1. Learn from the Pros
2. Set Writing Goals
3. Build a Routine
4. Utilize Writing Sprints
So much of writing is managing your time. But how do you make the most of your time when the words just won't flow? Try writing sprints.
It turns out a little competition — with others or yourself — can really push the process forward, even when it feels like slogging through mud.
5. Make It a Habit
Humans are creatures of habit. Which is great, because habits free up mental energy by automating our actions and allowing us to focus on more complex tasks — like writing.
For example, when sitting down in your favorite armchair at 5 p.m. to write becomes a habit, you don't have to expend the mental energy deciding whether to do that. And that makes getting started a lot easier.
There are many ways we can leverage our tendency toward the habitual to aid us in the writing process. Good writing habits, when used correctly, can help us get into a regular rhythm that keeps us focused during our writing time.
Find out what habits experts recommend writers cultivate here.
6. Gamify Your Process
7. Create Your Workspace
We all have a place where we love to write. If we're lucky, we get to arrange it just the way we like it. The key is to create a space that helps you focus and inspires you.
Because that's the ideal writing space: whether it's a fixed point in your house, or a setup that travels with you, the point of this space is not to be pretty or professional, or to impress others or look good on social media.
The point is to create an ambience that gets you in the mood to write.
8. Join a Community
Mike Somerby identifies as a writer — with some reservation.
