Last month I was inspired by an interview with the popular blogger Nathan Barry. He has a goal to write 1000 words every day. At the time of the interview he was at 570+ consecutive days of writing. I could not imagine the power in writing over ½ million words. Benefits like training your mind to think and hands to type. I am sure that some of what he writes he considers less than quality and is never published. On the other hand, I am certain he has tons of great stuff that he uses all the time.
I immediately took the writing challenge (at 500 words a day) and at the end of the first month I have averaged 800 words a day writing over 20,000 for the month. I try to write first thing in the morning before the distractions start and throughout the day I look for triggers of what to write next.
Well….today is Saturday and the whole routine changed. I slept in a little getting up when the kids demanded breakfast. My wife is out for a run and I’m in charge. I looked at my schedule and realized the day is full. How am I going to get my 500 words? Solution, I am standing in the kitchen, waffle-sitting as the kids run like no one’s in charge, because dad is in charge. What better topic for today’s post than “Finding Time to Write”?
There are six habits that help me focus and accomplish my daily writing goal.
1- Write First – I write the first thing after I wake up. The house is quiet and I have about an hour before the kids get going so I can focus without interruption. Because it’s early, the phone doesn’t ring, my mind is clear and I’m less stressed.
2- Turn off your email – If you are like me you get emails day and night. My phone buzzes constantly and I feel compelled to check. I use my phone’s “do not disturb” function during certain times (the night and while I write) to stop the interruptions.
3- Think ahead about your topic – If you are blogging keep a list of topics as they come up (I use Evernote). If you are working on a book, predetermine what chapter or idea you will focus on. Ideas come at various times (shower, car) and when you actually sit down to write you will quickly get into the flow.
4- Schedule your time – have a designated time to write and stick to it. Do not let any distractions or other important endeavors take priority.
5- Write don’t edit – Both roles are important to be a successful writer but it’s easy to get lost in the world of editing. During your scheduled time to write, write. Don’t worry about spelling or formatting; just get the words onto the page. Later, schedule time to edit and fix anything that needs changing. This will keep your creative flow and allow you to get your word count up.
6- Reward your success – I believe in celebrating victories along the way. For me, Diet Pepsi, I would drink 50 a day if it wasn’t killing me. I reward myself for completing my writing goal with one Pepsi for every 500 words I write. Advantage: limits my Pepsi intake (I know it’s bad for me) and rewards commitment to my goals.
So even today, a Saturday with my messed up routine, I am able to get my in 500 words (or 807).
Question: How about you- do you have a writing rule that helps you achieve your writing goals? Leave your comments below or by clicking here.
By the way, if you liked this article, you should sign up for free updates. Find out more here.