Build a writing habit
Crush your writing goals one small step at a time
In my writers’ group, we talk about writing goals. We encourage and hold each other accountable. We discuss how goals should be “S.M.A.R.T”
That is:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Bound
(Here’s a helpful article that unpacks this idea.)
How do S.M.A.R.T. goals apply to writing?
Rather than something vague like “write more” or even “finish my book” (you know, the one you’ve been working on for a few years), break down your goal to smaller specific steps.
When working on a rough draft, I follow the advice of Carolyn See, in her classic book Making a Literary Life. Her advice? “Write 1000 words per day, five days per week.”
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That goal is specific. The assignment is clear. Write 1000 words per day.
It is measurable. You either hit the number or you don’t.
It is achievable. With effort and intention, you can write 1000 words per day. Or maybe 900 today and 1100 tomorrow. This newsletter, for comparison, is typically between 500 and 1000 words. Today, I’ve written 1000 words just for illustration’s sake.
A daily word goal, no matter the number, is relevant, especially if your long-term goal is to finish a draft of your manuscript. In fact, a daily word goal is a means to achieving the further goal of completing your book. It’s also relevant if your goal is to publish a newsletter.
It is time-bound: it names a specific amount of words to be completed each day, and consequently, each week.
When I’m working on a book, I keep a spreadsheet to track the number of words I write each day. This keeps a running tally of my total words and allows me to track my progress visually. A typical nonfiction book is about 50,000 to 60,000 words. Do the math: 1000 words a day, five days a week, is 5000 words per week. So a rough draft, if you’re diligent, will take 10 to 12 weeks to complete.
That does not mean you’ll have a ready-to-publish book in three months. This formula assumes that you’ve done the work beforehand of creating a clear outline. It also assumes have a clear understanding of who your reader is and what your book will do for that reader. It also assumes there will be several rounds of editing and revision after the first draft is completed. There’s plenty of work before and after writing that rough draft.
But writing daily will move you toward the goal of a completed manuscript. You’ll make progress. Specific, measurable progress.
If you have a day job besides writing, as many of my coaching clients do, you might not feel you have the creative energy or time to draft 1000 words per day. But maybe you could do 500, or 250.
My coaching clients send me about 5000 words per month for review and discussion. You can draft 5000 words a month by writing just 250 words per day, five days per week. I encourage them not to write it all at once, but to break their goals down into achievable chunks. My clients often write more than their 5000 words, then self-edit and revise (which generally shortens your word count but improves the quality.)
How do you find the motivation to sit down and write 1000 words per day? Or 250 words per day?
I believe any goal needs habits that support it.
Goals are what you want to achieve. They’re the destination. Habits are the daily actions you take to get there. They’re the journey.
Everyone has habits. They are built in routines that we don’t really have to think about. Think about your morning habits: brush your teeth, make coffee, eat breakfast. Maybe you have a habit of exercising first thing in the morning. Or writing in your journal.
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I’m currently reading James Clear’s bestselling book, Atomic Habits. He writes about slow, incremental change that habits allow us to make. “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations,” he writes.
You can build all sorts of habits. You might build a habit of exercising every day. Saving a specific amount of money every month. Flossing your teeth. Meditating. Whatever.
I’ve written or co-written more than two dozen books, and countless other resources. Sometimes people ask me how I get inspired, or how I overcome writers’ block.
The answer? Any seasoned writer knows: butt in the chair. I write like it’s my job, because it is. I show up. In other words, over the last few decades, I have built a writing habit. You can do this too.
Where do I show up? I have a designated space in my home—a 10-by-10 room with good light, pictures on the wall, a lot of books, and my desk. I sit at this desk 5 days a week. I write, I edit, I meet (via Zoom) with coaching clients. I make a habit of using my peak productive time of day (morning) to write. Doing the same thing in the same place reinforces my habit, and productivity.
Don’t let the fact that I am still wearing the yoga pants I slept in fool you. My writing happens because I have built a writing habit. I reach writing goals one habit at a time.
I want to grow my editing and publishing business (goal). I write a newsletter for you on Fridays (habit). During the week, I think about what I’ll write, jot a few notes, do research. (While doing other writing and editing work.) But Friday morning, I’m writing this newsletter. I admit, I do this imperfectly, as attentive readers will notice. I sometimes skip a week. But the overall direction of my habit is consistently forward—I show up to write, and you get something in your inbox on Fridays.
By making a habit of writing this and other things, I hone my craft. I move toward my goals.
Talk to me (in the comments):
Think about your own writing goals.
Can you name a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound goal. One that perhaps feels a bit beyond your grasp?
What one writing habit would help you achieve your goal?