How To Write Every Day

"Your writing is so good! You have so much talent!"
​No. Nope. Writing improves with practice. When I was a teen, I spent time every day writing. Writing on a daily basis means I got a lot of practice, and that daily practice improved my writing. Not talent.
When you write every day, your brain learns to think faster and more efficiently, allowing you to put out better writing. Whether you are doing freelance writing, creative writing, or academic writing, they all benefit from writing being a daily habit. A writing routine is hard to set at first, but if you stay consistent, you’ll see improvement.

Here are a few daily writing tips you can follow:
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1. Put it on your schedule. Put it in your phone, write it on a calendar, make it once a day or twice a day - whatever works - make the time. Scheduling it in makes it easier for you to do every day, and every day you sit your butt down to write, it becomes a stronger, easier habit. If you’re serious about becoming a great writer, your writing time should be treated seriously—and a daily scheduled writing session is the first step in getting into a routine.

2. Create a writing zone. Give yourself a designated writing space or place where you can focus on the task at hand. A distraction-free zone works best, but write where you can be comfortable and productive. If that is on your bed, fine. If it's at your sofa, fine. Table? Fine. Find a space, make sure it is clear and comfortable for you, add some snacks if you need to, put the phone away in another room, and sit down to write for your dedicated amount of time.

3. Set a daily goal. Start your writing goals small. You could set your goal at one page a day, ten pages a day, 500 words a day, or as many words as you can cram on the page in 15 minutes. By giving yourself a page or word count to meet each day, you help set reasonable expectations for yourself and your progress.

4. Consider it a daily habit. Viewing writing as a habit—something ingrained in you that you cannot help but do—can get you into the spirit of writing more often. Whether you’re trying to write a number of words in a single day or get as much on the page as you can in five minutes, just showing up to write every day is enough to build the habit. You could even try blogging or journaling just to get into the practice. It doesn't have to be one specific project. Just write!

5. Do some free-style writing. Sometimes all your brain needs is a little exercise. In "freewriting" you follow the impulses of your mind, allowing thoughts and inspiration to appear on paper. If you find yourself stuck on a writing project, or need inspiration, put your pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and write down whatever words come to mind. Don’t worry about typos, grammar, editing, or rewriting during this process, just write—it’s better than staring at a blank page.

6. Write in the morning time. Kick-start your morning with some writing time— personally, for me, this is easier because my brain has not been bogged down with the events and exhaustion of the day. It is fresh and can focus better, even if I am still a little groggy. I also find it helps me complete a goal for the day and it makes me feel accomplished and productive!

7. Join a writing group. Writing groups or workshops can give you other people to work with and help hold you accountable. A group can keep you writing frequently by giving out writing prompts, assignments, or just good advice. You don’t have to take writing advice given by others, but feedback can inform or inspire you further in your work, keeping you motivated to become a good writer and breaking through any writer’s block or insecurities you might have. I am in, not one, but TWO writing groups. They are a lot of fun (maybe too much fun) and really keep me going.

8. Be fearless. Sometimes the only thing stopping a writer from writing is themselves. Insecurity and a lack of confidence can lead to you procrastinating, which only causes your writing progress to stagnate. When you start writing, keep writing, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. It probably won’t be perfect (or even good if it’s your first time writing), but that’s okay—the more you write, the better you become!

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Want to Learn More?

Do you need help maintaining a writing schedule? Do you not know where to start? Do you want to join a writing group?
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Send me a message! I will schedule a call with you, so we can get you started.