Have you ever set a goal to write every day (or every week) and felt the momentum burn out after a few weeks? I did!
Years ago, I tried to write 50k words in a month for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). It’s safe to say that I did NOT achieve that goal. I couldn’t understand how anyone could accomplish something like that, and I doubted I could ever write consistently enough to join those great writers who find a way to write a whole novel in a month.
And then, in 2023, I wrote a 55k word novel in 2.5 months.
Did I suddenly have more time on my hands for writing? No. The opposite, in fact. So how did I do it? I learned 4 tips that helped me write consistently, despite my busy schedule. I want to share those with you!
1. Set Timers
This method is also known as “writing sprints.” No, there’s no cardio involved so don’t freak out.
When life gets busy, find the little 20-30 minute breaks in your day and set a timer. Write as much as you can until the timer runs out, and then move on with the rest of your tasks for the day. You’d be surprised how many words you can write in 20-30 minutes! This method helps create a time crunch, which eliminates distractions and builds motivation.
This helped me write every day, even if I worked a 10 hour shift! Even though some days didn’t produce a high word count, it didn’t matter. I was writing. Every day. Even just 200 words a day adds up eventually, and it’s 200 words that you wouldn’t have written otherwise.
Recommended for busy writers who feel like time is a luxury.
2. Write on Your Phone
This is something I started doing last year, when I started working 6 day work weeks. I downloaded Google Docs on my phone, and I never expected it to be as helpful as it has been!
Think about it. How often are you on your phone while you wait for a friend to meet you for coffee? Or between sets in the gym? Or even just killing time on a work break? What if during those little moments, you were able to jot down a scene in your book? If you look at your screen time and replaced a good chunk of it with writing, you’d see the word count go up dramatically. Trust me.
Once I started doing this, I noticed a MAJOR increase in my weekly word count. And I felt better about myself too, as I felt more productive while I killed time. Downloading Google Docs onto my phone was a game changer, and I wish I had done it sooner.
Recommended for on-the-go writers.
3. Use an Outline
All of the pantsers are going to hate me for this, but using an outline really helps (but do what works best for you and your process).
I still don’t know which camp I sit in yet, but using a basic chapter outline has helped me map out where I want the chapter to go. Before I used a chapter outline, writers’ block would keep me from making any progress for days. I wouldn’t know where the story was going, yet I had the desire to write. I just didn’t know WHAT to write.
Again, no writer is the same, and writing by the seat of your pants may help more than using an outline, so do what feels best for you! Whatever your process is, having some sort of plan for where you want things to go will help avoid the hurdles of writers’ block.
Recommended for writers who need a roadmap for their story.
4. Don’t Edit as You Write
I know you’ve probably heard this a million times, but that’s because it’s true (as much as the perfectionist in me hates it).
When you get into a groove and let the words fly, it’s easier to just keep writing and writing and writing…until you stop because you don’t like the way a certain sentence sounds. So then, you spend three minutes just rewriting the same sentence which may end up getting cut or changed again in revisions anyway.
I’m speaking for myself here! I still tend to edit a few things as I write, and it ALWAYS limits my word count for that day. On days where I just WRITE, my word count is in the thousands. But on days where I nitpick sentences and struggle to word something right, my word count dwindles into the hundreds.
As I’ve gotten busier in life, I’ve learned that when I’m drafting, I need to just write. If I want to edit, that’s what revisions are for. But I can’t edit something that isn’t even written first.
Recommended for writers who edit more than they write.
Are you ready to start writing? I hope these tips will help you build good writing habits!
(P.S. if you’d like to chat more about writing, my Instagram DMs are always open!)