Writing a Novel When You’re Too Busy to Write a Novel (Video)

By Yuvi Zalkow  |  February 3, 2020  | 

Feeling fine drawingAhoy hoy! It’s great to be back at Writer Unboxed! I admit I’ve disappeared a bit from social media and from some literary scenes (and from some non-literary scenes). There are a few concrete excuses for my disappearance (like chronic migraines, family responsibilities, day job), and a few blurrier excuses (grumpy, don’t wanna, really don’t wanna). But through the ups and downs, I’ve continued to write, and my agent just found a publisher for my second novel (with the fabulous Red Hen Press). Excuses memoir drawingYou know, I have a fascination for what keeps us crazy writers writing, so today I thought I’d dig into how I keep at a big creative project (like, say, a novel), when busy with health issues, family issues, the day job, activism, Activision, constipation, and whatever other activities make writing a book seem impossible. I definitely don’t want to pretend to be an expert at this — every week feels like there’s a new complication — but I also want to talk about what has (mostly) allowed me to keep at it. I originally didn’t want this video to have concrete tips, but the video project steered out of my control and right into hot tip territory. I hope you’ll forgive me. (And please forgive the obligatory Yuvi-on-the-toilet moment as well.)

Hide under desk drawingIf you want a few more details about writing this book, I wrote a blog post on my website with too much information: a story about mistakenly writing (and publishing) a novel as a way to take a break from writing another novel.

So what do y’all think? I’m not saying my tactics are brilliant or foolproof. They definitely fall apart occasionally, but this list still encompasses my favorite tricks to keep at it. I’m sure y’all have your own set of tactics to keep at it. I’d love to hear what has (or hasn’t) worked for you.

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17 Comments

  1. Vijaya on February 3, 2020 at 11:56 am

    Congratulations Yuvi!!! Great tips and brilliant delivery–you should write a book! Haha, you did!!! Congratulations!!! This post made me very happy. I also have shiny-object-syndrome (what you call flings) and sometimes they turn into books. And it makes me happy that you also have that difficult-to-write-novel that won’t go away. Let’s keep at it. Congratulations!!!



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, Vijaya! I like that you called it shiny-object-syndrome… Yeah, sometimes those shiny objects aren’t just distractions — they can turn into actual, cool projects!… Take care. Wish you the best in your writing! Sorry for all the exclamation marks!



  2. Thomas Womack on February 3, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Thanks, Yuvi, for creatively relating in a truly helpful way this particular writing journey. Lots to relate to here!



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      Thanks for the feedback, Thomas. Glad you could relate. I wasn’t sure how much of this info would work for others… 😜



  3. Vaughn Roycroft on February 3, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Hey Yuvi – Well, now I know that when I’m looking for my getaway hotel to finish my novel, I should be looking for a coffee shop next door.

    This really cracked me up. Thanks, you made my day. Congratulations! (I know your pub date is a little way off, but I’ll just keep saying it along the way.)



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Thanks so much, Vaughn. And thanks for the support as I reconnect with the fabulous folks at WU!



  4. Leanne Dyck on February 3, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    Creative, fun and insightful. And much of the list works for me as well. So… Thank you.



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      Glad that some of it worked for you, Leanne. It’s definitely fun to stumble around at making a video on these kinds of subjects (especially with my limited stick figure drawing skills!)…



  5. Rose Gonzales on February 3, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    Congratulations, Yuvi. Great video.



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks, Rose!



  6. Therese Walsh on February 3, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Yuvi! Thanks for tackling how we can do that thing we think we cannot do. I’m thrilled to see you and your videos back on WU, and to hear that we have a new Yuvi Zalkow novel to look forward to in the near(ish) future!



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      Thanks, Therese! Glad to be back!… Always nice to hear from you.



  7. Kora Sadler on February 3, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    Very creative video. It was still informative and to the point, it was even entertaining.



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 3, 2020 at 11:28 pm

      Thanks, Kora! I always hope for a blend of informative and entertaining… though I don’t always find the right balance 😜



  8. Autumn M. Shah on February 6, 2020 at 9:06 am

    That was awesome! And strangely inspiring…



  9. Natalie A Hart on February 10, 2020 at 1:13 am

    I am so happy that Yuvi is back! I’d missed your videos. Thank you :-)



    • Yuvi Zalkow on February 10, 2020 at 11:58 pm

      Thanks so much, Natalie. Hope you’re doing well!



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