Creating a Productive Writing Routine
November 2024 Newsletter
When I listen to successful authors discuss their writing, they often talk about routines specific to their needs as writers that help them with their practice. If you pay close attention, you will notice that most of those routines are not the same. Not by a long shot. That’s because building a routine that works for you isn’t about rigid schedules or forcing creativity—it’s about finding the right balance between discipline and flexibility, carving out time to write, and fostering habits that keep your momentum strong. In this month’s newsletter, we will discuss how you set a writing routine that makes your writing work for you.
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS FOR YOUR ROUTINE
Before you can begin figuring out your writing routine, you must establish the purpose behind it and define concrete goals. In order to structure a routine that works for your purposes and within your lifestyle, we need to first understand the need for the routine in the first. When I am stuck, my first step is often to define why I need a routine and then set goals that solidify the why. Keep in mind that effective goal setting is a critical component of building a productive writing routine and that goals are most effective when they are specific, challenging, and achievable.
Step 1: Find the "Why"
Your "why" is your anchor. Writing routines are easier to maintain when they’re driven by purpose, especially when that purpose is the base of the structure. Understanding why writing matters to you, or why this specific project is important, helps keep motivation alive, even when the excitement fades or when obstacles arise.
