Having a dedicated writing routine is not only key to making you a successful writer but also makes it easier for you to sit down and write each day. The dedicated writing routine that you set up for yourself will also make sure that you get more words written every time you intentionally sit down to write.
The thing is that human beings are creatures of habit, which means that we thrive on routine. This aspect perfectly explains why having a writing routine is incredibly important to your success as a writer.
You Won’t Procrastinate
What happens if you don’t have a dedicated writing routine is that you will feel overwhelmed by the task in front of you. As a result, you will be procrastinating a lot and actually find a hundred things that simply have to be done right away and at the very minute that you think about working on your writing project.
Just by having a writing routine, you will be able to write and publish a book sooner than you possibly imagined for yourself to happen. So, you already know that having a dedicated writing routine is non-negotiable if you want to succeed as a writer.
You Will Complete What You Started
The thing is that anyone can start a novel. Some aspiring writers might believe that starting a novel is easy because this is how people feel when they have the most inspiration. You might have a brilliant new idea with a brilliant new character along with a brilliant new world. You might also have amazing writing apps that might help you record all of your ideas down and form them into a story.
However, not everyone can complete the writing project that they were incredibly eager to start working on. The hard part of writing projects is actually doing the work on it every day to complete it. Why, you might ask? Well, the answer is as simple as this: inspiration tends to run out.
Don’t Rely on Fickle Inspiration
As an aspiring writer who actually wants to complete what they started, you cannot count on inspiration alone to get you through the writing project. Most aspiring writers stop writing when they reach the middle of their books because they feel bored. So, if you are relying on inspiration alone, your chances of failing run high.
If we are to tell you the harsh reality of inspiration, then we are telling you straight away that inspiration is too inconsistent – it will fade eventually. You will notice that inspiration often takes unscheduled vacations for weeks, even months. So, it is a bad idea to rely on inspiration alone to work on your book.
Discipline is Your Best Friend
Now that you know that you cannot rely on inspiration to get through the writing project, it is time to replace inspiration with discipline. In fact, discipline is your best friend as it will show up every day, clock in at the right time, and never take a vacation.
Besides, discipline is always there when you need it. Now, the only way you can get discipline as a writer is by setting up a consistent writing routine and sticking to it.
How to Set Up Your Writing Routine
Now that you know why you need to have a dedicated writing routine that you follow relentlessly with discipline – it is time to actually set up a writing routine that will work for you in the long run. Here is how to get started:
Select A Time Slot
You should start by selecting a time of the day when you will do nothing else but focus on your writing project with dedication and discipline. Ideally, you should stick to the same task every day. Doing the same task at the same time every day will create a habit in your mind and in your daily schedule.
By doing the same task at the same time every day, you won’t have to think about it much, as you will be operating on autopilot. You do what you have to do as it becomes part of your day. So, it isn’t something that you have to cram in your schedule every time.
So, look at your schedule and really think about where you can realistically fit in a writing session.
Select the Word Count
To set up a realistic writing routine, you will have to be absolutely honest in deciding the length of your writing that you can stick to every day. What is even better is that instead of focusing too much on the word count, you might want to set up a timeline of thirty minutes, half an hour, or two hours – whatever time you can realistically dedicate to writing.
You should keep in mind that the duration of the task matters as much as the consistency. Staying on top of your writing project will essentially help you keep track of it and maintain momentum.
Select the Days
The next step is to decide the number of days that you will want to write. Yes, you read this right. Having a dedicated writing routine doesn’t imply that you have to write every day, but you can choose the days on which you will be writing, such as weekends or three days a week.
Of course, the ideal situation would be to write every day – if you can. The thing is that writing every day is not realistic for everyone, which is why the most important thing is to be consistent. If you only write three to four days a week, make sure that you maintain the same selected days every week.
Keep in mind that it is all about creating a routine for yourself that you can stick to with discipline. By doing so, you will make sure that working on the writing project feels normal, habitual, and an essential part of your life.
Writing shouldn’t be something that you do from time to time or only when you feel like it. A routine is your best friend to make your dream of becoming a published writer come true.