13 Ways To Create a Daily Writing Practice You Love
Taking the time to create a daily writing practice you love will make you a better writer.
And if you stick with it, it’ll make you a great writer.
How do I know?
Because just four years ago, I didn’t write.
Fast forward to the present, and I’ve written and published three books, hundreds of articles, and I’m planning to write many more of both.
But it’s easy to say you’re going to do something, and much harder to follow through.
Writing is no exception. The world is filled with heartbreaking stories of people who pass on, with epic books inside them left unwritten.
Why?
You know why.
The usual suspects – fear, self-doubt, and procrastination – show up.
And unless you forcefully kick them out, they’ll linger and hold you back from fulfilling your true potential forever.
One of the best ways to move past your own fears and procrastinating ways is to create a daily writing practice.
The more it excites you, the higher the chances of you sticking to it.
And the more you show up and do it every day, the more likely you are to wake up tomorrow and do it again.
This is what a virtuous cycle looks like.
Having experienced my fair share of creative blocks and self-doubt, I’ve discovered a winning set of tools. These help me consistently show up each day and write – even when I’m having a tough day.
I hope they help you too.
13 Ways To Create a Daily Writing Practice You Love
1. Collect inspiration
Inspiration can literally mean anything.
It all depends on what makes your heart sing, and this is different for all of us.
A lyric in a song. Flowers. Art. Cloud shapes. A line from a TV show. The colours of an advert. Graffiti. The presentation of a plate of food. A cocktail you’re trying for the first time. A poem. Something someone says to you. An item of clothing. That smile from a stranger. An inspiring book or podcast. A classic movie. The autumnal shades of a crisp, fallen leaf. The beauty of a rainbow. A first kiss.
Open all of your senses, and start paying close attention to everything around you.
Pretend like you’re a child again, seeing the world for the first time.
Capture everything you’re drawn to. The amazing picture quality on smartphones has made this incredibly easy to do.
Save all your pictures and notes down in one place where you can access them easily. You can do this digitally, or by using a physical notebook if your prefer.
Creating a daily writing practice you love begins with noticing what you might want to write about.
It’s that simple.
2. Try new things
Another great way to get your creativity flowing and kick-start inspiration is to regularly change things up.
That means getting out there are trying new things. Getting out of your regular routine. Experimenting with new possibilities.
If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
– Thomas Jefferson
It could be as simple as walking a new way to work tomorrow.
Or eating in a new restaurant next time you go out. Taking an online course that interests you. Trying out a new hobby. Changing your hairstyle. Actively meeting new people. Moving towns or cities.
And it could be as dramatic as quitting a job you hate, buying a one-way ticket to Bali, and seeing where life takes you.
Trying something new will help break stale routines, and make way for new energy to flow in. And this new found energy will be powerful.
3. Be in nature
It’s easy to become wrapped up in our work, and get to the end of the day having barely seen daylight, or moved our bodies.
Exercise – even just a walk – is a great way to get your blood circulating, and get stuck energy moving.
And being in nature means you can drink in fresh air, clear your mind, and increase your overall mood.
So even if you can only find 10 minutes on your lunch break to take a walk and be among the trees, that’s far better than nothing.
And be prepared for inspiration to strike along the way!
4. Unplug from the world
Technology is incredible. I won’t argue with that.
But it’s definitely an accomplice of procrastination. A welcome distraction when you’re putting off the things you simultaneously really want to do, but don’t want to.
It often gets in the way of us doing the things we know will help us grow as people.
Things like having a daily writing practice.
It’s easy to check your emails 50 times a day, and waste hours on social media without realising it.
It’s normal to be distracted by that text from your friend, or that notification that popped up.
So make the act of writing easier for yourself.
Turn off your phone, or put it on air plane mode. If you’re writing on a computer, then use an app to block the internet or social media sites so you literally can’t do anything but write.
5. Journal first thing in the morning every day
I first came across this technique in The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. She coined these as “morning pages.”
It doesn’t matter what you write, as long as you show up every morning and write three pages in your journal.
So writing, “I have no idea what to write / this is so stupid / why do I have to do these crappy morning pages?” counts.
The idea is that you get yourself into the habit of writing. And you clear out all the kinks and mess first thing.
So when it comes to sitting down and writing something important later, you’re left with the good stuff. And fingers crossed, you won’t feel creatively challenged.
Get into the habit of journaling first thing every day. Even when you feel like you have nothing to say. Especially then.
As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
– Julia Cameron
6. Decide how much you will write
You may not have time to commit to writing for an hour every day right now, and that’s okay. Writing even just for ten minutes during a break at work is good enough.
Don’t judge yourself for not being able to do more.
All we’re really trying to do is make the act of writing a daily habit. Something you do without thinking about it. Something you learn to love doing, by overcoming your resistance to it.
You might be able to commit to writing for an hour every day. Or you might prefer to select a number of words and aim for that instead.
The choice is yours.
Just make sure it’s not over ambitious that it fills you with dread. And not too easy that it’s not challenging you in any way.
If you’re struggling to find any time in your daily schedule, is it possible to wake up 30 minutes earlier?
Completing your daily writing practice first thing in the morning has many benefits:
- There are far less distractions (screaming kids, phone calls & emails, etc.)
- Your willpower is higher first thing – and depletes throughout the day
- You can check it off your list. This sense of accomplishment will have a positive knock-on effect on your whole day.
