stop procrastinating and start writing
As a budding fiction author, my writing routine started out quite sporadic, but now I feel as though I have a personalized approach. Every writer is presented with a different set of circumstances that shape their writing habits. I have two young sons and my time is limited. My wife and I are professionals with demanding schedules. I have to write whenever time is available. I’ve curated six distinct parts of my writing habits. If you know that writing is your passion, then you will discover you own writing routine.
- Prayer and meditation
- Coffee
- Reading
- Brainstorm, Outlining, and Notes
- Responsibilities
- Lo-Fi Music
the process is unique to the writer
Prayer and meditation are essential to getting anything accomplished. It’s my lifeline and communication with God that keeps me grounded. The coffee bean is definitely my birth stone. I prefer Dunkin donuts, but I brew coffee at home also, and my last resort is Starbucks for my frequent caffeine hit. Normally, I guzzle one cup of coffee between 6-7 am. I listen to podcasts on the way to work and on the way back to home from work—the range of topics include spiritual, scientific, and fictional literary works.
If you have a dream, vision, or idea it is best practice to jot those things down quickly before they escape your memory. I use Notion save those notes especially for different projects and tasks. If you need organization and a productivity boost in your life, then suggest downloading the notion app for your PC or smartphone.
Being present in my sons’ lives is by far the most important part of my day. How was their day at school? What made them happy or sad at school? What do they need to study and practice more of in their education? My writing comes secondary to everything else in my world. Writing fiction and music lyrics are aligned with my passions and giftings, but I also have responsibilities. I am a husband and I have little ones who are developing in a forever changing world.
I do not have a special place to write. However, the kitchen table disconnected from social media and television has proven to be the most productive. Lo-Fi music softly playing in my headphones or Bluetooth speakers sets my writing mood.
I try not to focus on word count per day, but I focus is quality of writing. You can write five thousand words per day, but the quality of writing may be poor. Sometimes it is better to throw everything away and start over from scratch. I’d rather write one thousand words per day of quality text. Overtime you will start to write more and more words per day. This comes with practice and consistency.
the conclusion
If you are an aspiring writer, you will soon learn what daily rituals assist to efficiently flex your writing muscles. The key to effective writing is to simply start. Stop procrastinating, making excuses, and just start writing!
How to Develop a Productive Writing Process – 2022 – MasterClass
