It’s my second week of writing 100 words daily on this blog. At first, I didn’t really trust myself on this. I have tried a month of 6-word stories and three months of daily poetry on Instagram. Before I started with this daily blog post, I did a month of daily tweets (280 characters) on Twitter.
But a blog post requires a larger word count for it to make sense. Today, I will share three tips on how to develop a daily writing habit. These tips are written to help you start and stay consistent.
Start Small
Begin with 6 words. Start with one stanza. Begin with 280 characters and gradually increase it to 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 words. The secret to changing a habit is by starting incredibly small. The bigger the goal seems, the less likely you are to achieve it because the resistance is greater.
Although I always end up with 300-500 words, setting a goal of 100 words makes it look easier to me. I know that if there is a day when I might slack (wake up late or be super busy), it’s not hard to produce a 100-word blog post. I will still find time and just get it done.
Set a Time and Pick a Writing Space
We can go to work every single day without fail because we know where to go and when to start, for instance, KLCC every weekday – starting at 8 am and ending at 5 pm. Treat writing, or any other habit you want to develop, the same way, whether it’s exercising, reading, etc.
I set 5:00 am as my writing time, the very moment I wake up. I’ll have a glass of water and go straight to a low desk in my living room. It doesn’t have to be 5:00 am for everyone; just pick a time, whether it’s your lunch hour, 6:00 pm before you head home, or 9:00 pm before you go to sleep. But show up every day, consistently. It’s going to be hard, but it gets easier. Repetition is the key to mastery.
‘Write’ the Day Before
Think about what you want to write the day before. Write it down on your phone, in your journal, or on a piece of paper. Have a list of writing ideas, go through it, and decide on a specific topic to write about for the next day. Once you decide, the thinking and writing process already starts in your subconscious mind, and words will flow easily the moment you hit the keyboard.
I visualise myself writing before I go to sleep, very vividly:
- The time
- The space
- And the topic
And I believe I will do it.
If you’re like me, trying to develop a daily writing habit, I hope this post will inspire you to start and stay consistent with your intention. Thanks for reading, and talk to you later.
Additional Tips for Building a Writing Habit
To further enhance your daily writing habit, consider incorporating these additional strategies:
- Accountability: Share your writing goals with a friend or join a writing group. Accountability partners can provide encouragement and motivation.
- Rewards: Reward yourself for meeting your writing goals. It could be a treat, a break, or anything that makes you feel good.
- Read Regularly: Reading regularly can improve your writing skills and provide inspiration. Choose books, articles, or blogs that interest you and align with your writing goals.
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