How to Plan a Daily Writing Practice

A routine supports your inner writer.

The primary purpose of this article is to offer advice to novice writers who want to begin the process of writing a book. By that, I mean people who are serious about steadily producing pages of content toward a goal of completing a novel, memoir, or nonfiction book.

If this is you, the advice I’m offering is basic but useful for finding your inner author’s place in your world. You must take your inner author seriously and give it every advantage to succeed.  

THE WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW OF DAILY WRITING

Let’s start by establishing the place, time, and method you will offer your inner author. The purpose is to create a ritual-like atmosphere around your writing sessions.

Where

Where will you write each time? A designated spot is important for new writers. A chair in your bedroom? Your couch in the living room? The breakfast table? At the library or neighborhood coffee shop? A park bench! Choose a place that provides you with the right atmosphere: the right amount of light, quiet, and comfort. Make that your writing spot and go there for each session.

When

When will you write? What time of day will work for you? Early morning with your first cup of coffee might be your time. Maybe after you get the kids off to school or the hour before they get back home. If you work, maybe you will write during your lunch break. Or in bed at the end of the day. Find a time that works with your schedule and stick to it each time you write.

How

How will you write? This refers to the method of writing that works best for you: on your laptop, at a PC or Mac, a touchscreen device like an iPad, or good old pen to paper. Use whichever method you are most comfortable with. If you are quietly scoffing at my mention of pen and paper, consider this—writing with a pen on paper uses different parts of your brain than typing. Research confirms that handwriting improves memory, learning, and cognitive processing. Handwriting allows you to feel more expressive and stimulates creativity. If you are a mature (read, senior) man or woman, you might know that cursive writing is used in therapy to increase cognitive function and stave off mental decline.

SETTING DAILY GOALS

Use these guidelines to set the goal for your writing sessions. Choose the option that you are most comfortable with. But once you set a goal, strive to achieve it at each session.

An Amount of Time

Write for a specified amount of time each session, then stop. Decide what you think you can achieve and give it a try. You can always raise or lower your time goal. Example: Each session, I will write for 30 minutes; 1 hour; 2 hours. When I have written for that amount of time, I will stop.

A Number of Words

Write a specified number of words each session, then stop. Decide what you think you can achieve and give it a try. You can always raise or lower your word count goal. Example: Each session, I will write 250 words; 500 words; 1000 words. When I have written this number of words, I will stop.

A Number of Pages

If you are handwriting, write enough to fill a certain number of pages in your notebook, then stop. Decide what you think you can achieve and give it a try. You can always raise or lower your page count goal. Example: I will fill 3 pages in my notebook each session; 5 pages; 10 pages. Then I will stop.

GETTING STARTED EACH DAY

How slowly or how quickly will you get starting writing at each session and how slowly or quickly will you produce your writing? If you prefer to ease into a writing session and need something to get the juices flowing, try one of these exercises:

• Start by writing 5 feelings or emotion words that capture how you feel at that moment before you begin to write. Examples: excited, nervous, confident, worried, brave, uncertain, happy, disorganized, tired, upbeat, focused. Don’t overthink it. Don’t elaborate. Just acknowledge these feelings—good or bad—and use them to fuel your writing during this session.

• Reread your previous day’s writing before you begin this session and write a short reflection on it. Yes, you are taking a few minutes to write about your writing! It can be very illuminating. If you are disappointed in your writing from the previous day, don’t beat yourself up! Note what disappoints you, shake it off, and keep going.  

Some prefer to start putting down words as quickly as possible, writing as fast as their hand can travel across the paper or fingers can fly on a keyboard. Others like to take it as slowly and meticulously as possible. There’s no right or wrong method—do whatever works for you.

SUMMARY

If you are a newbie writer, establishing a routine for your writing is not just a good idea, it’s recommended for making progress. Famous authors, with multiple books and accolades under their proverbial belts, use these same techniques book after book, year after year. Having a special place, time, and method for writing puts you in the right frame of mind to produce. Your brain recognizes the environment you have created and snaps into writing mode automatically. Give my suggestions a try. Let me know which ones work for you. Add your own tricks to get into a writing headspace that others might find helpful.

In addition to working as a nonfiction and creative nonfiction editor and writing coach, I am co-author, with Dr. Terri Lyon, of the book Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism: No activism degree required—use your unique skills to change the world. Visit my website page Make a Difference and Dr. Lyon’s activism website Life At The Intersection to learn more about Make a Difference, including how to place bulk orders.