How to form an unbreakable writing habit:
On Monday, I wrote a thread on how a reading habit was the writer's shield.
Today, I'm going to talk about the sword.
Writing.
It's the sister of reading.
It's creation, art, curiosity.
So, why is it so hard to form a lasting habit?
Today, I'm going to talk about the sword.
Writing.
It's the sister of reading.
It's creation, art, curiosity.
So, why is it so hard to form a lasting habit?
Surely such a fulfilling activity would fall naturally into our routines, no?
Not quite.
Similar to reading, writing is a habit that gets hijacked by the modern day.
Delicious dopamine from our smartphones corrupts our ability to focus.
We need strong weapons to fight it.
Not quite.
Similar to reading, writing is a habit that gets hijacked by the modern day.
Delicious dopamine from our smartphones corrupts our ability to focus.
We need strong weapons to fight it.
So, today, I'm going to show you how to form a lasting writing habit.
By the end of this thread, you'll be in place to write every day.
Doing this, you will:
- Collect your thoughts and memories
- Understand yourself better
- Move forward with clarity
Let's take a look:
By the end of this thread, you'll be in place to write every day.
Doing this, you will:
- Collect your thoughts and memories
- Understand yourself better
- Move forward with clarity
Let's take a look:
1) The Reason Why
Why do you want to write?
Is it for fame? Fortune, perhaps?
If so, you will never form a lasting writing habit.
Because writing is arduous, tedious, repetitive.
It will grind you down when you come up with absolute dross.
Why do you want to write?
Is it for fame? Fortune, perhaps?
If so, you will never form a lasting writing habit.
Because writing is arduous, tedious, repetitive.
It will grind you down when you come up with absolute dross.
In the same way an army prepares for war, we must prepare for our battle with doubt.
Your reason why is the lighthouse guiding you home.
Your reason why is the lighthouse guiding you home.
To identify your why, you're going to create a Purpose Statement.
This is 1 sentence that encapsulates why writing is important to you.
You can return to this whenever writer's doubt creeps in.
Here's mine as an example:
This is 1 sentence that encapsulates why writing is important to you.
You can return to this whenever writer's doubt creeps in.
Here's mine as an example:
2) Create Your Writing Sanctuary
Why do you get hungry when you enter the kitchen?
Why you do start to relax when you enter the living room?
It's because our brains associate locations with actions.
Why do you get hungry when you enter the kitchen?
Why you do start to relax when you enter the living room?
It's because our brains associate locations with actions.
Writing is no different.
While we can experience bursts of inspiration (I'll cover this shortly), we also need to train consistently.
A boxer never wins a fight by chance.
They win by turning up to training at the same time; performing the same drills every day.
While we can experience bursts of inspiration (I'll cover this shortly), we also need to train consistently.
A boxer never wins a fight by chance.
They win by turning up to training at the same time; performing the same drills every day.
So, let's create a writing sanctuary for you:
1. Choose a space in your house
2. Make it a space with little other associated activity
3. Set a time to write
4. Choose a period of time to write
5. Repeat daily
1. Choose a space in your house
2. Make it a space with little other associated activity
3. Set a time to write
4. Choose a period of time to write
5. Repeat daily
For me, I sit at a desk in my living room.
For you, you might choose:
- The kitchen table
- Your desk in your office
- A coffee shop around the corner
Wherever it is, we have to associate writing with this space.
It has to become the natural action when you enter.
For you, you might choose:
- The kitchen table
- Your desk in your office
- A coffee shop around the corner
Wherever it is, we have to associate writing with this space.
It has to become the natural action when you enter.
3) Arm Yourself
Do you think you'd win a war with just a pistol?
So, why do you think you'll conquer a writing habit with one outlet?
I talked about creating a set time for writing before.
But inspiration can strike at any time.
And we must be prepared.
Do you think you'd win a war with just a pistol?
