A daily writing habit is the secret to finishing a project for many a writer. Any writing project, be it a book, a song, or a poem, is a big undertaking that requires time and persistence. While some writers can shift in and out of a project as inspiration strikes, they leave themselves open to losing valuable time in review and letting a project sit unfinished for so long they lose interest. Writing every day, even only a little, keeps a writer moving and words appearing on the page.
But life happens. Holidays, stressful deadlines, or a family crisis throw a wrench into the carefully constructed writing habit that you’ve built. Other priorities push writing out of your mind until the worst has passed. But then you’re left trying to reestablish the writing momentum that you had. Building a writing habit in the first place is difficult, but lately, I’ve found it difficult to climb back to the level that I had been prior to a series of family troubles. Over the past year, I’ve been writing at least 1,000 words a day, sometimes on two different projects, and suddenly falling to no words for days or even a whole week had left me lost.
So I went back to the basics of where I started, rereading articles that helped me get started in the first place. But there are some things I’ve learned over the years of having a daily writing habit and rebuilding it that you may not have seen before.
Tip One: Don’t make comparisons
If you’re trying to build a daily writing habit for the first time, don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Some people will write more than you, and others will write less. Don’t allow your sense of how much you should be doing to be tied to how much others are doing. The daily writing goal that you set will be based on your time, your comfort, and your energy, not someone else’s.
If, like me, you’ve had to come back and rebuild a writing habit, don’t compare yourself to where you were. Your old daily word count can be a goal, but don’t expect yourself to get back to that immediately. Writing every day is an act of discipline and endurance. Focus on consistency first and getting the daily part back down first before worrying about reaching for a high word count.
Tip Two: Build writing time and space
My writing habit collapsed under the strain of being in a different location with other demands on my time. A crucial part of rebuilding my writing habit has been returning to a comfortable space and getting back on schedule. For me, writing first thing in the day lets me pour a surge of energy into my writing and provides the satisfaction of having gotten something done today, even if the rest of the day is a bust.
When trying to become a daily writer, determine what location works well for you. Can you work at a desk without the internet becoming too distracting? If not, consider using a program such as Cold Turkey internet blocker to turn off the internet. Remove other distractions from the space before you start writing. Consider setting an alarm for fifteen minutes and try to write that entire time, so your brain begins to associate at least a small part of your day with writing and nothing else.
Tip Three: Get support
Writing is work. While it is fulfilling to see a project come together or get your ideas on paper, it is a long process that can be very frustrating. It is human nature to avoid tasks that frustrate us in favor of tasks that are more fun. Look at joining a writing group, either a local circle or an online forum where you can talk with other writers. This will help keep writing fun and give you opportunities to engage with others who understand your frustrations and can offer feedback, support, and a bit of humor.
In the age of the internet, we are fortunate to have options through Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, NaNoWriMo, and especially Discord. Making writing part of a rewarding social experience can keep it fun and push you to keep going even during the harder times. I’ve been leaning on my own support group while working on rebuilding my habit, and such support may be exactly the key you’re looking for.
Tip Four: Jump around
If this sentence, this paragraph, or this chapter aren’t coming together and you’re struggling, then pick another point. The goal is to write, and no one said you have to write in order. Keep going and write another part of your project, so you are still making progress even if there are holes. In my own experience, I have found that writing later scenes often gives me a clue about what needs to happen at the beginning or the middle to reach that later point in the story.
Tip Five: Write notes
Take time to brainstorm and write notes for yourself. If you have a clear idea of the core of your story, even starting with a sentence, you can expand from that. The Snowflake Method is built around understanding your starting point and growing it out.
If you don’t have a clear idea, write down any dialogue, any scenes, or random thoughts that occur to you. One of them may be exactly what you need down the road or spark another idea.
When you finish a word count for the day, take an extra minute to write yourself a sentence or bullet points about what comes next. This will make the next day’s writing a little easier. You’ll be able to read your note, delete it, and hit the ground running to keep your progress going!
Tip Six: Set small goals at the start
The point of building a daily writing goal is to write. Don’t set a goal that will defeat you before you even try. Start with a word if that’s what you need to do. After all, you can always make the goal higher for the next day, but the sting of not reaching a goal may discourage you. I started with 250 words a day and then moved to 500 words a day before moving to 1,000 words a day. You can always go over, you don’t have to stop when you reach those words, but the word goal will help you keep going even when the writing gets tough.
Tip Seven: Hold yourself accountable
Building a daily habit means doing it every day. Holidays, weekends, and workdays all count. Hold yourself accountable to the idea of writing every day. For me, it being an item on a daily to-do list is enough. The endorphins I get in marking off those line items is exactly what I need. Try out some methods that work for you. Track your unbroken streaks on a calendar or download an app that holds you accountable such as StickK or Goals Wizard. Be open to experimenting until you find a system that fits your need.
Writing is tough, but so are writers. Finishing a project takes focus and persistence, but a daily writing habit can help you reach that wonderful point. Be honest with yourself through this process and keep your goal firmly in mind. Adjust and adapt as needed to make a system work for you and if you stumble, dust yourself off and rebuild that writing habit.