Do you find that your life seems to be going nowhere? Maybe you feel like you’re not progressing strategically, nor meeting the expectations of those around you? Has this ever happened to you?
You’re not alone. We all feel like this sometimes.
What you need is a good writing habit.
What is a writing habit?
Simply put, a writing habit is the regular practice of writing. It can be anything from posting on social media to sending out regular emails or even making regular notes towards a business plan.
Why is a daily writing habit important?
Firstly, writing is the best way to both express yourself and work on improving your skills. Secondly, it forces you to sit down and be still for a little while. Thirdly, it can be cathartic to write down your thoughts and feelings. Focusing on your weaknesses and things you need to work on can help you grow stronger.
How can I develop a daily writing habit?
There are multiple ways to create a writing habit. Here are a few simple tips to get you started:
Pick One Word
If you want to create a daily writing habit, you need to start with one simple word. This is easier said than done, I know. You see, not everyone finds it easy to simply sit down and jot down some thoughts. The idea of forcing yourself to come up with something can sometimes feel overwhelming.
So what do you do? You need to pick a single word that you will use to represent your daily writing. This can be a verb, a noun, or even a phrase. Choose something simple that will draw focus but also easy to write.
For example, I recommend you start with “write” because it is such a simple word and can be used in so many contexts. You could use it to describe both your morning routine and your evening activities. The possibilities are endless. Once you’ve picked your word, start using it whenever you want to write. This could be anything from a short story, a poem, or even a business plan. It doesn’t necessarily have to be “write”. Use what works best for you.
Start Small
When you have a clear idea of what your writing habit is going to be, you can start small. Even if it’s just a couple of sentences a day, you’re still making progress. This is because small steps lead to big steps, and eventually, you’ll be writing an entire novel or even a full-length screenplay. So, don’t be discouraged if your first attempt at writing is a few paragraphs or even a single sentence. Just keep going.
Take Breaks
If you’re sitting down to write and you start to get tense or overwhelmed, take a break. Go for a walk, take a drive, or even go to the playground. Whatever it may be, getting away from your desk for a while can help you return relaxed and ready to continue writing.
When you return, you’ll find that your mind has cleared and you are ready to take on your daily writing task. Even if it’s just a few sentences, you’ll feel that you made progress when you compare it to how you felt before you started writing.
Make It Fun
Writing is a serious process, but it can also be a very rewarding one. One of the keys to making it easier to develop a daily writing habit is to find a way to look at it as a game. If you sit down to write every day, but you don’t enjoy it, how is that helping you?
You’re here to improve your skills, right? So find ways to have fun while doing that. Make a list of things you enjoy doing. Perhaps you love to paint, or draw, or even read. Whatever it may be, find an outlet for it and use that to your advantage. When you start to enjoy the process of writing, it will be that much easier to develop a daily writing habit. Plus, if it’s something you enjoy doing, it will become easier to fit into your routine. More importantly, if you want to be a successful screenwriter, you need to keep having fun. After all, writing is still just a hobby for most people.
Make It a Routine
One of the worst things you can do if you want to develop a daily writing habit is to put it off. If you decide today is the day you’re going to start writing, but then don’t do it for a couple of weeks, you’re losing out on all the progress you could have made. So, don’t wait until the last minute to start your daily writing routine. Choose a day that works best for you and remember to write every day. Even if it’s just a short story, a novel, or a few pages of a business plan, as long as you write every day, you’ll make progress, no matter what.
The worst thing you can do is put it off until later. So, instead of waiting until the end to start your daily writing habit, take the first step now. Even if it’s just a few sentences at first, you’re still making progress and setting yourself up for success.
Your writing is important to you, so taking the time to develop a daily writing habit is essential. Once you do, you’ll find it much easier to continue writing, even if you don’t enjoy it at first. Plus, it’ll be a whole lot more fun when you do enjoy it. So, don’t get discouraged if your first writing attempt is bad. Just keep going, and before you know it, you’ll have a whole story or even a novel hanging out there. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll even write a best-seller.