Do Your Art on the Go: Writing and Creating in Small Gaps in Your Day

When I finally got around to working on a novel, I had no idea how to create a safe space in my home to write. With a spouse, two kids, and multiple animals, the house was chaotic. I could only write if I got up at an ungodly early hour, or waited until late at night, to find a bit of quiet while everyone else slept. It didn’t go well.

We kept both kids busy with sports clubs, dance, and whatnot, so evenings were spent bouncing around town. I saw an ad for an IBM z50, one of the first sub-notebook laptops. The goofy thing ran Windows CE (late 90s) and had no wireless connectivity. But it had a word processor built in so I took a chance.

Over the next several months, I wrote that novel at soccer parks, dance studios, and basketball courts.

I learned how to write on the go before I ever figured out the power of a dedicated studio space.

Life is stupid chaotic for most of us, even if we live in the suburbs. It’s not just that we have to do all the dumb stuff that keeps us from our art, but that our whole world conspires to distract us, tricking us into being consumers, rather than creators.

If you are lucky enough to make a comfortable living, there are movies, restaurants, and live music nearby, calling to you to sit quietly, watch, and listen to whatever is going on. The marketing machine of corporate America is designed to distract the middle class.

If you struggle with your day-to-day, you might be working two jobs, waiting on public transportation, and figuring meals at home. You have challenges facing you constantly, along with the marketing machine of corporate America calling you for your hard-earned money.

Either way, it’s real easy to forget about doing your art, whether it’s writing or drawing or making music. The hours slip away and all-too-soon you just want to collapse on the bed.

But if you had with you a couple of tools for writing, or a sketch pad for drawing, you could take advantage of small gaps in your day. Or you could hide in a library for an hour and do your art there.

It may sound like a hassle what with all the stuff you have going on, but if you’re compelled to create, it might brighten your day enough that you don’t just collapse each night exhausted by your day.

I know of several artists who carry a tiny watercolor kit with them, or sketchpads, or use the Paper app on their iPhone to draw when the opportunity arises. They see something amazing, take ten minutes to capture it with their creativity, and go on with their day.

I no longer have that IBM z50, but I have an iPad with the two apps (Obsidian and Scrivener) I need to work on any of my writing projects. When I have a chance, I read, write, or consider the design of a story.

I’m an empty-nester now with a dedicated writing studio in my home for my 5-9, but I don’t leave home without a notebook and the iPad at the ready. When I see something interesting that I might include in a story, I capture it with a note or write it up in one of the iPad tools.

If you’re skeptical, just know that in as little as ten minutes I write enough to feel like it was a productivity boost to my day. It gives me hope and satisfaction. Chipping away at a large project may seem like a long row to hoe, but it’s progress. To mix metaphors, a journey is completed one step at a time, so take that step whenever you can.

The first step in using the small, random gaps in your day for writing or drawing is to develop the habit of carrying your minimally viable tools with you: notebooks, pens, iPad or laptop, lap desk, and a favorite keyboard.

Next, work on developing an ability to block out noises wherever you are. It’s easier than you might think: begin by reminding yourself that no one knows who you are and what you’re doing; before nightfall, they’ll forget you exist. So feel free to do your art.

Use headphones to reduce noise. It's not perfect, but it uses the time available.

To get better at this, consider practicing meditation to help improve your conscious focus.

Over time, you'll get the hang of it, and you'll be able to take advantage of pop-up gaps in your schedule.