Writing Routine Tips for Busy Writers

The writer’s life doesn’t just happen – it’s born and lives inside and grows as an insatiable goblin that demands to be fed. Life gets complicated. Despite having an undying, restless passion for writing, finding a routine with work and responsibilities or the little curveballs life likes to pelt us with seem impossible. So when do we feed the goblin? When do we write?

‘When do I write?’ I asked myself plenty when trying to balance a day job and fit a writer career around it. I knew I wanted to make writing a better part of my everyday, but with my neurodivergent tendencies, it was hard.

I am not a morning person, so getting up and writing every morning was impossible. Sure, I would get a few days of the good habit in, and then sure enough, I was back to my goblin ways. The ideas poured in at night more so than during my day. It almost seemed as if the moment I lay down to sleep, I would have another idea I couldn’t ignore and had to get down on paper ( I have a notebook by my bedside for this reason).

I carry a notebook in my back pocket as the quips and bits of dialogue come to mind when shelving books and a note in my phone for while I am driving that I can use speech to text to get down ideas.

I guess the point is – I am always writing.

So here’s my advice :

Morning Vs Night Writing: Which Is Best?

This depends on you and your circadian rhythm and when you feel best and most creative.

I am a night goblin. I also work a retail position where I work closing shifts, so I am at the store until nearly 10 p.m. At that point, I am still so wired that I won’t go to sleep until maybe 2 a.m. or even five. During that time, I get the most of my writing done because that’s when my brain is most active, and I have less household responsibility and distractions to keep me leaving my desk – just a cat pawing me for my spot in my desk chair.

If you’re a morning person and want to get your writing out first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, then do that. And just know, I aspire to be like you.

Everyone’s writing routine is different. Don’t feel like your writing routine has to look like everyone else. It’s not a competition, it’s a craft.

Carry Two Notebooks – Yes, This is an EXCUSE to buy ANOTHER Notebook!

I carry two notebooks. I have one that fits in my pocket, a moleskin or Lichtdurm, which is the brain dump and to-do list notebook. Another is the official book notebook, where I have my 20-point plot list and official notes for the book, where I transfer ideas from the brain dump notebook.

These notebooks are how I balance being a pantser/plotter when it comes to my writing.

I am all about organized chaos.I like the tiny notebook because I don’t give it any rhyme or reason, and I leave my OCD tendencies to the larger, official ‘book’ notebook. I take the smaller notebook to bed in case ideas come to mind just before sleep. Eventually, all the notes make it into the main book notebook.

Clear All Distractions – It Will Help!

I am the type of person who needs to get the household chores done before I sit down at my desk and get to the nitty-gritty, otherwise, I can’t focus. My writing is something I don’t like to be torn away from, which is different when I am just playing with ideas in my head. I like to use the time I do chores to brainstorm and will take notes down as they come along and then later in the evening I will sit down and write.

Do something special for yourself when you sit down to write. I like to light incense and play music when I write. Or I will have Law & Order in the background (I don’t recommend doing this, but I do it anyways).

Don’t Force It if You’re Not Feeling It

Too many times I have forced myself to sit down and write, and I didn’t like anything that I had on paper later. So don’t force it; your writing will show that you weren’t in it. Write when you get ‘the spark’ – whenever that hits you. Forcing yourself is one good way to reach burnout on a project.

Create A Realistic Routine For Your Writing Goals

If you’re a person who needs a schedule, I recommend catering more to your current habits. Don’t try to change your whole life based on living up to a New Year’s Eve Resolution and fitting writing into the mix. Psychological experts say that it takes thirty repetitions for a behaviour to become a habit. Don’t pressure yourself for not having a perfect writing routine right away!

Be Adaptable

Life gets crazy, and life changes, new jobs or family commitments can arise, so keep in mind that keeping a strict writing schedule will be next to impossible. When I tried incorporating writing into my everyday life, I tried to be that girl with the planner that had her whole life mapped out and everything went to plan – and then life laughed at me. Now, I use my planner to block out events that take me away from home (my studio), and I see where I have the space for writing and all of my other hobbies and projects.

(Because sometimes I will spend my day convincing myself I will write when I get home, and that’s not what ends up happening – one of the other hobby-goblins took over at that point.)

Listen to Your Body

Don’t try to write while you’re home sick with the ‘Rona or the flu. Don’t write something that brings out unhealthy coping mechanisms. Assess where you are mentally before proceeding. Currently, I am writing a mystery-abduction story that was beginning to take a toll on me mentally. When you write dark stuff, like I do, it’s important to practice self-care. I took a break about an hour and went to read and journal.

Take the time to rest and heal your body. It is unhealthy to push yourself to write when your body is stressed or fighting an infection. Tune into your mental and physical states to determine if it’s the best time to write. And listen when it signals no.

Burnout is real; it can and will sneak up on you, even if you’re doing something you love.

Track Your Progress

It’s easy to feel like having a writing routine isn’t helpful, but if you track your progress each time you write, it starts to feel real. You will build momentum and have an idea of your progress. I never cared about word count and thought it was a pretentious writer thing until I understood why. I follow what I like to call ‘the Stephen King Method’ where I aim to write ten to twelve good pages a day. Sometimes I get those pages, sometimes I don’t.

Writing and editing programs like Scrivener and NanoWriMo offer progress trackers and can help you set goals for yourself.

Conclusion

Creating a writing routine is not as simple as it seems. At the beginning of my writing career, I was impatient with myself. Mad that I wasn’t doing what I went to school for. My goal was to eat, sleep, and breathe writing and books. All the while paying the bills and working multiple jobs. After years of trial and error, I finally accomplished that. I work as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble and I write and work for an upcoming publishing house.

This journey began about five years ago when I decided to take my dream seriously about being a writer. It takes time to create a habit. Take every day one day at a time and you will be writing the way you want. ((In other words ‘Be patient, kid. You’ll get there’ (who the heck told me that and why does it live rent-free in my head?)).