Writer’s Tips: How I learned to write every day

Guest post by Obi Musa

I have been a fiction writer for years. I’ve also read books on how to write better and become friends with writers who are much more successful than me at what they do. The one thing that all of these writers had in common is that they wrote every day. They didn’t always feel inspired or motivated, but they sat down at their keyboards or picked up their pens and wrote anyway.

I used to think that I needed to be in the mood to write in order for it to be any good. But now, I know that if I wait until I’m feeling inspired, I’ll never get anything done. Inspiration comes after you’ve put in the hard work.

These days, I try to write for at least an hour every day. Even if it’s just a few paragraphs, I know that by sitting down and putting words on the page, I’m doing something good for my writing. And over time, this habit has helped me become a more productive writer.

How it started

It started with a goal. I wanted to write a novel, and I knew that in order to do that, I needed to become a better writer. So I set a goal of writing for one hour every day. And at first, it was really tough. There were days when I didn’t want to write at all, but I made myself do it anyway.

Eventually, I started to see results. My writing was becoming more polished, and I was starting to come up with new ideas for stories. And the best part? I wasn’t just doing this for my novel; I was also improving my short story skills.

Slow progress at first

At first, I didn’t see a difference in my writing. But after a few weeks of sitting down and working on the same story every day, it started to get better. And while at times I was tempted to just give up or skip days when I wasn’t feeling inspired, this habit helped me become a more consistent writer overall.

The benefits of writing every day are immense. It…

- Helps you become a more productive writer

- Makes you a more consistent writer

- Helps improve your skills as a writer overall

- Can help inspire new ideas for stories or articles.

And, of course, the best part is that by writing every day, you’re one step closer to completing your novel or another writing project!

Mistakes I made

At first, I tried to write for two or three hours every day. But this was too much, and it resulted in me feeling burned out and uninspired. So I reduced it down to one hour per day, and this has been working much better for me.

I also made the mistake of thinking that I had to be in a certain mood or frame of mind for my writing to be any good. But again, this was not true; it’s about putting words on paper and letting them flow naturally from your brain into the keyboard (or pen!). And you never know what ideas might come up if you give yourself enough time to write.

Writing is like working out

When you’re first starting a new workout routine, it’s really tough and your muscles may ache for days afterward. But eventually, if you stick with the program long enough, those workouts will become easier over time. It might not feel as intense or tiring, but you’re still getting the same benefits.

The same thing applies to writing. It’s tough at first, but if you stick with it long enough, your skills will improve and it’ll get easier. And don’t forget that writers are always learning; there is no one correct way to write a story or article. So be open to trying new things and expanding your horizons.

Tools and strategies that helped me

There are a few tools and strategies that have helped me become a more productive writer. One is keeping a journal. This allows me to get my thoughts down on paper (or screen!) without having to worry about formatting or grammar mistakes. I can just write whatever comes to mind, and then go back and fix it up later. I eventually switched away from paper to using Writemo because it was a simpler online solution that also had some nice analytics that would help me see how I developed.

Another tool I use is the Pomodoro technique. This involves setting a timer for twenty-five minutes and writing until that time runs out. Then you take a five-minute break before starting again. The idea behind this method is to keep your mind focused on one task at a time, which helps with writer’s block issues because it doesn’t allow enough time to get distracted or unsure of what to write next.

There are other writers’ tips and tricks that I use, but these things have really helped me become a more consistent writer overall. So if you want to improve your writing skills, be sure to check them out!

The results

So far, writing every day has resulted in me completing my novel and also getting a few short stories published. I’ve also seen an improvement in my blog post writing skills, and I’m now able to write more concisely and effectively. And all of this was possible because I made the commitment to sit down and write every day, no matter what.

So don’t be afraid to start writing every day, even if you’re not feeling inspired or motivated. The more you do it, the easier it’ll become, and eventually, you’ll be surprised at how much progress you’ve made. Just keep going!