7. Create a daily writing practice you love by picking a time that suits you
Most people fit into one of two categories: Early bird, or night owl.
If you really struggle with early mornings and know you perform best later in the day, then it doesn’t make sense to wake up early and try and write.
If you’re not sure what your best time is, experiment until you figure it out.
Remember – this shouldn’t be something that creates more stress or anxiety for you. Create a daily writing practice you love by fitting it smoothly around your current schedule.
I’m definitely an early bird, and first thing in the morning is my preferred time to write.
I run my own business, so I’m fortunate enough to be able to organise my own schedule. But I guard my writing time fiercely. It’s sacred to me. And that’s the only way it gets done.
If you want to do anything enough, you’ll make time for it. We make time for the things that matter to us.
Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have have time,’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to.’
– Lao Tzu
8. Make your writing space inspiring & sacred
Any act of creativity is sacred.
Whether it’s writing, painting, baking, singing, dancing, or dreaming.
Creating something out of nothing is pure magic. Your soul joins with the Divine, and births new life.
So being mindful that writing is sacred, you should have a special place to do it from. A place that’s inspiring. A place that feels magical. Different to everything else.
A few of my favourite things include:
- An intention/vision board
- A plant or fresh flowers
- Lighting a candle
- Lots of natural light flowing in
- An inspiring music playlist
- A comfy chair to sit in
- A clean, organised desk
Be sure to update your space regularly to keep it resonating with you as you grow.
I prefer to work at home, and in total silence (apart from instrumental music in the background). But you might find you’re someone who needs to go out. Take your laptop and go write in coffee shops or parks. Try a shared co-working space.
See what works for you. What inspires you the most.
9. What are your intentions for writing?
In order to create a daily writing practice that works for you, get clear first on your intentions.
Are you writing just for fun, and the joy it brings?
Maybe your goal is to eventually write a book?
Or perhaps you want to become a freelance writer and get paid to write for other sites & publications?
And remember, your intentions may change along the way.
When I began writing again in 2016, I started doing it purely for fun. It brought me so much joy, and was a welcome escape from my nine to five.
Over time, my passion grew, and I realised I wanted more.
So check in regularly with yourself.
10. Make it fun!
What if you create a daily writing practice and it becomes stagnant?
You no longer feel excited to write. It fills you with 50 shades of bluuurrrggghhhhh. Snacking on crumpets and making 19 cups of tea is more appealing.
That’s when you know you’re not having enough fun with it. And you need to mix things up!
How about changing genres? Going from non-fiction to fiction? Or penning a poem?
You could try a review of your favourite band or restaurant.
If you usually write serious, educational type pieces, why not give comedy a go?
Keep switching things up regularly to make sure this remains fun.
Creating is always fun. It can be many other things at the same time. Challenging, emotional, and complex to name a few. But if it’s not fun, you’re not doing it right.
11. Where will you publish your writing?
When I first started writing, I published my articles on a blog. Soon after, I started submitting to various publications in the women’s self-growth/relationship space. A few years after that, I founded She Rose Revolution, and continued to publish my writing here.
Unless you prefer to write solely for yourself and keep all your work private – which is completely okay if you do – you’ll want to figure out where to publish.
Here are a few options to consider:
- Medium
- Create your own blog/website from scratch
- Submit to other people’s sites & blogs
- A social media account
- A newsletter
If you are planning to put your writing out there, don’t fall into the self-made trap of waiting until it’s “perfect.” There’s no such thing, and you’ll never get there.
The more you write and publish your writing, the better it’ll get. But you’ve got to start somewhere.
12. Make a list of writing or journal prompts for later
You won’t always have an idea to write about. But you don’t want to waste precious writing time figuring it out.
That’s where a list of ideas will come in handy.
Whenever I’m inspired by something, or have some free time, I’ll jot down some new article ideas. I keep all mine on Evernote, which is an amazing app for taking digital notes and organising them. But you can keep yours in a physical notebook if you prefer – whatever works for you.
Collecting inspiration – which I mentioned at the start of this article – will be a huge help at sparking new ideas for your writing.
13. Allow yourself to fully open and be vulnerable
It’s kind of terrifying writing something deeply personal, hitting publish, and knowing it’s out there for the entire world to read.
But it’s also wildly liberating too.
And being vulnerable and open is key to writing something that has the power to move people.
I’ve written about so many personal topics including being bullied at school, all the way to my fear of bring raped.
Each time I write, I try to push myself a little more. If there’s something I feel afraid to write about, I do my best to lean into it. Because I know there’s something to be learned, and growth waiting on the other side.
If there’s something you don’t want to be public, that’s okay. Write it, and keep it for yourself. You’ll still learn the skill of opening up, and strengthen your writing muscle at the same time.
Remember, when you create a daily writing practice, no one is forcing you to write!
If you look at writing daily as a chore, and something you have to do, then it’ll probably be difficult.
And let’s be honest – you don’t have to. No one is forcing you to.
So the reality is, you get to do it. It’s a privilege.
I feel so lucky that I get to wake up each morning and write.
That I get to make sense of my thoughts and feelings, and use my words to help others make sense of theirs.
I choose to write every day, because I love it. And because I believe this gift was given to me for a reason.
You don’t have to create a daily writing practice. But you can choose to if you desire.
And once you have, it is yours to use every day for the rest of your life.
So write today because you want to.
Tomorrow can wait.