myself for not being in peak condition every moment of every day?

Schedules are wonderful things. As writers, if we simply say we’ll write “whenever” or “when I feel like it,” we’ll never get around to writing. Books will never get done. Leaving things up to chance means you’re probably not really committed; instead, we need to make our writing time a priority by scheduling it in our calendars.

But what happens when things don’t go to plan? When life feels so out of control that you’re barely hanging on? This is when a rigid schedule can become harmful. This is where you need flexibility.

At this point, many people will ask: “Why? All it takes is determination to stick to your schedule even when things are crazy!” Simply put: that doesn’t work for everyone. Some may be able to accomplish this without a sweat, but for others, the schedule becomes a burden when they really need time to prioritise their mental health. I can’t tell you which type of person you are, but you probably already know. I’m definitely in the second category; I know from experience that forcing myself to stay on top of things when I’m physically, emotionally, and mentally drained only leads to things getting worse. Though it sounds counterproductive, I’ve found that sometimes the best way to keep moving forward is to take a step back.

Changing your schedule is not the end of the world. Taking a break doesn’t mean things won’t get done.

It’s the same when it comes to any writing project. Creating a book is not easy, and there are times that it will run you ragged. But it’s important to learn the difference between working hard and getting mentally exhausted like I was last week. Sometimes, it’s just due to life, while other times, you might be working too hard on your book.

Whatever the case may be, you can’t just keep doing things the same way. When your beautifully crafted schedule just won’t work one week (because it will happen), you need a way to adjust instead of giving up or working yourself into the ground. That’s why it’s important to build flexibility into your schedule from the start, and here’s how:

How to Create a Flexible Writing Schedule

• Plan for longer than you think you need: Estimate you need three months to finish your book? Plan for three and a half or four. That way, you have some buffer space but not too much.
• Don’t write every single day: Plan a day (or two, depending on your schedule) during the week when you won’t write. You can use this time to relax, or if you’re really in the mood to write, you can get ahead or do some catching up.
• Take care of yourself first: There’s no way around the fact that writing a book is a difficult undertaking, but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice yourself for it. You’re more creative when you’re happy, well-rested, and well-fed, anyway. Don’t give up your well-being for the sake of your book.
• Don’t be afraid to change your schedule: If you find yourself consistently missing a certain day in your schedule, then it might be time to change things up—and that’s okay! The only way you’ll know if something works is if you try it. And if it doesn’t work, you tweak it.

As I experienced the hard way last week, life happens. We are human beings before we’re writers, and that’s something to be proud—not ashamed—of. So take care of yourself as you write. Don’t let a few off days ruin it for you. Build flexibility into your schedule and you’ll get back on track in no time.

I’m curious to hear what you do when you have an off week or month as you’re in the middle of a writing project! What does your flexible schedule look like? Let me know in the comments!

And if you still find you’re struggling with your book writing schedule, contact me for a free book coaching consultation! I can help you write your book from start to finish.

Happy writing!
—E.J.

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Photo by Cris Saur on Unsplash