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So, I've been working on a novel since I was in high school. It's taken many forms, and it's at the point where it's being truly developed into a novel now. I'm about 75,000 words deep, but I still have a long way to go. I can probably make a good amount of progress on it before I start school in the fall, but after that, is there any way I'll have time to write? If I'm committed to seeing this thing finished and published, would it be in my best interest to defer a year and spend a year working and writing my book?

Tempo wrote: is there any way I'll have time to write?

Yes. The question would be more about motivation than time.

If I'm committed to seeing this thing finished and published, would it be in my best interest to defer a year and spend a year working and writing my book?

Eh, I don't think it's particularly necessary to defer. Are you planning on publishing it prior to graduating? Some of the work that goes into getting it published may be a bit much during law school.

Tempo wrote:So, I've been working on a novel since I was in high school. It's taken many forms, and it's at the point where it's being truly developed into a novel now. I'm about 75,000 words deep, but I still have a long way to go. I can probably make a good amount of progress on it before I start school in the fall, but after that, is there any way I'll have time to write? If I'm committed to seeing this thing finished and published, would it be in my best interest to defer a year and spend a year working and writing my book?

Like the previous poster mentioned, it will depend on your motivation and how much you're enjoying writing the novel.

Law school is not a time crunch right from the beginning, so it would be fairly easy to set aside 1-2 hours per week night and spend the weekends writing if you really wanted to. I don't think you would accomplish much writing during the month/month and a half before finals, though. You could get a lot done over Christmas break.

From a personal perspective, I would have difficulty doing this because after long days of class, studying, and preparing reading assignments and notes for the next day, the last thing I would want to do is expend more mental energy by sitting down at a computer and writing. But you're clearly invested in something and seem to enjoy it so it's probably different for you.

..

I had a novel going when I started law school. I had plenty of time to work on it 1L. What kept me back was finding the motivation, like others have pointed out. After reading all your shit for the week, doing your LRW assignments, etc. you probably won't be too jazzed up for more writing. 2L, I have both more time and motivation--but I've kind of given up on it at this point. I figure the world doesn't need my mediocre novel. You can probably do it if you're more dedicated than I am.

totesTheGoat wrote:

Tempo wrote: is there any way I'll have time to write?

Yes. The question would be more about motivation than time.

If I'm committed to seeing this thing finished and published, would it be in my best interest to defer a year and spend a year working and writing my book?

Eh, I don't think it's particularly necessary to defer. Are you planning on publishing it prior to graduating? Some of the work that goes into getting it published may be a bit much during law school.

I don't necessarily care about having it published by then, but having it fully written and edited would be nice. As far as what you and the others have said, I guess motivation is definitely what I'm most worried about. I guess I'll have to really commit myself to working on it during the week. I had a hard enough time forcing that in undergrad.

sublime wrote:I've had more free time in Law School than at any other point in my life.

+1

It's never a bad idea to take a gap year, if you haven't already. If writing is something you want to do you may as well get a shot, but also definitely get a jerb. Just be aware that law school is pretty path dependent