One of the biggest problems I'm having (besides being somewhat addicted to Facebook games) is that life seems to take me away from my writing quite frequently. I can't tell you how many other writers I know who have the same problem, but today got me thinking about that.
First of all, writers are told to draw from their experiences, the proverbial "Write what you know" being tossed out with sickening frequency. But if life didn't happen around us and to us and with us, what would we have to write about? Yes, I as a writer also need to find the time to sit down and write that next chapter (yes, which is lagging at the moment as I puzzle over how to start it, I think I have an idea though), or edit that passage that's been bothering me or whatever. If I don't find the time to sit down and DO the writing nothing is ever going to happen, but if I don't find time to live life as well? At that point I die as a writer. My world comes from my head yes, Reinora is largely conceived there, but if I did not interact with people where would I get the ability to interact on paper? Characters are in their simplest forms people interacting! So don't get too discouraged when you hit a really busy patch in your life that pulls you away from your writing. Take notes about interesting conversations you had (actually, the mundane ones too to make things more realistic if neccessary). Take notice of the people you interact with, or that are interacting around you. I think that's the very reason that some writers love writing in public places where they can be solitary but still around people should they need inspiration.
Second, there's some real purpose to letting your brain take a break from your writing. It probably wouldn't work for everyone, but I know if I'm having a lot of trouble starting the next chapter (in this case it's a good thing as I have too many options to start from) sometimes I need to let my brain stew with my ideas before I come up with the right place to start or the right character to start with. I know I for one need as much dreaming and imagining time as I do writing time some days and life can provide you with the inspiration you need to get that lightening idea.
Just be warned. Sometimes life really can get the better of you, use it, take notes from it, expand your experiences, but don't forget that your writing is where you come back to. That's what I've got to remind myself daily. So! Tomorrow I will be writing chapter 2, feel free to harass me with comments in the meantime if I don't get it done. A kick in the pants when people are watching does tend to make you want to work and not get it done again. (Kind of like why I finished NaNoWriMo a couple years ago... they're right, tell a lot of people and you tend to want to get it done just so they can't tease you.)
