How to Develop the Writing Habit—Even if You Don’t Have Time to Write

You know the feeling you get when you go to bed without brushing your teeth? I’m not talking about that slimy-mouth feeling the following morning, but the feeling that you’ve forgotten something, like your day isn’t complete. This feeling can be so powerful that it gets you back out of bed. Habits are like that; regardless of what it is, you can’t wrap up the day without doing it.

Now imagine the same feeling about your writing: your day doesn’t feel complete without it. Even on your busiest days, you make the time to write a little. Otherwise, you just don’t feel good about the day. When you want to write a book, finding the time is often the most difficult challenge. I know, because although I write for a living, I still have trouble fitting my writing in. Work, kids, vacuuming, and everything else get in the way. But no matter how exhausted I am, I at least make time to write in my journal for a few minutes before turning off the light. Making writing a habit means you find a way to squeeze it in, no matter how busy you are.

When you make writing a habit, you not only find the time to write and get more done, but writing also gets easier. The words come more naturally, and you spend less time staring at the dreaded blank screen. The following simple steps can help you write more often and get better results.

1. Commit to Your Writing
When it comes to time, no one ever has enough to accomplish everything they would like. And, honestly, you’ll never have time to write your book unless you make it a top priority. There’s a difference between things we’d like to do, and things we must do. If you MUST write your book, then you’ll find the time to make it happen. If it’s something you’d LIKE to do someday, then someday may never come.

2. Write Every Day
Developing a habit means doing something regularly. Therefore you should do your best to find time to write every day. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time, even fifteen minutes will do if that’s all you can spare. The key is to practice as often as possible!

3. Write Small Pieces
Books are written one sentence at a time, so don’t fall into the trap of only sitting down to write when you have several hours at a time to devote to your work. Even if you only have time to put down a paragraph, that’s progress.

4. Don’t Stress About Writing
When you over-think your writing projects, they can seem bigger and more important . . . and much more intimidating than they really should be. Just sit down and write; don’t make a big deal out of it. Put your words on paper, and understand you’ll have time to clean them up later.

5. Be Accountable
Sometimes, despite all our efforts, even the writers with the best intentions need outside accountability to accomplish their goals. I know I do—I always have to find someone to keep me on track and make sure I do what I say I’m going to do. Whether you take a class or hire a coach or enlist the help of a firm and supportive friend, give yourself the structure you need to accomplish your goals.

Anyone who wants to write can do it, especially if you commit to your project and take steps to develop the writing habit. It doesn’t require hours of time every day—even jotting a few paragraphs in your journal every night will help get you hooked. And when you do, your skills will improve, and you’ll get all those projects on your writing to-do list done.

Comments? How do you build your writing habit?

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