Ten Ways to Build a Writing Habit 

Can one tiny change transform your life? It’s unlikely you would say so. But what if you made another? And another? And another? At some point, you will have to admit that your life was transformed by one small change.

James Clear

One of the biggest questions I get from beginner writers is, ‘How do I develop a writing habit in the midst of work, family, volunteering, health concerns, world issues and a Covid pandemic? How do you keep writing?’

Every time we sit down to write, a seed is sown. All those hours we spend with pen in hand or tapping keys on a keyboard contributes to those 10 000 hours that are supposed to make us experts.

We all know it’s not just about the hours but the ongoing commitment to learning, to be tutored, to stay curious, to develop that helps us grow as writers. Bryce Courtenay was once asked what the major ingredient for writing a book was and he said, ‘Bum glue.

Building a writing habit involves a number of things–a place to write, time, motivation, goals, and deadlines. But when it comes down to it, the main thing is to JUST DO IT.

Breaking it down into processes is where the real magic happens. Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear is a helpful guide for all areas of life, including writing.

 You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

James Clear

 Building systems, according to James Clear is a ‘cycle of endless refinement and continuous improvement’.

Clear writes about the ‘aggregation of small gains’. It’s in the everyday, small habits we adhere to that move our writing forward. Once we begin, over time, it’s second nature.

I signed up to be a writer nearly 20 years ago. In that time, I’ve published eight books, written millions of words in articles, blogs, seminars, and talks, yet I still need to hone my habits.

Clear’s book has challenged me to hone my habits. Here are ten things I gleaned from his book.

Ten Ways to Build a Writing Habit 

1. Find your Tribe If you surround yourself with people who have similar passions you will motivate each other. Find an accountability partner. Knowing that someone is watching can be a powerful motivator. 
2. Develop Motivation Rituals

Set up small rituals that help signal that it’s time to write. For example, always play the same song before you write. Put on noise-cancelling earphones. Do some breathing exercises. Pray.

3. Learn the Difference Between Action and Motion          

I often find myself procrasti-writing. This is the writing I do when I’m not writing!  Research, for example, can become more of a focus than the actual writing.

Outlining a novel is motion. Actually, sitting down and writing a chapter is action.  Some motion is helpful but unless it’s translated to action, it’s not helpful.

4. Set up the Environment

Prime your environment to be ready for action. Set out a notebook the night before. Turn off social media and silence your phone. Light a candle.

5. Two-Minute Rule

Write for two minutes every day. Rarely will you stop after two minutes. If you write every day, you are a writer. What you do every day, becomes your identity.

6. Create a Commitment Device

This is a choice you make in the present that controls your actions in the future. Schedule time for writing in your calendar ( and the family calendar if necessary) Turn off social media. Block sites that distract you. Make a commitment to your work.

7. Writing is a Delayed Return Job so Reward Yourself Now

You can work for years before your actions deliver the intended pay-off. Make plans for your future self. Create a loyalty program for yourself. For example, if I write two chapters this week, I will buy myself a new notebook. Perhaps you could put a paper clip in a jar every time you write a page.   Once the jar is full, schedule a reward– go out for coffee with a friend, a massage for that aching neck, or a new pen!

8. Keep Showing Up. Create habit streaks.

A few years ago, I committed to writing one hundred blogs in one hundred days. It was sometimes midnight before I posted, but I still posted. Showing up for one hundred days built a habit that has stuck with me until today.

I now have a 365 Journal with a page for every day of the year. Having a journal page for each day encourages me to write for a few minutes. This commitment to show up on the page exercises my writing muscle and it’s surprising what comes out of it.

9. Habit Tracking

Fitness Watches track our steps and exercise sessions. Even if you track your writing sessions until you feel like you’re back in the flow, it’ll be worth it. One way I track is to commit to 1000 hours of creative work in a year. (About 3 hours per day) I track my hours in my 365 Diary and, even if I have a rest day, I make sure I catch up later. Going on a retreat day, or week, helps me to build those hours!

10. Never Miss Twice

We all get sick, distracted, or pulled away by life circumstances. Missing more than once becomes a habit. Have fewer Lost Days than days you Show Up. Remember, even showing up for two minutes is showing up.

How do you build your writing habit? Do you have any tips to share with us?