How to Create a Writing Routine
In an ideal world, we would all sit down at our computers or with a notebook first thing in the morning and spend the next several hours writing. Cares would be forgotten, emails would be ignored, and work requirements would be shuffled around to accommodate for this time of creativity.
Since we do not live in an ideal world, establishing a writing routine is often challenging. As someone who works part-time as a freelance writer and part-time as a boutique associate, I understand the difficulty in achieving this task. If I had it my way, I would do nothing but write, read, drink strong coffee, and take long walks. Consequently, if I did have my way, my bills would rarely be paid on time and the laundry would never be folded. To avoid the issue of late payments and mismatched socks, I follow a few simple steps to create a writing routine that fits into my existing schedule.
Inspired by some of the greatest and most successful writers of the last several decades, I consigned to establish my routine based off a few recurring suggestions.
Physical Activity
Almost every writer says the same thing when asked about their writing routine—they write every day without exception, they write without distraction, they set specific goals, and they often pair writing with some type of physical activity to help clear their heads. Haruki Murakami swam or ran in the afternoon, Kurt Vonnegut did sit-ups, push-ups, and walked around the block, and Alice Munro walked for at least three miles every day. Writers chose to include physical activity first thing in the morning before they sat down to write, or they chose to conduct their walks and workouts in the afternoon once their writing was complete.
Regardless of when you choose to complete your own physical activity, this step is a staple in most successful writing routines. I prefer to start my morning with some light yoga and stretching, and I do a complete hour-long workout three times per week when my schedule allows it. When I go for walks, I usually go in the afternoon once I’ve completed a few pages of writing, as this helps me clear my head and unwind for the evening. Often, I stop myself on these walks to add snippets of writing into OneNote on my phone, as the fresh air typically unearths some words and conversations that were previously laying dormant in my mind.
Write Every Day
The most important thing to remember when establishing your writing routine is that you must write every single day. You might feel as though this is an arduous task, and it is more difficult when you first start out than you would think upon first glance. The amount you write is entirely dependent upon your existing schedule and when you have time to write without feeling like it is a burden. Stephen King has stated that his goal is to write at least six pages per day. Maya Angelou said she wrote from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every day, but if the writing was difficult, she would stop at 12:30 p.m. instead. WH Auden typically wrote between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. when he felt his mind was sharpest. Each writer allots a time that works best for them, but they all write every day without fail. The only way to write is to write.
Avoid Distractions
In addition to establishing consistency in your writing routine, it is usually best to work with minimal distractions. This looks a bit different for everyone, and it involves trial and error to see what the most appropriate solution is. When I sit down to write, I turn my phone on silent and I shut off the radio. I prefer to work in silence, much like E.B. White who stated he never listened to music while writing. Susan Sontag said she either told people to refrain from calling her in the morning while she was writing, or she simply would not answer the phone when it rang. Sontag only allowed herself to go out to lunch once every two weeks to enforce her writing schedule. If you are concerned about someone reaching out in case of an emergency, turn down the volume on your phone or change the settings to ensure that only certain people can call or text while you are writing.
If you enjoy listening to music while you work, play something in the background as you write in Microsoft Word in the evening or as you journal in the morning. The act of writing in your journal every day, even if the pages are written in a personal narrative and not as a story, still helps establish your routine. This is particularly useful for those who want to pursue a career as a non-fiction writer. The more often you write, the more you refine your skills.
To follow in the footsteps of all the brilliant writers who have come before us, create a writing routine by using this foolproof formula:
Set aside time every day to write. Wake up ten minutes earlier and journal before work. Bring a notebook on the train and flush out story ideas during your commute. Write for thirty minutes on your lunch break or spend a morning off with a hot cup of coffee and your laptop. Regardless of what else you have going on in your life, make time to write whenever possible.
Do something physical to clear your brain and spark creativity. Go for a walk. Practice yoga. Lift weights, take a barre class, sign up for Jiu Jitsu. Choose an activity that you enjoy and incorporate it into your routine as often or as little as you would like.
Remove as many distractions as possible. Social media has several important benefits, but it primarily serves as a way for you to kill an hour when you could be productive. Turn down the volume on your phone, close the door to the room you are in, and close the tab to your email account for a few hours.
Set writing goals for yourself. Whether you want to write six pages a day or six pages a week, having a goal in mind helps keep you on track when you find yourself wandering from your routine. Start slowly by setting a goal of writing for ten minutes every day, then build to a goal you know you can achieve each week.
Whether you want to write the next Great American Novel, or you simply want to write for yourself, it is important to establish a writing routine that provides you with the freedom you need to put your best self on paper.
About Sam Cohen
Sam Cohen is a writer and editor based in New England. She lives with her wonderful partner Caleb, and enjoys learning new languages, drinking lattes, and spending time with her loved ones. Sam is an avid reader who practices yoga and tries to laugh as often as possible. She hopes to be a published author one day. She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.