Establish Your Writing Routine

Establish Your Writing Routine

This is Step Number One!  Now, don't be intimidated by the word routine.  A routine for some people might mean setting aside an hour a day (any day) for writing, while others may be much stricter.  There is something to be said about a consistent routine, because it creates structure and balance, not anxiety and stress.  Blocking off certain times a day, a week, or even a month can be incredibly beneficial to a writer, or really to any professional, because then you can give it your full attention.

I recently attended a speaking event by John Grisham and he talked about how his writing is made possible because of a consistent routine.  He starts early in the morning.  He takes three hours to sit and write whatever he wants; this has benefited him for as long as he has been a writer.  For him, sitting in the same chair at the same time every day makes all the difference in the world.  He is just one example.  You may do something totally different.  What ever your method, remember one thing: you must make your writing a priority because it's never going to matter as much to anyone as it does to you.

Tell me, do you write better with consistency or do you thrive better under pressure of an impending deadline?  What techniques do you rely on before, during, and after writing?  Just remember, you will never finish anything until you make it a priority.  Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, and the like will all still be there tomorrow.  Turn off the noise.  Listen to the writer inside you.