After receiving a book contract from HarperCollins UK, the excitement of turning a childhood aspiration into reality quickly gave way to the daunting challenge ahead. The commitment involved researching and authoring an 80,000-word book within an under-one-year timeframe, all while maintaining a full-time job as a journalist—a balancing act that initially seemed overwhelming.
The author, unaccustomed to managing a project of this scope alongside full-time employment, explored strategies for handling such a demanding timetable. Insights from author acquaintances revealed patterns of sacrificing sleep by writing either late at night or early mornings. For example, one friend admitted to working in the twilight hours, and another preferred early morning writing sessions. Additionally, a young entrepreneur interviewed during work mentioned enduring 18-hour days to manage a startup and academic commitments simultaneously.
Despite these accounts, the author deemed sleep essential to productivity and personal well-being. Sleep deprivation, she noted, leads to irritability, reduced concentration, and increased susceptibility to illness. Valuing seven to nine hours of sleep as a non-negotiable foundation, she resolved to find writing time within other daily activities.
Examining available time, the author identified post-work hours and weekends as the primary windows for writing. These periods traditionally accommodated leisure activities such as watching television, reading fiction, or social dining. She calculated that reallocating approximately two hours during weekdays and eight hours on weekends toward writing would be feasible over nearly a year. While seemingly modest, these hours collectively accumulate substantially over time.
Quantified, this approach equaled over 100 hours monthly, culminating in nearly 1,000 hours during the eleven months leading to the manuscript deadline, paralleling 45 continuous days devoted solely to writing. Recognizing the uncertain total hours necessary for completion, she found this structured, incremental pacing preferable to a last-minute effort.
In practice, the author did not reach the maximum available hours due to taking breaks for rest, socializing, and vacations, yet still managed to finalize a first draft several weeks in advance. Central to this accomplishment was establishing and adhering to a systematic routine.
She employed a customized Google Sheets template to monitor daily word count progress against the total target, recalculating daily writing goals after each session. This quantitative tracking transformed the process into a motivating, game-like exercise and provided clear insight into pacing. It also allowed flexibility to accept social invitations when ahead of schedule.
While occasional deviations occurred due to unexpected work assignments, fatigue, or personal engagements, a consistent average writing rhythm provided sufficient leeway to accommodate these interruptions without jeopardizing overall progress.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining mental health and social connections, the author incorporated regular rewards into her schedule. Weekly events like family gatherings or leisurely walks with friends offered reprieves from the workload. Key milestones—such as completing one-third, one-half, and two-thirds of the manuscript—were celebrated through dinners or toasting with Prosecco. A vacation followed the manuscript submission.
These celebrations functioned as motivating checkpoints and supported emotional well-being throughout the endeavor. The author also prioritized physical health by scheduling fitness activities, notably using gym time to watch reality television for enjoyment and fitness combined.
Aiming to optimize efficiency, she adopted a "work smart, not hard" philosophy, leveraging technology for time-saving advantages. Tools such as AI-driven summarization via ChatGPT expedited the organization of research notes, and transcription software converted interviews into text, reducing administrative burden. This smart utilization of resources allowed more focus on substantive writing and research tasks.
Despite these strategies, the author acknowledged moments of overexertion driven by guilt over perceived idleness, which nearly resulted in burnout on occasions and necessitated subsequent rest periods. She conceded that better attunement to personal limits would have enhanced pacing.
Additional factors supporting success included her personal circumstances: absence of caregiving duties, a supportive spouse who shared household responsibilities, and a workplace that permitted brief unpaid leave for manuscript focus.
Overall, intentional time management proved vital in reconciling full-time work commitments with the demands of book writing, without compromising critical rest. Through disciplined scheduling, milestone recognition, and strategic use of technology, she demonstrated that substantial creative projects can be achieved sustainably.
With the manuscript completed and submitted, anticipation now turns toward the book titled "Trauma Bonds," scheduled for publication in January 2027.