ID: A person sits in lotus pose with their back to the camera, They’re on a deck overlooking trees.
I’m stuck.
Sitting here at a coffee shop for my regular writing time, I’ve only managed to type two short paragraphs in the past hour.
I don’t have as much time to write as I would like these days, so this space I’ve carved out is precious to me
Because this time is so valuable, I’m ordinarily hyper-focused and efficient. I don’t check social media, I don’t clear my inbox, I don’t answer the phone.
Today, though, I’m staring at my manuscript, and y’all, I’m struggling.
I’ve noodled unnecessarily with a passage I know I’m going to have to revisit anyway after I do plot revisions. I’ve spent way too much time looking up visual images when I know that I can sneak this task in at other times throughout the week. I’ve stared and stared and stared at the page.
Just as I was starting to beat myself up for my shortcomings today, I remembered my yoga teacher.
She often reminds her students that we should be proud of the (seemingly) simple act of showing up to our mats. Our balance may be off that day, our breath jagged, our strength faltering. But you know what? We showed up to our mats. That is half the battle.
The power of a regular writing practice
A regular writing practice is one of the best habits you can establish to improve your work.
For a time, I tried only writing when I was properly inspired, but that meant I sometimes went weeks or even months without writing a single word. I also tried cramming as much writing as I could into any spare minute I had. I ended up stressed out, uninspired, and constantly berating myself—never feeling like I was doing enough, no matter how hard I worked.
When I finally committed to set regular times to write, my writing practice completely opened up. And you know what? I’ve stuck with it. I protect my writing time like it’s my firstborn child. There has to be a really, really, good reason for me to cancel it.
The result is I’m happier, more inspired, and more prolific than any other phase of my artistic life. Even though I have fewer hours than ever to dedicate to my craft, I’m actually writing so much more.
Tips for sticking to a writing practice
It’s easy to decide to set a more regular writing practice, but it’s much harder to do. Here are some tips for setting a regular writing practice and sticking with it:
Put it in writing
Once you decide on your new writing schedule, put it in the calendar. This makes it much less likely you’ll double book yourself and also serves as a visual reminder to keep you motivated. If you have a shared family or work calendar, it also makes it less likely someone else will co-opt that time. (Tip: If your boss can see your calendar, label it as “focus time” instead. 😉)
Resist distractions
It’s easy to find a zillion things to do to procrastinate writing, especially when you’re working on something tough, in the middle of revision drudgery, or facing writer’s block. When you’re tempted to head outside or to lunch with a friend instead of writing, or if you suddenly decide your kitchen needs a deep clean right this minute, remember the commitment you made to yourself, and stick to your plan.
Give yourself grace
Forming a new habit is difficult. Some days will go better than others. You may find yourself noodling unnecessarily, staring at the page, or daydreaming.
When you do, don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a deep breath, refocus, and remember the wise words of my yoga teacher:
You showed up. And that’s half the battle.