Building a Writing Routine When You Don’t Have Time

Jennifer Peaslee
Jan 20
2 min read

December was a productive month for me, but not for my writing. I don't think I wrote a single story or microfiction last month. That's fine—nothing wrong with taking a break, and I had other things going on—but it's admittedly difficult for me to get things going again once I've fallen out of the habit.

I suspect that's true of most people.

That said, I have been sitting down to write on nearly every Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. since mid-July 2020. I know how to create a habit and stick with it.

Start Small

Pick one day out of your week when you are usually free for an hour or two. That is now your writing time.

That's all you need. You can build up to more hours or more days later, once you have your base.

Be Choosy

You're making a commitment to yourself, so don't set yourself up for failure by trying to force a specific day/time. That is to say: if Mondays are draining for you, don't choose Mondays as your day to write. Don't try to make a big adjustment to your schedule, because that's more likely to fail.

Put it on Your Calendar

Set a 10-minute (or 30-minute) reminder, too.

What if I Miss a Week?

Don't stress. Pick it up again the next week.

Once You're Ready, Repeat This Process to Add More Days/Hours

Pick one more day/hour, treat it like a serious appointment, and repeat this process as many times as you'd like.

What are your tips for starting a writing routine? Drop a comment to let me know!

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