If you want to build a successful book business you need to know how to increase productivity. It all begins with mastering one critical resource—your time because time fuels writing.

Let’s be honest. Most people describe themselves as “busy.” Busy with work, family, emails, and endless daily tasks. But there’s often a significant gap between what we think we’re doing with our time and what we’re actually doing. This is where a time audit becomes a powerful tool.

Time Audit

A time audit is simple, yet incredibly revealing.

Over a 24-hour period—or ideally an entire week—track your day in 30-minute blocks. Write down everything you do. And that means everything. Record how long your meals take, how much time passes before you actually start working, your coffee breaks, phone calls, and social media scrolling. Even those “quick” distractions that quietly turn into 20 minutes should be included.

The key is honesty. Be thorough. Be brutally honest with yourself.

What you’ll discover is eye-opening. Patterns will emerge, and you’ll begin to see exactly where your time is going. You may uncover “time leaks” such as excessive email checking, unnecessary meetings, perfectionism, or constant interruptions. Social media alone can quietly consume hours without you realising it.

Learning To Say “No”

One of the most important skills you can develop is learning to say no. Not every request deserves an automatic yes. A simple response like, “Let me check my schedule and get back to you,” creates space for you to make intentional decisions about your time.

Your time is your most valuable asset—it’s the one resource you can never replace.

Take Control

Once you identify what’s draining your time, you can take control. Set clear boundaries, reduce distractions, and eliminate tasks that don’t align with your goals. Most importantly, create dedicated space for your writing.

When you master your time, you move from hoping to write a book… to actually finishing one. And that’s how books get written—and how publishing empires are built.

Learn more in my book on time management. This is an author’s guide on how to become more productive.

Marji Hill

Author and Coach