Dear writer,
Sometimes, writing comes easily to us. We can’t wait to sit down in front of our manuscript, and when we do, the words just flow onto the page. But there are also moments when we can’t bring ourselves to even think about our book, let alone write it. And when that happens, it’s good to have a few strategies on hand to help us make progress. So, here are 5 tips to help you write more, and more consistently.
(Quick note: English is not my first language, so you may occasionally notice small mistakes or awkward phrasing. Thank you for your understanding, and I hope you enjoy the content 😊)
1) Remember the reason why you decided to be a writer
When you took the plunge and started writing, there was something inside of you that was calling you, pushing you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). A reason that you might not have been able to explain but which was there nonetheless.
This reason is called your “Why”. Finding it and remembering it will help you stay the course when Sister Procrastination, Brother Self-doubt, or Cousin Zero Motivation shows up.
Maybe you have a message to share with the world. Maybe it’s your life experience. Maybe you just want to entertain people and make them have a good time… Regardless of what that reason is, it needs to be powerful enough and deeply rooted in you.
Because here’s the thing: your Why isn’t just there to motivate you on the days when writing feels easy. It’s there for the difficult days.
The days when you start wondering whether your book is actually any good. The ones when you think, “What’s the point?” The days when fear, self-doubt, or perfectionism convince you that maybe you should just close your laptop and do something else instead.
Your Why won’t make those feelings disappear. But it reminds you why they’re worth facing.
Sometimes, people think they need to feel motivated before they can write. Personally, I don’t think that’s true. Motivation comes and goes. Your Why, on the other hand, is much more stable. It’s the reason you keep coming back to your manuscript, even when it’s hard or you’ve spent months without touching it.
And that’s what consistency is really about. Not feeling motivated every day, but having something meaningful enough to come back to, even when motivation decides to go on holiday.
So having a strong Why will be one of your best assets to keep going 😊
2) Take advantage of your “On” days to make up for the “Off” days
Sure, as a writer, you would like to write every day, for several hours. And if you manage to do that, that’s great! Kudos to you! 😃
But sometimes, you might have off days… Days when you just can’t seem to write more than 2 sentences (if that!). Days when life’s demands are just too heavy and you don’t have time or energy for your manuscript…
That’s okay, it happens… Don’t blame yourself, don’t put pressure on yourself, and definitely don’t start questioning your worth as an author! Having off days is normal…
Actually, I think that’s something many writers struggle with.
For some reason, we expect ourselves to be creative on demand. If we wrote 2,000 words yesterday, we assume we should be able to do the same today. And if we can’t, we immediately jump to conclusions (like: “Maybe I was never a real writer to begin with”).
But creativity doesn’t work like that. It’s not an assembly line running 24/7. Fluctuations in your creativity happen, and there’s no need to stress about it.
The key to dealing with that is to capitalize on the “on” days… The ones where you’re on fire! You’re completely in the zone, inspiration is sitting on your shoulder, and you just keep pouring words onto the page… These are magical days, and you should use them and protect them at all costs (more on that in a minute). Go all in on those days, write as much and as long as you can, don’t stop for anything or anyone (OK, except maybe if your kids are bleeding 😜)!
It will make up for the days when you couldn’t write, or not a lot. And it will help you feel better about those off days if you know you made great progress during your last session.
Writing consistently doesn’t necessarily mean writing the same amount every day. It doesn’t even mean writing every day! Sometimes, it simply means trusting that you’ll come back to your manuscript when you’re able to, and not making your off days mean something they don’t.
3) Set boundaries
Remember just now, when I said that you need to protect your “on” days at all costs? Well, that is probably one of the most difficult parts of the writing life.
As an author, you need to set boundaries.
First, with others. Don’t be afraid to tell your family: “This is my time to write and I don’t want to be disturbed unless there’s an emergency.” Be ruthless about it, if necessary (no, a misplaced toy is not a real emergency!).
But you also need to set boundaries with yourself… ESPECIALLY with yourself! 😅
If you decide that you’re going to write on a Friday evening, don’t let Netflix, social media, or an invitation from your friends deter you from your writing session.
