The hardest part about starting to write is building a routine that allows you the time to write. Beyond that it rolls into discipline, inspiration and a bunch of other things that start to become easier as a routine becomes set.
Building a new routine is like building a new habit. Rumors of “just do it 21 times!” were quite popular. And while it has been debunked, suggesting that a new habit takes up to 2 months, it can be funny what you can convince your mind to believe. I personally live by the rules of 3.
3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. 3 days to adjust, 3 weeks to settle, 3 months to grow.
Those that know me well would probably find it funny that I attribute things to the number 3. 2 (or 22) is my lucky number, but 3, 5, 7 and 13 are important numbers that often work their way into various aspects of lore writing and even magic.
Building a routine is hard. Especially when there are other things in life that keep that routine a challenge from happening. From spousal support, needy children, social obligations and even the infamous writers block that will give you every excuse in the world not to write.
I’m starting small. 1k-2k words a day. If I struggle I plan to drop it to 500 words a day. This isn’t NaNoWriMo, and I am not going to write a novel in a month (even if I have, twice). Responsibilities has made that impossible for the time being. But goals are just as important too.
Like a new bottle of wine when hitting 10k words. For us moms, that’s a realistic goal and reward.
Trouble with writing is that I’m currently in the research phase. Reading, note-taking. Hopefully after a few solid weeks of research I will come back from vacation and really buckle down. Hopefully. At the very least with a slotted 6 hour escape every friday, with potentially others sporadically during the week a routine will eventually stabilize. If not… Well, it would mean time to start thinking up a new plan. OR force something out of the current one.
Why sort of ways do you get yourself writing within your daily routine? What are some of your distractions?
First Book Status: Structuring Plot – 5%