The biggest problem is that you don’t think you can do anything useful with 15 minutes a day. I recommend 15 minutes because it is small enough that you can definitely find that time. The 15-minute/day Writing Challenge is based on evidence that even this small amount can be effective. Resources You can write during term time. For more support for your writing practice, including a weekly Meeting With Your Writing to support you in finding one longer session a week, join the Academic Writing Studio. You can use the 15 minute challenge to connect those longer, but less frequent, writing sessions. I’ve written more about using “short snatches” and how they complement other kinds of writing time in Finding Time for your Scholarly Writing.
You are making progress but it feels really slow. But each time you come back to your writing you have to find your way back in. Maybe you write once a week, or find a day or two a few times a term. It is also useful if you are finding some time to write but not enough to build any momentum. You may be mid-career or late career and have given up trying, either relegating writing to breaks and study leaves or stopping thinking of yourself as research-active altogether. You may be early in your career and trying to figure out how to do this. If you are struggling to do any research and scholarly writing during teaching terms, this is a good place to start.
The challenge on this page is designed to help you build a habit. Thanks Kieran Fenby-Hulse January 9, 2018 But I just did 15 minutes of useful work on the article, keeping it fresh in my mind. There I was, tired and a bit cranky, thinking I couldn’t do anything useful in 15 minutes (failing to follow my advice) and all for calling it a day. The good thing about 15 mins of #AcWri in the morning is that it gives you this ‘buzz’ that keeps you motivated throughout the day. I have created this 15 minute writing challenge to help you work out how you can use short snatches of time to build a regular habit, to complement your longer sessions, to keep your regular practice going when you get really busy, and to help you work on projects you are finding difficult. The one that’s easiest to find but hardest to believe will actually be worthwhile is the “short snatch”. There are 3 kinds of writing time you can combine to create an effective practice. You need a writing practice that enables you to incorporate writing into your regular activities and adapts to changes in your other responsibilities. Writing is central to your career and to your identity.