Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

Bonus: Making Time To Write: How 3 Busy Writers Finished Their First Drafts

Jul 10, 2025

Explore how three busy writers overcame the common excuse of not having enough time. A mom juggles four kids while writing a romance novel, proving that effective planning beats extra hours. A former triathlete dives into historical fiction, battling self-doubt yet discovering joy in the writing journey. A late-blooming college admin learns that a structured approach can unleash creativity. Their stories inspire aspiring authors to rethink their writing ambitions and harness their limited time for success.

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ANECDOTE

Mom of Four Finishes Draft

Maddie, a mom of four, wrote her first draft in six months of actual writing time despite pregnancy and caring for young children.
Her detailed outline allowed her to pause and resume writing without losing momentum, making limited writing time very effective.

ADVICE

Use Outlines for Writing Flow

Outline key scenes and pressure test them to create a roadmap for effective writing.
This helps writers pick up seamlessly after breaks and make the most of limited writing sessions.

ANECDOTE

Late Bloomer Completes Novel

Mark, a former college administrator, finished his first novel after fearing it was too late.
The Notes to Novel course proved flexible and creative, giving him confidence to keep writing beyond his debut.

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What if the reason you haven't written your novel has nothing to do with how many hours are in your day?

"I don't have time to write" might be the most common excuse that stops aspiring authors before they even start. But here’s what I’ve learned after working with hundreds of writers… It’s not about how much time you have that matters. It’s about what you do with your limited time that counts.

In this episode, you'll hear from three busy writers who had every legitimate reason to put their writing dreams on hold—yet didn't. Meet Maddie, a mom of four kids aged one to six who wrote her first draft while juggling pregnancy, a newborn, and a copywriting career. Rhonda, a clinical pharmacist who transitioned from competing in 14-hour triathlons to writing an 80,000-word manuscript. And Mark, a former college administrator, worried it was too late in life to learn how to write a novel.

None of them found magical extra hours in their day. Instead, they discovered something far more powerful: how to make their limited writing time more effective.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[03:00] How a mom of four young children completed her first draft in just six months of actual writing time, including taking a year-long break for pregnancy and a newborn, without losing momentum
[06:25] Why one debut author discovered that following a proven framework didn't create a cookie-cutter novel—it actually freed him to be more creative and original
[09:35] The mindset shift that helped a 45-year-old clinical pharmacist transition from grueling 14-hour triathlons to completing her first 80,000-word novel
[13:20] Why having limited writing time can actually make you a more effective writer, when you know exactly what to write in each session

Ready to stop using "no time" as your excuse? Join Maddie, Rhonda, Mark, and hundreds of other busy writers who've discovered that you don't need more hours—you need a better plan. Get on the waitlist for the next open enrollment of my Notes to Novel course and get my complete, step-by-step framework for writing a story that works. Don’t miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished draft you’re proud of!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

Grab this free guide to discover how busy writers (with kids, jobs, and real lives!) find time to write consistently and finish their novels: 5 Time Management Strategies to Help You Write Your Novel
Madi Unruh Instagram
Mark Mrozinski Instagram

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