You might be thinking: “What? Because I’m a writer, I can’t go out with my friends anymore?”. Of course you can! Your social time helps with having balance in your life and that’s what makes it sustainable in the long run.
And I get it, sometimes, saying no to someone is difficult because you don’t want to disappoint people or seem selfish for focusing on your book. Or maybe you don’t want to miss out on a fun time with your loved ones. That’s valid, and I’m not saying you should always skip these opportunities.
Just remember that while you’re out partying, you’re not writing. It’s not a problem, as long as you’re aware of it and keep that in mind. Don’t automatically say yes to every invitation without at least considering the impact on your writing schedule or journey.
Because yes, being a writer sometimes comes with sacrifices… And no one is going to prioritize your writing for you, if you don’t do it yourself… So it’s up to you to decide what is more important to you, at any given moment where you could be working on your book.
By the way, that’s when having a strong “Why” can help! If you know that your soul has a message to share with the world, it’ll make saying no to a dinner invitation all the easier. You’re not saying no just to protect a writing session. Instead, you’re saying yes to something that’s deeply important to you…
4) Find out what works for you, and what doesn’t
There are plenty of tips and tricks to help you write more consistently. But some of them won’t work for you. And if you insist on using them, the only result you’re going to get is being frustrated!
Sure, you need to test them out, as many as you can, until you find some that really help you, instead of frustrating you…
If you like routines, and can actually stick to them in the long run, great. Use that to write more consistently. But if you already know that, in every other part of your life, routines don’t work for you, why would you absolutely want to create a writing routine?
Likewise, if you work well under pressure, having deadlines or using the Pomodoro technique might help you. But if time pressure gives you anxiety and makes you freeze, then it’s not a good option for you…
Now, let me be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t challenge yourself! As mentioned before, you can test as many tools/techniques as possible, until you find some that are useful for you (YOU! Not every other writer on social media! And not the fantasized image of the writer you would like to be).
But don’t force yourself to stick to a method that doesn’t work for you, as it can be detrimental to your mindset.
Why?
Because after a while, it stops being about the routine, or the Pomodoro technique, or whatever method you’re trying to force on yourself. It just becomes one more reason to blame yourself or think you’re not cut out to be a writer. Which is clearly not the way to go! Writing is important, but not more than your mental well-being…
So the idea is to find a method that is adapted to you and how you function; not adapt yourself to a method just because some famous writer said so (hello Stephen King! 😅). Especially if said method makes you miserable…
5) Find a tribe
Look for communities of writers, either online or in your neighborhood. For example, with Meetup, you can find groups of authors who gather on a regular basis, and write together.
A lot of these groups also organize writing sprints, where you try to write as much as you can, in a set amount of time. It’s fun to challenge and compete against yourself to improve your word count at every session. Plus, this collective creative energy will boost you and help you move forward in your writing.
I also think there’s something else that’s really valuable about spending time with other writers… It helps you realize you’re not as weird as you thought 😅
Seriously, hearing others share their own struggles or doubts about their books can be very reassuring. It won’t make yours disappear, of course. But it might change the way you look at them. Instead of thinking that there’s something wrong with you, you start seeing that it’s just part of the writing process.
Plus, if you find a community that suits you, you’ll get surrounded by people who share your passion and will cheer you up when you succeed or when you feel down 😊
Alternatively, you can try to find an accountability partner. Someone who will support your efforts and meet with you at least once a week to discuss your progress on your manuscript. Knowing you have that weekly meeting can be the gentle kick in the butt that will make you sit down to write.
And BTW, this is something I can help you with as well, since it’s part of my coaching offer 😉
These are just some of the tips you can use to write more consistently (of course, there are many more you can try). But if you’ve been stuck for a while and writer’s block is winning the battle, you might need to dig deeper to find what’s hiding behind it. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to reach out! That’s what my coaching service is all about 😊
❓Now tell me, which method will you try in order to write more consistently? Feel free to share in the comments…
Until next time, my friend, write on! 😊
