Writing

How Do I Develop an Effective Writing Habit?

You’re a writer, right?

You got to do what you got to do. You need to write.

How Do I Develop an Effective Writing Habit?

When it comes to putting words on paper your brain tends to stop working.

But when it comes to putting words on paper or monitor, your hands get stuck or your brain tends to stop working.

You feel like you’re in the middle of a desert. Not knowing what to do. Walking around like a vagabond.

If you’re experiencing this for the first time or have gone through this before, know that you’re not the only one. Many other writers like you got troubled by this.

I’ve also been in this situation. I remember the feeling, my brain felt like it stopped working and has shut down. All the bright and lovely ideas were gone… poooff!! Vanished in the air.

Maybe it happened to you too.

But don’t worry too much.

If you want to make a writing habit and be a successful writer I got you covered. Here are six stellar tips to help you develop an effective writing habit (Tip six helped me in a great way to develop mine)

1. Create a Suitable Environment

First, stay away from all the distractions.

If you like to write on your couch but after writing for ten minutes you end up picking up the TV remote, try writing at the kitchen table.

You can also try writing in a coffee shop or even better, in a library.

Create an environment you’ll feel comfortable to write. If you like to write on your desk, clean it up for a refreshed ambit. Arrange your books nicely, put your pens, pencils and markers on penholder. Give your desk a nice tidy look.

Some people may like messy desk. If you’re on of them, don’t get annoyed hearing you need to clean your desk and keep it tidy. Messy desks can be productive too!

Here’s a famous quote from Albert Einstein –

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Did you know Einstein and Mark Twain worked with messy desks?.

If you find the noises around bothersome, you can put on your headphones and listen to your favorite songs while writing.

Or you can try noise apps instead. They appear to be very helpful to concentrate on your work. Here are some of them I find useful –

  • Coffitivity (Available on web, App Store and Google Play)
  • Noisli (Available on web and App Store)
  • Noizio (Available on Mac and App Store)
  • Soundrown (Available on web)

2. Find the Most Productive Hour of the Day

Write when productivity hits you. Some people write in the morning, some write after lunch. Some of them also like to write at late afternoon.

Find your own most productive hour. If you can’t figure out the best time for you to write, experiment with different times of the day.

You’ll find your very best hour.

3. Write in Time Bursts

Set off a timer and write until it breaks off. Sit strong and write. Let it be crap.How Do I Develop an Effecitve Writing Habit?

Throw away your writing after the time finishes if you don’t like it. Just keep your hands busy.

You can use the Pomodoro technique if you want. It’s about working in time spells.

You can set a timer for 25 minutes and then you can take a break for 5 minutes. Then you can start again writing.

There are many timer apps which can be found on App Store and Google Play.

4. Be Consistent

Try to write in a regular period. If you wrote at 11:30pm yesterday, try to show up at the same time every day. Writing every day is not a habit. It’s more likely a discipline. A discipline that differs pro from amateurs.

5. Write Anything!

The hardest part for a writer to make writing a habit is to get words on the page.

Don’t get too overwhelmed. Just relax and let the words flow. As I’ve mentioned in my third tip, just keep your hands busy.

If you still find yourself in the middle of a sea, here are some ideas you can write about:

  • Write a letter to yourself
  • Write how your day is going
  • What are your plans for rest of the day
  • Lay out your goals for your freelance writing business
  • Form a plan to promote yourself as a freelance writer
  • Try writing a poetry or short story.

6. Create Inspiration

Try to write at least 200 words each day and when you finish writing put a happy face smiley on the date in the calendar. Consider the day a success.

Show up again tomorrow and repeat and add an additional 50 words. Learn to pump out 1,000 words in a day.

Remember, it’s all about putting words into the page. It’s not too hard to adopt writing as a habit. You need to concentrate and be consistent.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, here’s all you got to do to make an efficient writing habit:

  • Make your surrounding work for you.
  • Write on a regular basis.
  • Keep your hands busy writing.
  • Do something inspirational.

What do you do to keep your fingers busy dancing with words? Share in the comments below.

Sajib Mannan is a certified Inbound Marketer by HubSpot and also a writer. He specializes in inbound marketing, blogging, social media and developing a brand. While he is not busy helping people get more clients you can find him playing field hockey. Check out his blog for tips on getting sparkling online presence. Contact him if you want to attract more clients online.

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1 Comments

Hi Sajib Mannan, I love how you showed people that in this article they can develop their writing habit by following your guidelines and practices. You have provided effective ideas on how amateur writers like myself can become better writers. I can certainly see how the results of these practices will improve an individual’s writing habit.Reply to Diana