Creating Writing Habits that Work!
People always say that you should be writing every day, but how?
Establishing a routine or habit around your writing is vital to maintaining your creativity and honing your craft. Consistency with your writing is something that will not only build your skills but will also increase your confidence in your work as well. Keep in mind that these are processes that work for other writers I know and myself. There’s never a “one-size fits all” solution to creativity or routines. Please, take away what might work for you and leave behind what you know won’t fit your lifestyle. Although, why not give any of these things a try? You might be surprised by what will work for you.
Here are some tips for developing writing habits that work:
1. Set Realistic Goals
Start by setting a writing goal that is achievable and realistic. Your goal can be centered around any metric you find personally effective—word count, pages, hours, minutes, scenes, etc.
Next, tier out your goal into 3 different categories - good, great, and amazing. Pick a simple bare minimum metric to be your “good.” An average, achievable middle ground to be your “great.” And finally, an “amazing” goal that is achievable on your most creative flow days.
For example, if using time as your metric:
GOOD - 20 minutes
GREAT - 1 hour
AMAZING - 1+ hours
You want to tier success to celebrate a win on even the toughest days. You might even want to start off with lower numbers than this. When I first started establishing a daily writing habit, my goals were 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and an hour+. This way, you’re realistic about the fact that some days you’ll be limited in time, mood, or energy to write, and on other days you might be on a tear where the words are just flowing out of you. No one has all good days where to do everything they want perfectly. Tiering your success allows for the good days and the bad.
Notice that I don’t label Bad, Good, and Amazing tiers. There’s something to be said about the negative reinforcement labeling the lowest tier as “Bad.” By labeling them all with positive titles, you’re not subconsciously shaming yourself for your low-energy days. Believe me; writers have enough guilt and self-doubt. You don’t need to add more by labeling a day you showed up for your writing, even in its limited capacity, as bad.
Having clear and realistic writing goals can help you stay focused and motivated.
2. Find Time
Whether you prefer writing early in the morning or late at night, find a time that suits you and stick to it. Try experimenting with a variety if you find it difficult to stick to a consistent time.
I used to think that I was a night owl and did all my best creative work late at night, but I found that I was often too tapped out after my day job to write anything in the evenings. So over the course of a week, I scheduled time in my calendar to write at different times. I tried 2 days in the morning before work, 2 days at night right after work, and 2 days writing on my lunch break. I found that not only was I worse off writing in the evening, but I had the most clarity in the middle of the day. So, because I work from home and make my own hours. I started scheduling 2-3 hour breaks in the middle of my work to write. I had better focus on the hours I was working and when I was writing. Something about blocking out my days in 3-hour windows was very effective for me. Now, does this work for me every day? No. Sometimes I have big days at work where I can’t take the time at lunch to write. Sometimes I’m mentally tapped at my lunch and don’t write much, but I aim to hit my “good” goal.
Other than finding your ideal working hours, scheduling your writing times is equally important. Write down what will be your start time for your writing. I have to do this, or it won’t get done. I can’t just write on my calendar, “WRITE,” like it’s a to-do list item. I have to plan my day in detail and write “12 pm Write.” By scheduling your writing like an appointment, it’s easier for you to mentally prepare and plan your day around your writing. That way, it’s more achievable and realistic that you will reach your “great” and “amazing” goals.
Consistency is critical in developing a writing habit.
3. Eliminate distractions
Writing requires concentration, so eliminate any distractions that may hinder your progress. Turn off your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and find a space where you can focus.
I tell my husband when I’m writing so that he knows to leave me alone. I also often listen to a playlist of lyric-free music on shuffle to keep my mind moving without distraction. There are many “Focus” playlists on Spotify to choose from.
The place is also important. Find an area to write in that helps you focus, and don’t be afraid to switch things up. I find that I’m most focused at my desk. I have access to my bulletin board and a two-monitor setup. But sometimes, when I’m feeling stuck, I’ll take my laptop or journal to a park or a cafe to write. Bring headphones and water, and lower your expectations for yourself. A change of pace can sometimes be a nice way to get those creative juices flowing.
4. Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal can help you track your progress, identify areas for improvement, and reflect on your writing habits. You can use your journal to set writing goals, brainstorm ideas, and jot down notes and observations. It’s a great way to get out of your own head and really wrestle with your thoughts.
I use my journal to track my habits, mark and celebrate my wins, and dump all my feelings and frustrations. For my writing, for my work, and for my personal goals, like the gym, for instance. I also keep a journal as a “warm-up.” Starting my writing session with a prompt or brainstorming a new idea has been a helpful technique for getting my mind in the right head-space to write before I dive into my current project.
5. Read!
Reading and writing go hand in hand, so try to read as well as write every day. Whether it's a book, a script, or an article/blog post, reading and writing regularly can help you improve your writing skills and inspire new ideas.
As a screenwriter, it’s also extremely important to read screenplays on top of watching movies. The script is the blueprint for the film, but it’s often not exactly translated to the screen. You should read scripts from popular or classic films to learn from them. Not only technique but also to see what was sold. You should always be learning. It’s a key element to our creativity.
Creating writing habits that work takes time and effort, but the benefits are worth it. By setting writing goals, making time, eliminating distractions, keeping a journal, and reading, you can develop a writing habit to help you achieve your writing goals.