Developing Better Writing Habits
© Kim Kay
I'd like to be able to give you a simple formula and tell you that if you follow it, you will become a great and prolific author. Unfortunately, it isn't that easy. We are not all alike. We have different schedules, different likes and dislikes, and different amounts of time we can devote to writing. This makes coming up with a writing strategy that fits everyone impossible. Instead, here are some general guidelines that may help you develop your own writing routine.
Write something every day...
...Or don't. Writing is something you need to do on a regular basis whether you feel like it or not. If you wait for the "perfect time" to sit down and work on your novel, you will never finish it. Develop a schedule that works for you and stick to it. If you start saying to yourself, "I don't feel like it today, I'll double up tomorrow," you are likely to continue this practice to the extent that you rarely spend time writing.
You may decide to set aside an hour every morning or write for four 15-minute intervals throughout the day. If your time is limited during the week, you may prefer spending several hours writing over the weekend. I work full time, so I set aside 30 minutes each night for writing during the week and block off a couple of hours on the weekend.
Minimize distractions
Treat your writing time as an "appointment" with yourself and focus solely on that. If you have small children, you would do better to schedule your writing time for when they are napping or after they have gone to bed for the night. Make sure your friends and family know you will be unavailable and request that they not telephone you or stop by during this time. Or better yet, unplug the phone. This time is for writing, and you will not get much accomplished if you have to jump up every 10 minutes to do something else.
Find a writing spot
Find a place to write where you are comfortable. It is not necessary to convert a room of your house into an "office." In fact, I have a friend who spent a lot of time and money on a writing room and when it was finished, realized she was more comfortable sitting at the kitchen table. It is not necessary to go to a lot of trouble; just try out available areas in your home and see which works for you.
