Sharing my writing routine is something I’ve been considering for a while now. I was held back by the fact that I'm still relatively new to the writing scene, and I'm definitely not an expert. I've had my struggles, had to adapt and reschedule. But I think that these experiences may actually be the reason to share my routine, so others know that maybe they aren’t the only ones struggling, not the only ones who can’t seem to settle on the right way to do things (spoiler alert: there is no one right way).
Usual disclaimers: every writer is different, what works for me may not work for you. Every writer is at a different stage of writing, your stage may take up more or less time than mine. Every writer’s situation is different, you may or may not have a day-job or other responsibilities to attend to. This is merely an insight into what I've found while scheduling and what is currently working for me.
As many writers do, I try to write every single day in order to keep up the momentum of my writing and my flow of ideas/inspiration when writing. I use the NaNoWriMo website to keep track of my goals and that gives me a daily word count. Sometimes I meet my goals, sometimes I don’t, but the main thing is I'm working towards it every day, and any progress should be celebrated.
I have more than one WIP in progress at the moment, so in addition to writing every day, I also strive to do a bit of editing every day. Once again, using the NaNoWriMo website to track my progress and goals, celebrating every step forward.
I usually write in the afternoons. Finishing my day job by 3pm means I get to spend an hour or so with a book to kickstart my brain into creative mode before hitting the keyboard. Of course, writing after work has its risks. Long hours or tough days at work sometimes fry my writing brain before I even have the chance to open my laptop. However, as someone who needs a ridiculous 10-12 hours sleep to function the next day, it’s not realistic for me to get up early or give myself a longer transition period between work and writing.
The thing I've struggled with the most with my writing routine is burn-out. Obviously with a full-time job I can’t accomplish everything I want to do in my writing journey. It's important to schedule breaks for yourself to rest and relax. While this might seem counterproductive, the truth is it’s the opposite. Trust me, you’ll come back to your writing with more excitement and momentum.
My last piece of advice: it’s okay not to meet your goals. You may not reach the word count you wanted for a specific period, or maybe you’re running behind on your deadlines. It's okay. Us writers tend to be very hard on ourselves, but if you miss a deadline or fall short of a goal, it’s okay to just keep going. Keep trying. Challenge yourself to meet that goal next time, at least you gave it your best shot and now you have something to work towards, and maybe learnt a little about your own limitations.
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