How to Build A Writing Habit
Building a sustainable writing habit is one of the most valuable things you can do as an author. Whether you’re working on your first novel or your fifth, having a consistent writing practice helps provide the momentum and motivation needed to get your stories over the finish line.
In 2009, the European Journal of Social Psychology released a study that stated it takes a person between 18 to 254 days to form a new habit, with an average of 66 days for that new behaviour to become automatic. Setting clear goals and maintaining consistent practice is crucial to making writing an automatic behaviour.
With dedication and the right approach, it is entirely possible to develop a lasting writing habit that serves you well beyond any single project.
What is a writing habit?
A writing habit is something you do regularly, and a routine is an established way of building that habit. But creating a writing habit requires consistency to be effective.
Writing habits are like muscles: they get stronger with use. And while some writers have an easier time than others in keeping up the pace, everyone can benefit from having a regular writing regimen that makes them more productive in the long run, and keeps them from falling off the wagon completely when life gets hectic or stressful.
Not everyone will want to focus on productivity when writing, and that’s okay. Some writers just want to write for the fun of it, while others just enjoy wandering the halls of their own creativity. But some writers need routine and focus to get their writing over the finish line. Productivity isn’t a dirty word, it’s a choice, so if you’re a writer who struggles with focus or wants to get the most out of their writing time, then building a sustainable writing habit might be just what you need!
How to build a sustainable writing habit
The key to developing a lasting writing practice is creating a structured schedule with clearly defined targets. Structure and targets are essential elements for habit building. While the process takes dedication and planning, the rewards of establishing a consistent writing routine are well worth the effort, especially if you struggle with time management or want to pursue writing as a career.
Set a regular goal
Setting clear, achievable goals is one of the first steps to building a writing habit.
Start by setting realistic targets that align with your schedule and energy levels. These goals should challenge you while remaining achievable. Consistency matters more than hitting ambitious numbers.
You must ensure that your goals are realistic. Whether you plan to write 100 words a day or 1000 in a week, it doesn’t matter. It’s the habit that’s the critical part. You can always redefine your goals as your circumstances change.
We’ve made it easy to set your goals in Novlr for precisely this reason. Goal tracking and analytics let you know exactly how you’re progressing against your targets! You can set your own word counts across all projects or for single novels, and we even tracks your writing streaks, so you know how many weeks you’ve written in a row.
Track your progress
Whether you’re digital or analogue, one of the most important things you can do to keep track of your writing habit with a calendar, planner, or other tracking solution. This will help you see how often you’re writing, what days work best for you, and how much time it takes out of your day.
Personally, I use a mood-tracking app that lets me track my daily activities (of which writing is one). I can also write down any other events happening in my life during this period, so I know if certain moods, activities, or events distract me from my writing goals.
I’ve learned a lot about myself as a writer through this practice, and it helps me plan with my goals in mind. I’ve learned that on certain days, if I’m in a certain mood, then creativity is just not on the cards for me, so I don’t force it.
Forming a writing habit is a delicate balance between productivity and self-care. On days I know I won’t be creative, I do something writing-adjacent to keep up my schedule and save my big creative pushes for days when I know I stand the best chance of being productive.
Ignore your inner critic
It’s safe to say that writers are some of the most self-critical people. Imposter syndrome is rife, and we tend to question everything we do, and our talents, at every opportunity. This is always exacerbated if you’ve taken a break from writing and come back to it after some time (another reason why building a writing habit is so essential).
Letting your inner critic get the best of you and breaking your flow is the worst thing you can do to yourself as a writer. A writing habit is all about writing regularly and not necessarily about the quality of what you produce. You’ll see a huge increase in the quality of your prose if you just get out of your own head.
Don’t worry about making mistakes—you’ll always be able to fix them in editing. And don’t worry about what other people think—the only opinion that matters is yours!
Set yourself some dedicated, distraction-free time to write
While it’s easier said than done, carving out some dedicated, distraction-free writing time is essential to building a sustainable writing habit. It doesn’t matter when that is or where you do it; find what works best for you and try to stay consistent over time.
I’m not a morning person, so my most productive time for personal projects is in the evenings. I try to write for an hour after I finish work and before I think about dinner. If I’m in the zone, I might keep going and eat at my desk, or come back to it and write until the early hours.
A lot of writing advice will tell you to write first thing in the morning and write your “morning pages“, but realistically, that doesn’t work for everyone. No one knows you better than you, so try to establish what works best for you, and set aside time and space in your schedule. Even if you only have 10 minutes and can only write 100 words, that’s ok. Every little bit maintains your writing habit and brings you one step closer to the finish line.
Be accountable
Making a commitment to yourself is one of the best ways to ensure success. When you set a deadline, commit to a goal, and share that goal with others, you create a sense of accountability.
Accountability can come from simply writing your goals down or, even better, telling someone what you will do and making them aware of your progress. Share your writing goals with family and friends, or connect with other writers who can help track your progress. Having writing buddies means you can celebrate successes and support each other through challenges.
A great way to do this is by joining an online community, either through social media, or using a community platform like Discord. We even have our own Novlr writing community, where you can talk about your writing with other like-minded writers!
Write, don’t edit
Write the first draft. Don’t edit as you go.
The goal of a first draft is to get words on the page, not to worry about grammar or style. Editing as you go is a surefire way to get yourself stuck in a loop and letting your inner critic take over.
Of course, it’s ok to edit if something isn’t working and you need to take something in a new direction, but don’t get too hung up on the minutiae. I, personally, use a technique called fast-drafting. When I want to make a change or take my project in a new direction, I leave myself a note and write from that point as if I’ve already made the change. I’ve never had a project end up exactly as I’d planned initially, so it’s always best to go along for the journey before you start overthinking.
Just letting yourself write is incredibly freeing and is definitely the best way to keep up a writing habit. Self-editing as you go interrupts your flow, and it can be tough to get back into the right headspace to pick up the narrative threads again.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the writing you need to do and wondering where to start, remember that building a sustainable writing habit is about consistency, not perfection. It’s about getting words out of your head and onto the page. With a little bit of planning and a lot of determination, you can develop a writing practice that works for you. It’s not an easy task, requires a lot of self-reflection and trial-and-error, but the rewards of a consistent writing habit are worth the effort!