So, why do you think you'll conquer a writing habit with one outlet?
I talked about creating a set time for writing before.
But inspiration can strike at any time.
And we must be prepared.
We as writers must arm ourselves to the brim with methods of writing.
Here's my arsenal:
- A6 notebook + Biro in bag or on desk
- A4 journal next to my bed
- Laptop with GDocs open
Here's my arsenal:
- A6 notebook + Biro in bag or on desk
- A4 journal next to my bed
- Laptop with GDocs open
4) Join A Writer's Group
I mentioned in the reading habit thread about asking friends who read for recommendations.
Now, within a writer's group, you can ask friends for advice and improvements.
One massive factor to consider is The Curse Of Knowledge:
I mentioned in the reading habit thread about asking friends who read for recommendations.
Now, within a writer's group, you can ask friends for advice and improvements.
One massive factor to consider is The Curse Of Knowledge:
I first learned of this from Steven Pinker.
We as writers forget about the perspective of the reader.
We love to write, write and write some more - all the while forgetting that, in the end, your work will be read by someone else.
In doing so, we lose track of relatability.
We as writers forget about the perspective of the reader.
We love to write, write and write some more - all the while forgetting that, in the end, your work will be read by someone else.
In doing so, we lose track of relatability.
Being part of a writer's group eliminates this.
You can:
- Ask for general feedback
- Ask for relatability issues
- Ask if your work reads well
You'll find that your group often gifts you inspiration, too.
You can:
- Ask for general feedback
- Ask for relatability issues
- Ask if your work reads well
You'll find that your group often gifts you inspiration, too.
I rarely struggle with writer's block because of the incredible conversations I have with my group.
Their ideas inspire me and cause me to think about many topics.
I then go away and research, all the while documenting what I find.
Their ideas inspire me and cause me to think about many topics.
I then go away and research, all the while documenting what I find.
5) Remove Distractions
It doesn't matter how mentally resilient you are.
I guarantee the social media giants and their marketing teams have spent enough time monitoring your behaviour to know what content you like.
And they will spoonfeed it to you.
It doesn't matter how mentally resilient you are.
I guarantee the social media giants and their marketing teams have spent enough time monitoring your behaviour to know what content you like.
And they will spoonfeed it to you.
You've got to cut the head off the snake.
A few pointers:
- Turn off your phone
- Write during a quiet time
- Ask not to be disturbed
Writing is a conversation with your mind.
You can't do that when there are alternate factors pulling on your attention strings.
A few pointers:
- Turn off your phone
- Write during a quiet time
- Ask not to be disturbed
Writing is a conversation with your mind.
You can't do that when there are alternate factors pulling on your attention strings.
Writing is not an instant gratification activity.
You rarely look back on your fresh words with pride and grace.
However, in the long run, you will create a bank of work that will transcend your life.
If you share online, you can even begin to influence the lives of others.
You rarely look back on your fresh words with pride and grace.
However, in the long run, you will create a bank of work that will transcend your life.
If you share online, you can even begin to influence the lives of others.
Hopefully, with these tips, you can begin to converse with yourself and discover what makes you truly you.
The greatest pleasure comes from looking back on a lifetime of the remedial.
The greatest pleasure comes from looking back on a lifetime of the remedial.
The 5 Pillars Of A Writing Habit:
1. Know your reason why
2. Create a writing sanctuary
3. Use multiple methods to write
4. Join a writer's group
5. Remove distractions
1. Know your reason why
2. Create a writing sanctuary
3. Use multiple methods to write
4. Join a writer's group
5. Remove distractions
Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed this one, you can follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to spread the word, follow the link below to the first tweet and RT
Have a wonderful day, writers.
If you enjoyed this one, you can follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to spread the word, follow the link below to the first tweet and RT
Have a wonderful day, writers.
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I've written a FREE 10-step guide to help you solve this exact problem.
Grab it here: thewritersgift.gumroad.com
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