Building a Writing Habit
I’ve written about building a writing habit before, but I’ve been thinking about this topic again because I need to create a presentation about this for the Great Lakes Fiction Writers conference in July. The Great Lakes Fiction Writers has a one-day conference every year, and it is well-attended and a great event for local authors or those who want to be authors.
Initial Enthusiasm
Being a baby writer is hard and one of the most difficult parts is finishing your project. It is easy to get started. All of us know the thrill of getting a new idea and dashing off to the computer to write it down. We get a few paragraphs in or maybe even a few chapters, but then we lose enthusiasm and stop. Or, maybe life gets in the way and you can’t find the time. A sick kid. A demanding boss. A parent who needs help. All of these things can derail us. Sometimes, we get derailed for a long time.
Starting Again
I got derailed for more than twenty years. My demanding job sucked a lot of energy out of me, but paid me mortgage money, and we raised three children to adulthood. We paid our last college tuition payment this month. This marks a new transition in our lives, and with it new opportunities, but also new challenges.
I started writing for publication, meaning that my goal was to be published, at age 45. I made every mistake in the book. Telling, not showing was a real problem. But, we can overcome these errors with time and editing and coursework. You can learn how to pick better verbs so you don’t overuse adverbs. You can learn about plotting, techniques to make your setting come alive, and elements of characterization.
What You Can’t Learn From Anyone Else
What you can’t learn from anyone else is how to make the time to write and, most importantly, how to make that a habit. A habit is something you do most days, for a specific period of time, and it becomes so automatic that you don’t think about. This is my running time. This is my work time. And this is my writing time.
Building a Habit
Building a habit, no matter what it is, is about forced repetition. In the beginning, you must consciously choose to do it. Over time this becomes easier to do because you’ve built it into you life. An article in Scientific American explains how building a habit can be harder or easier based on the complexity of the habit. Eating a piece of fruit with lunch is an easy habit. Learning guitar when you’ve never played an instrument is more difficult. But all habits are built by repetition, reasonable goals, cues, and rewards.
- There is a willpower component. You do need to force yourself at first to sit down to write.
- Set specific and reasonable goals. I will write 2,000 words a day, every day, is not reasonable for most people. I will write for fifteen minutes every work day is much easier.
- Use a cue to help you. Maybe your writing time is when the baby takes a nap. That nap is your cue to write. Or, perhaps you stay late at work and write for one half hour. End of work=writing.
- Reward yourself during the activity. For example, I love a small Coke Zero. It’s bad for me, but I just enjoy it. I usually have it while I’m writing. Writing time=Coke Zero time.
If you have any comments or thoughts on building a writing habit, please drop me a line at he***@***********ds.com. I’d love to hear from you! Or, comment on this post.
Scientific American article link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/
Note: cover image created by Canva through a paid subscription. Canva pays its creators.
