Every writer works differently and has different strengths and weaknesses, as well as a different set of personal circumstances.
One person may write full-time, for example, while another may need to fit writing in around a day job.
Obviously, the same writing routine will not work equally well for these two people.
So how do you establish a writing routine that works for you? Here are 5 useful tips to follow
1. Set goals and establish your routine around them: The first thing you must consider when creating a writing routine is this: what are the goals you want to achieve. It’s important to know that you need to know what constitutes a realistic goal for you, taking into consideration your circumstances and the way you write. Whether it’s a measure of time, word count or some other metric, use whatever works best for you to set your goals. Then you can devise a writing routine that will help you achieve them.
2. Create a dedicated writing space: Something many writers find helpful in establishing a writing routine is creating a dedicated writing space. Your dedicated writing space can be anything from a full home office, to a desk or comfortable chair in the corner of a room. Whatever it is, it must be an area you feel comfortable in and one in which you won’t be bothered by other people. Your space should be a sanctuary that allows you to concentrate, focus, and dedicate your attention solely to writing.
3. Adopt a ‘making time, not finding time’ mindset: You need to consider how dedicated to writing you actually are – how much of a commitment you’re willing to make to achieve your goals. If you’re really passionate about finishing that novel, you must adopt a mindset of making time for your writing, rather than simply finding time here and there.
4. Try different writing methods to determine which works best: It may take some experimentation before you settle on the writing routine that works best for you. For every writing method you discover, note down things like how many words you achieved and how you felt about that particular method. Then compare your results to see which method/s you liked best, and which worked best for you.