Once you decide that you want to write, either for your business or your own personal development, making room in your schedule to write is important. If you wait to write only when you’re inspired, procrastination is inevitable. Something that serves as inspiration one day may not spark any creativity the next day. Inspiration is inconsistent, and you need to focus on your craft if you want to progress as a writer.

You need a writing routine that forces you to produce no matter what external circumstances you may face.

Consider the following elements when you incorporate writing into your life.


Choose the Right Topic

Writing on a regular basis takes as much discipline as an exercise routine. While some people may happily dedicate a portion of their day to physical activity, most people would rather be doing something less rigorous. If you want to feel motivated to work out, you must choose a type of exercise that aligns with your personality and preferences.

Since writing exercises your brain and requires intense concentration, it’s wise to choose a topic that you can talk about effortlessly. In verbal conversation, it’s difficult to think of anything to say when you don’t know much about the topic at hand. It would seem illogical to chose such a topic to write about, but many writers do indeed chose a topic that doesn’t motivate them. They may think that others regard the topic as interesting, so they want to contribute to that discussion, but ultimately find that they get stuck.

If you chose a topic that you don’t know much about, allow proper time to do thorough research on the subject before you start writing. A simple way to avoid extensive pre-writing research, however, is to choose a topic that you’ve already studied. There’s no substitute for knowledge and passion.

Ignore Standard Routines

Like any creative activity, you’ll often find that you’re compelled to write at inconvenient times. At first you may view that compulsion as a frustration, but if you learn to work with it, you’ll find that you naturally produce a substantial amount of writing in a short time. Transcribe your ideas when they are most alive in your brain.

Take notes on the times of day when you find yourself wanting to write. Many new writers make themselves write in the morning or in the evening, which is a great habit, but it can be counterproductive if you don’t feel energetic at the set time that you establish. Instead of picking an arbitrary time (mornings or evenings), schedule your writing time when feel most prolific.

You often have to ignore traditional mindsets when you set a writing schedule. The evening may be typically viewed as a time for relaxation, but it’s smart to write at night if that’s when your writer-self emerges. It will be easier to stick with your writing routine in the long run if you make the practice instinctive and fun.

Concentrate on the Benefit

What do you hope to achieve with your writing? Do you want more customers for your business? Do you want to create an online community with your blog? Do you want to create a writing portfolio?

You need to establish the goal that you hope to accomplish to stimulate your writing habits. Even though the act of writing should be enjoyable, sometimes it does become tedious, and you need a reminder of the sweet reward that you’ll one day get if you remain dedicated to improving your writing skills.

How did you find your ideal writing schedule? Share in the comments below.

Author Bio:
Stefanie Flaxman is a freelance copy editor and author of a new book about heartbreak.