Your Daily Writing Habit – A Recipe for Success

Why Create a Daily Writing Habit?

Create a daily writing habit so you become a better writer. Sounds easy and it can be, but sometimes it’s hard to develop a habit and stick to it. We’re excited in the beginning then writer’s block happens and we find any excuse to stop writing for a day, two days, a week… Challenges happen every single day, our mind plays games with us, the fear of success plays games with us (read last week’s blog if you haven’t), but when our why is great, our goal/plan is set, and we have support, we can develop successful habits and soar!

To become a better writer, developing a daily writing habit is essential. Let’s discuss my three ingredients to develop a successful daily writing habit.

Aristotle said,

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Three Ingredients for A Successful Writing Habit

1. Discover Why. Why do you want to develop a writing habit. Do you want to write a book? Do you want to start writing a blog? Does writing make you happy? Do you feel a drive to write? Ask yourself these questions. When you’ve discovered why you want to write, creating your successful habit becomes easier. 
2. Add Goal. What are some goals you can commit to and make sure your writing habit sticks?
   • Are you going to write 15 minutes a day, 30 minutes? Start with 15 if you’re beginning and work your way up to 30, 45, 60, whatever works for you… Soon you’ll write because you’ll actually miss it because writing becomes part of you; a habit.
   • Have you discovered your “writing place?” Do you have a quiet three- or four-season room where you feel inspired to write? Do you like to go to the park, a place near the water, or you might feel creative writing at your desk. When you’ve found your “writing place” go there to write and you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish. 
   • Do you prefer writing in the morning or late at night? Some people are ready to write early in the morning and others prefer writing after the house settles down at night when everyone is in bed. When you find your best “writing time” keep to your schedule and you’ll be productive.
3. Find Support. Have you considered finding support with an accountability buddy?
   • Maybe you have a buddy who doesn’t write, but they have a goal to workout five days a week? Or, you have a buddy who wants to do videos for their business three days a week. 

When you have your support system in place, whether it’s one or three accountability partners, be consistent and connect with them each week and even on a more frequent basis when you’re struggling. 

Making Use of Your Accountability Buddy

Here’s a simple plan for checking in with your buddy(ies) to stay on track and create your habit; it’s great for you and them. 

• • Keep calls to 10-15 minutes. These are business calls. 
  • Each person takes 5 to 7 minutes and says their goal(s) for the week; any struggle they may have at the time; when you’re going to check back in and be accountable to each other. For example, weekly calls take place on Monday at 7:45 a.m.; each person discusses weekly goal(s) – no more than three; share struggles/successes; decide on follow-up call at end of week or via email for accountability and be honest. If you weren’t able to write five days during the week say so, but keep at it. 

When you know why you want to write, know your goals for writing and have a plan on where you want to write, when you want to write, and know you have support from your accountability buddy(ies), creating any habit is easier because you’ve added the ingredients for success. 

From  a Writing Habit to a Best Seller 

A common “why” for many people to create a writing habit is they are looking to publish a book. If you are looking to publish a book it is important you know what you want to include in your book. We have created a simple guide for writers looking to publish their next book, A Guide To Develop Your Best Seller. In this guide we ask you ten questions about you, your business, and your book to help you better understand how you can put your wealth of knowledge together to form the basis of a best seller. These questions are great writing prompts you can use to build your daily writing habit, check it out! 

Until next time,

Colleen