Creating a Writing Schedule that Works for You

I've read too many writing 'how-to' books to count. All of them have different interesting ideas and various bits of advice, but it seems that most of them agree on at least one thing: in order to become a writer, you must have a writing schedule. Whenever I read this, the first thought on my mind is "easier said than done." Even though it can sometimes be a challenge, it's a good idea. I wrote my first novella without a schedule, but it took me almost 3 years (with huge gaps when I didn't write) to finish. You may be doing perfectly well without a schedule, and that's fine. A schedule isn't mandatory, but it does help a tremendous amount.

A schedule does not have to be specifically a time. It can be a goal - 10,000 words a week, or 2 hours a day, whatever works best for you. Many people find s easiest and most helpful to set aside a specific time each day to write. Some might wake up, eat their morning cereal, and write non-stop from 10 until noon, without exceptions. This is one method you could use, but it requires discipline, determination, and free time.

What about those of us who lack all of the above? I go to class at different times every day, and although it's possible to set aside a different time every day, it's harder to uphold them. The same goes for once a week writing. By the time the weekend rolls around, I find myself thinking "I haven't written all day… I don't feel like writing now."

If you face the same problems as I do, I have some solutions for you. Instead of picking a specific time to write, choose the alternative - set a goal for yourself. Write 1,000 per day, or an hour (even if it's not consecutive). This way you can write in whatever free time you have.

But if you're really like me, then even that's intimidating! I've found that the one method that works the best for me is - write at least a sentence every day. That doesn't sound very hard, does it? "But Julie!" You say. "That would take too long!" But you're writing, aren't you? If you end up writing only one sentence a day, that's fine. It's better to write 3 words than to get discouraged by your own goal and write nothing at all.

I can promise you, though, that you will be writing more than that. A lot of times the inability to write comes from the inability to get that first sentence down. Once you do that, the rest is easy. There have been days when I've thought "I'll just write one sentence today," and ended up writing 3 pages. If you get started, the words will flow on their own. Sometimes this doesn't work, and you're stuck after the first sentence. That's okay! You're going to come back tomorrow and the writing will take off again.

I have a few more tips that have helped me immensely.

1. Don't stop! That seems redundant, doesn't it? But I can't stress it enough. How hard can it be to write just one sentence? Don't skip any days. Once you overlook just one day, it becomes so much easier to stop in the future. You start making excuses, and suddenly you're writing every other day, and then every other week. Don't let this happen! The daily goal is easy so you can follow it.

2. Reward yourself. Have a cookie whenever you finish your daily writing. Worried about your weight? Then indulge in a bath at the end of a full week of writing, or play a game. Anything that gets you going. Have little "extra credit" goals - if you write more than 2,000 words in one day, do something extra special for yourself. You can even create a table of rewards, and a reward system. you're much more likely to do something if you know you're getting something out of it.

3. Get your friends to help. If rewards are motivational, then guilt is even more so. I post my writing on an online blog, where many of my friends read it (or pretend they do). If I haven't written by around 8 PM, I get at least three simultaneous emails, phone calls, or instant messages asking me why I haven't written yet. Whether they enjoy reading my stuff, or just like to pester me, it gives me the motivation I need.

Experiment with different methods, goals, and schedules until you find one that works for you. These tips should get you started on the road to daily writing, and maybe your own novel - one sentence at a time.