How to Start a Writing Habit in the New Year
Raise your hand if you promised to write more this year. Or maybe you added, “Start a regular writing habit” on your list of New Year’s resolutions. I applaud you, and I want to help you do just that. If you subscribe to my Read, Write and Create Newsletter, then you already know that I believe New Year’s Resolutions can be crafted and tweaked throughout the month of January, so it’s not too late to decide and get started on a regular writing habit for 2023 and beyond.
What is a Regular Writing Habit?
A regular writing habit requires consistency and commitment to your craft.
First of all, let’s be clear. Having a writing habit does not mean you have to write every single day. Not everybody has time for that, and you shouldn’t berate yourself, or worse, give up before even starting because you can’t write on the daily. I mean really, even God rested on Sunday. Having a regular writing habit simply means that you write consistently. Whether it’s one day a week, or seven days a week, the point is that you do it on the days and times you say you will. It’s no different than starting an exercise routine. Maybe you go jogging on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after work. Well, you can establish a regular writing habit the same way. Pick the days and times you’re going to write and then do it!
How to Find the Right Time to Write
If you haven’t already, check out episode number one of the Read, Write and Create podcast to learn why it feels impossible to find the time to write. The trick is, you have to make the time to write. As you look at your daily schedule, it’s likely there isn’t a giant window of time just waiting to be filled with your creative writing practice. The more likely scenario is that your days are already packed with obligations and there’s barely enough time to eat, sleep and brush your teeth. I can’t tell you where you can squeeze in the writing time, but I can tell you that it’s 100 percent possible. Whether you have to get up 30 minutes earlier to write, go to bed one hour later to write, or write on your lunch break, you simply must choose your time and write. Without fail.
But remember, you don’t have to write every day to have a writing habit. Just like you don’t have to go jogging every single day to be a runner.. If you can only manage to get up an extra hour early, twice a week, then start there. If you can only handle skipping lunch at work on Wednesdays, then write your little heart out on Wednesdays. The key thing is to pick a time, and ideally a location, and ground yourself into that routine. For example, if you choose Wednesdays during your lunch break to write, find a quiet cafe around the corner from your office with your laptop and write for thirty minutes or one hour. The regularity of the time and place helps develop your practice into a habit.
What to Write for Your Writing Habit
Try to find a peaceful place for your writing practice and return to that place every time you write.
If you identify as a writer, then you have to write. Runners run. Musicians make music. Writers write. But when developing a regular writing habit, the question always is, what should I be writing? Or How can I practice writing daily?
If you’re working on a book, or a screenplay, or an essay, or some other project, obviously you can work on that during your designated writing times. But what if you don’t have a current project to work on? Don’t assume you have to be working on some publishable material in order to write. Absolutely not. Don’t try to get into a writing habit by deciding to write a novel. That would be like the novice runner deciding to run a marathon. We don’t get in shape by doing the hardest thing first.
Writing Prompts for Your Writing Habit
Here are some useful ideas about what you can write during your designated writing time to get your daily writing habit going. And these work for emerging writers and seasoned professionals too who need to get back into the game.
Morning Pages: Inspired by the concept of morning pages in The Artist’s Way, get a notebook and write first thing in the morning before doing anything else. Aim for writing three pages by hand, just letting your thoughts flow without editing. Think of it as capturing your most honest ideas before the day gets going. I like to focus my morning pages on writing, so I write whatever I’m feeling about my writing practice and projects. The point is, morning pages are an excellent way to start your day in a creative manner that jump starts your writing muscles. The best part is, because morning pages are done first thing, you can then go about your day knowing you’ve gotten your writing done.
A Poem a Day: Sometimes the idea of writing on a regular basis feels overwhelming. Instead of thinking about writing pages of text, give yourself the option of writing a poem a day. Or every other day, whatever your schedule allows. Remember, it doesn’t have to be good poetry – this is not for public consumption. The point of writing poetry in this way is to give yourself an opportunity to play with words and language and intention. A poem can be five lines long and convey so much. A finished poem can feel like a complete act of writing as well, so it provides a sense of accomplishment when you’re done. If you’re looking for baby steps towards your writing habit, poetry can be the way. Bonus, writing poetry is an excellent way to improve your prose.
Write Letters: Sometimes it’s hard to write knowing our words aren’t going anywhere. So, try using your writing time to write letters to friends and/or family. That way your words have a purpose and somebody gets the benefit of reading them. Check out this blog post I wrote about using letter writing as a superb creative writing exercise. And FYI, best-selling author Tembi Locke, told me in an interview that her critically-acclaimed memoir, From Scratch, started out as letters she wrote to her family about her experiences in Italy. So, yeah, don’t sleep on writing letters as a way to develop a solid writing habit.
How Long Does it Take to Form a Writing Habit?
Conventional wisdom says it takes 30 days to build a habit. It may take you more than that, it may take less. What’s going to make the habit stick, however, is your commitment and consistency to the practice. And the way that happens is by choosing realistic goals for yourself. Be sure to choose days, times, and places where you know you can be successful with your writing. Don’t overcommit and likewise, don’t beat yourself up if you’re not perfect at first. Just get up and write the next day. Just keep going.
Why Bother Developing a Regular Writing Habit
I’ve said it once and I’ll probably say it 1,000 more times, but writing requires practice and conditioning. You’ll never be able to sit down and write that epic novel or that stunning memoir if you’re not in shape. The blank page is enough to dissuade even the best writers from getting started. Having a regular writing habit however, keeps your writing muscles in shape and your mindset strong enough to face the blank page, to get started, and to keep going when it’s hard. And it will get hard at some point. You’ll want to stop. You’ll want to give up. The words won’t flow. Like the marathon runner at mile 18, something is going to start hurting. But the writer with a strong writing habit, who is consistent with their practice, will be able to ride out any challenges with grace.
And at the end of the day, even if you’re not aspiring to write the great American novel, writers write. If you’re not writing regularly, then what makes you a writer? It’s not the number of books you publish, or the number of followers you have on social media. You are a writer if you write, regularly and consistently.
Runners run and writers write. Period.