Creating a Writing Habit.
Congratulations on embarking on a journey to become a better writer! It’s understandable that sometimes it can be hard to make writing a consistent habit, but know that it is possible if you put your mind to it. Writing is a beautifully creative outlet that allows you to express yourself and share your voice with the world. By following these simple tips, you too can develop a consistent writing habit that will bring you closer to your dreams and aspirations. Remember, writing is not a chore, it’s a joy! Keep pushing yourself and know that you have the ability to create something truly remarkable.
1. Create A Writing Habit Unique To YOUR Personality.
Believe in yourself and your writing abilities, for you are capable of creating a writing habit that is perfectly tailored to your unique personality and life situation. You do not need to conform to someone else’s methods or follow a predetermined path. Instead, blaze your own trail and embrace your individuality, for it is what sets you apart and allows you to create truly exceptional content. So go forth with confidence and determination, knowing that your writing journey is yours to create and yours to conquer.
2. Location. Location. Location.
A quiet place is one where there are no distractions, like loud music or conversations. You can also try using earbuds to listen to music if it helps block out other noise. If your home is too noisy, consider going somewhere else–a library, coffee shop or even outside may be better options than trying to concentrate in your own house when there are so many things going on around you.
If finding a quiet spot isn’t possible because of family members being home during the day (or any other reason), try setting aside some time early in the morning before everyone wakes up; this will give both the writer and family member(s) peace and quiet during what could otherwise be an active time of day for all involved!
3. Make Writing A Priority.
Writing is a habit, and so it’s important to treat it like one. If you want to make writing a priority in your life and stick with the practice for the long term, then it’s critical that you schedule time for writing on a regular basis.
You can’t expect yourself to write for hours every day if this is something that has never been part of your routine before–but if you’re determined to create this new habit and stick with it for years or decades into the future (as many writers do), then there are some ways that will help make this process easier on yourself:
Make sure there’s no other competing activity in your schedule during those times when you do write. If possible, try not even allowing any phone calls during those periods; sometimes just having someone call or text can throw off my focus enough that I lose track of what I’m doing!
4. Keep A Journal.
Keeping a journal is a great way to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. It’s also an excellent way for you to keep track of your progress so that you can look back at previous entries and see how much you’ve improved over time.
This helps with motivation because it allows you to see how far along the path of being a writer (or any other goal) that you’ve come already. You’ll feel proud when looking back at what was written in previous journals, which will motivate you further so that next time around feels even better!
5. Put It On Your Schedule.
...But Don't Stress About It.
You can’t force yourself to write, but you can put in the time and space for it. You need to set a schedule that works for your life and stick with it. If writing is important enough for you to make this commitment, then make sure that your schedule reflects that priority by putting it on your calendar as something non-negotiable–like going to the gym or having dinner with family members.
If possible, try not to worry too much about how much time or how many words per day are “enough.” Just write whatever comes into mind at any given moment throughout the day (or night), even if it’s just making lists of things around the house that need doing later so they don’t get forgotten about when they should be done by someone else who isn’t thinking about them right now anyway!
6. Write When You FEEL INSPIRED, Too.
Writing is a creative process, so you should write when you are inspired to do so. If you’re not in the mood to write, don’t force yourself to do it. Instead, try to find other ways of getting your creative juices flowing (such as taking a walk or listening to music).
It’s also important that your writing sessions be flexible and manageable for you. If an hour session feels too long or short for your needs at any given time, adjust accordingly–but make sure that each session lasts long enough that it gives some momentum toward finishing whatever piece of writing you begin during it!
7. Seize the Moment.
Seize the moment to write and practice your writing skills. Seize the moment to write something you want to write that interests you. Seize the moment when you’re passionate about what you’re writing, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose–the point is that if it excites and stimulates your mind then go for it!
8. Write Every Day.
...Even when you're not feeling inspired or motivated.
Consistency is key. If you want to be a writer, then writing–even when you don’t feel inspired or motivated–is something that must be done every day.
Don’t worry about quality; just get words down on the page in whatever way works best for you. Write in longhand or type on your laptop; use pen and paper or dictate into an app like Dragon Dictation on your phone or tablet; go old-fashioned with a typewriter if that’s what makes it easy for you! The point isn’t how well-crafted your sentences are but simply getting them down so they can be edited later (and hopefully improved).
In fact, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my experience with meditation practice over the past decade-plus: It doesn’t matter what kind of meditation practice works best for me–it only matters that I stick with it consistently enough so that eventually I notice benefits from my efforts (elevated mood levels being chief among them).
9. Take Breaks When You Need Them.
...But don't let them get in the way of your writing habit.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finishing a big project or starting something new and then forget about everything else. But if you’re trying to make time for your writing habit, taking breaks can become an issue if they start interfering with that schedule. It’s important to remember that sometimes we need a break from our work–but if we’re trying to build up a routine where every day has some amount of writing time built into it (even if it’s just 10 minutes), then taking too many days off at once can be detrimental when building up momentum again later on down the line!
10. Writing Takes Practice AND Patience.
You may have heard that writing is a skill, and that it takes practice to improve. Writing is an art, and like any other art form, there are no shortcuts to learning it. You can’t just read about painting or playing piano–you have to put in the time with your brush or keyboard.
Writing is no different: if you want to get better at crafting stories (or even just sentences), then you need to do the work of putting pen on paper (or fingers on keyboard). It’s okay if your first attempt isn’t perfect; everyone has their own process when learning something new! Just keep going until something clicks for you as a writer–and remember that rewriting old pieces will help build up your skills even more than starting from scratch every time you sit down with words in mind.
In conclusion, being a writer requires dedication, discipline, and most importantly, writing. Remember that every great writer has had to start somewhere, so don’t get discouraged if you find it difficult to establish a writing routine. The key is to keep pushing yourself and committing to your passion. Take the necessary steps to develop a writing habit, even if it takes time. Every word you put down on paper brings you closer to achieving your goals. Believe in yourself, and trust in the unique voice you have to offer. With time, effort, and a little bit of motivation, you can become the writer you were meant to be.
Written by Jessica Cassick, M.S., PhD(c)
Jessica Cassick is the CEO of ImagineWe Publishers (Est. 2016), a single mother, a writer, a scholar, and a published author of most of the original children’s Mission Books published in 2018. She uses her writing talent to explore and research a plethora of topics across the publishing world as well as on sense-of-self building, post-traumatic growth, and success. She is a passionate entrepreneur who previously lived life in fast-forward; achieving as many goals as possible with a future-focused mindset. She is now learning to slow down and find balance and peace in the present.
