Regular writing habits: what works?

Everyone knows sitting down with the goal in mind of a wordy, unwieldy epic is a nigh-impossible task (at least without copious amounts of substances – NOT recommended!), but there are a few ways of building up a writing habit in order to try to entice those words to get on the page, and stay there!

All in all, there is no one-size-fits all approach to writing, and something that works for you may not work for your neighbour. In fact, something that works for you for a week or so may need to change, as there are many factors that can get in the way in these unpredictable lives we all lead! But it may be worth just giving one methodology a go and seeing whether it sticks.

Daily writing habits

Easier said than done, everyone and their mothers is told to form a habit of writing, from setting a timer or hitting a certain word target a day. Unfortunately, a lot of the time the atmosphere doesn’t lend itself to creativity – maybe a hard day at work and an inviting-looking sofa stands in your way, or a houseful of hyperactive toddlers awaits instead of those magical perfect criteria needed for writing.

Whether you are the type of person to gel with targets, for example writing 500 words a day no matter what, or a certain number of hours facing that Word document a week, or perhaps someone who writes only when the moon, sun and stars are perfectly equi-distant, the line of argument really is faultless – if you write, your wordcount will increase. The issue lies more in getting that done, and often one missed day or target is debilitating. 

So a balance must be struck. If it can’t be regimented writing sessions, just try to write as often as you can (hardcore phrasing like ‘do it tired’ dictates that any words down are a win, and that refinery and editing are later stages for a reason) – if you miss a day, try again tomorrow – but ensure you are back at it, lest you lose the plot. Above all else, make your output manageable for you or else it will quickly become overwhelming. 

Creating a word nest

Every writer has been told before to light a scented candle or create a cosy nook when reading, and if you’re online and come across any writing bloggers, usually it is all about the aesthetic. But, if you haven’t noticed by now, the main theme of this article is finding what works for you – no pristine desk containing a laptop and notebook and naught else, no mood-lit, secluded, fresh-smelling corner of paradise (unless you’re lucky enough to have such a space!) and most definitely no classical music (again, unless that works for you).

What we’re after is more focus on how it happens – more emphasis on the word processor, notebook or notes app you’re using, whether you want your wordcounter switched on or off, that kind of thing. Again, if you are the type of person who can’t abide by clutter or really gets inspired by the scent of pine and bergamot, absolutely do those things – but it’s easy to get swept up in distractions when the bare minimum is a place that will allow you to type or scrawl away!

Right, almost ready now, just need a cuppa…

At the end of the day, your motivation to write will fluctuate, so the routine of having a set space, time, wordcount or whatever else can help wring the creative juices out. But if it isn’t possible to show up consistently, the only way words will go down is if you make the effort to squeeze them in wherever you can. Good luck!