In this guest post, writer and marketer, Julie Ellis, shares some tips to help you to be able to develop a strong writing habit to help you to write more since publishing more books is one of the best book marketing tips there is, and writing more makes you a better writer.
Do you know anybody who is a dedicated runner? If so, you probably know that runners like that run nearly every single day, even if the weather is horrible and they feel awful. When a runner cannot run they feel miserable, because they feel as if their day is not complete without at least a jog. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could develop a runner’s mindset about writing? Wouldn’t it be great to have such a strong writing habit that you felt compelled to write something on a daily basis? Here is some good news. You can train your brain into developing a writing habit. Here are 6 tips for making that happen.
Choose a Way to Measure Your Progress
Obviously, you don’t want to write a few words on paper and call it a day. You want to develop the habit of writing productively every single day. In order to do this, you have to have a way of measuring your progress. You can do this by measuring your writing output, or you can do this by measuring the amount of time you spend writing. The one you pick will depend on your own habits and personality.
If you have the ability to sit at your desk for an hour a day, but find yourself screwing around on Facebook, you should probably base your writing goals on the number of words you write per day. Whatever you decide, set a starting goal and then determine how you will measure your progress.
Start a Diary or Daily Journal
If you want to write every day, keeping a journal is a great place to start. Since, nobody else is going to read it, there is no pressure. You can write about your emotions, the things you did that day, or what you plan to do the next day. You can write down short story ideas, play around with free writing, or even write some poetry. The important thing is that you write something every single day.
Start a Blog
Start a blog, then let your friends and family know what you have done. This does two things. First, it creates public accountability. When people know you have a blog they are going to ask you about it. They will ask you how your writing is coming, and they will ask you when they can expect your next post. Second, you have given yourself something to work towards. Writing blogposts and publishing them gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it let’s you share your writing talents with others.
Make Words Fun Again
Writing should be about a love of words, characters, story lines, and expression. It shouldn’t be solely about deadlines, pleasing editors, and dealing with publishers. Unfortunately, the daily grind of writing can take the fun out of the writing process. This can make it difficult to find the motivation write every day. To counteract this, try doing things to make words fun again. Play word games by yourself or with friends. Write outlandish short stories. Go to a spoken word event. The more connections your brain draws between words and pleasure, the better.
Read More
If you are going to set a goal of writing everyday, you may as well add another goal. Try increasing the amount of time you spend reading each day, or set a goal to increase the scope of your reading. Spend some time reading books in a new genre, or check out the work of an unfamiliar author. Reading isn’t just pleasurable, it also helps you to generate your own story ideas.
Find or Create a Place to Write That Works For You
If you do not have a place to write that is comfortable and is in an environment that is conducive to writing productively, it is difficult to write on a daily basis. If possible, create a space in your home where you can get comfortable and write for an hour or more every day. If this is not possible, identify a place outside of your home such as the library, park, or cafe that is welcoming to writers.
Julie Ellis is an experienced freelance writer, marketer and passionate traveler. When she’s not engaged in helping her customers and students, you can find her reading articles and books of young writers and attending marketing conferences. Follow Julie’s Twitter to find more about academic and business writing skills.