Writers are creative by nature, and we like our independence. One of the reasons we do this in the first place is to have control over our creative work. We want to express ourselves, to make a difference in the world, or maybe even make a living with our writing.

In short, we value autonomy and independence.

Why, then, do we give up so easily when it comes to making time to write? If we say writing is important, then why do we let everyone else’s needs and priorities crowd out our writing time?

If you want control and independence, you have to fight for it. It must be defended. The author of the wildly successful book Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon, said, “We have so little control over our lives. The only thing we can really control is what we spend our days on. What we work on and how hard we work on it.”

Your writing time is like a medieval castle that is constantly under siege from the enemy. Sometimes those “enemies,” as it were, are friends and family who want our time. But we must be decisive, maybe even at times a bit ruthless, about making and guarding that writing time.

If you don’t, you’ll never reach your writing goals. The dreams out there in the distance start with the writing minutes right in front of you today.

Daily Question: Are you willing to fight for control over your writing time?