One of the panels at DragonCon this year was all about social media. Most of the authors agreed that it was a “necessary evil.” What you have to remember is that the more time you spend on any social media, the less time you’re actually spending writing.

Here are some tips I’ve developed for maximizing your time on different social media sites:

• Facebook – I follow a lot of other writing pages, and every day I cycle through the list and share anything interesting. I usually post a link to this blog, and also may add a very short blurb about what’s going on with my author self. I also have a file of writing quotes that I spent a few hours making on one of those “create-a-sign” sites – I can upload one of those if there’s nothing else interesting going on. Facebook usually takes me 15-20 minutes a day.
• Twitter – I post one writing prompt every day, and I post a link to this blog. About once a week or so, I cycle through my Twitter contacts and “retweet” interesting tweets. Twitter takes me less than 5 minutes a day.
• Instagram – Again, I have a file of interesting photos that I draw from. I try to post 2-3 images a day, and I usually do that while waiting in line for my coffee. Instagram takes me less than 5 minutes a day.
• Pinterest – It took me several hours to create a good Pinterest board for Devon Day and the Sweetwater Kid, plus I also have one for general history (Back in My Time). Now, I only post to the board when I find an interesting photograph during my research – pinning a photo to your board takes less than a minute.
• LinkedIn and Google+– I’ll admit that I don’t do much at all with these sites. I have a presence, and I do link to other authors and editors, but I don’t actively post anything because I just don’t hear the “buzz” about these compared with the first four sites.

As you can see, I’ve pared my social media time down to around 30 minutes a day, which isn’t a horrible slice cut out of my writing time.

Other time-wasters I admit to:

• This blog – I try to post once a week with a “real” article, but I’ve started putting in those “short-shorts” giving my readers links to fun and interesting things I find during my research. Short-shorts take about 5 minutes a day, but the big articles can take up to 30 minutes to compose and post. I think it’s worth the effort because of the connection with the readers.
• Western Fictioneers – I have a monthly column (every second Friday), and usually spend 30-60 minutes writing the post. This is more involved than my personal blog because I have to research historical data and locate old photos to include, but I enjoy sharing my research and networking with other Western writers.
• WikiAnswers.com – I’ve been a supervisor with Answers.com for nearly 10 years, so it’s a habit I’m not willing to break myself of. I usually spend less than 15 minutes a day, however, with occasional bouts where I take an hour or so and try to answer some of the older questions that are languishing, or greeting new members.

How much time do you spend on social media? Do you think you spend too much time or not enough?

“I’d love to write, but I just can’t find the time!” How often have I heard those words — or said them myself? Writing does take time as well as effort, but with a little creativity, you can find a way to get those words down.

First, you should always have some way to write, no matter where you might be. Either carry a small notebook and pen or pencil, or use the notebook feature on your cellphone or tablet. If you’ve got it, you’re more likely to use it.

Once you have that habit well established, the rest is just a matter of using your head. You realize this, of course: it’s not as if there’s actually time missing, that you can somehow find some extra minutes to the day if you just look hard enough. No, it’s a matter of making time: you must figure out where you’re wasting time and utilize it instead.

Here are some good ideas to get you started:

• Write whenever you have to wait for anything: at the doctor’s office or pharmacy, before the meal arrives in a restaurant, in line at the coffee shop. If you’re going to be there more than a couple of minutes, put a few words onto paper.
• Write instead of channel-surfing: while the meal is cooking, while the clothes are washing and/or drying, while the kids are getting ready for bed. Instead of flipping on the TV, flip open the notebook.
• Write before you start loafing. Instead of starting your day surfing the internet, set a writing goal and meet it. Even if it’s a couple of hundred words, that’s 200 words you wouldn’t have otherwise — and often, once you get started, you’re going to want to keep going.
• Write before bed. Instead of starting a book or magazine, get some writing finished.
• Write during your lunch break. Take a couple of minutes and jot something down.
• Make time. Actually put a date down on your calendar, and then use that time as you intended.

What’s your best tip for finding the time to write?