How I Formed The “Writing Habit”
I am a creature of habit. Sounds cliche — but there couldn’t be a more accurate description of me.
I know that the word “habit” comes with a negative connotation.
Smoking habit, drinking habit, etc. etc.
However, I have found a way to use my habitual nature to turn myself into a productive content creating machine.
Writing is certainly a part of my content strategy — I use my writing skills in my blog posts, email marketing, and social media marketing. Of all of the activities I conduct as a business person, writing is the most crucial.
I take the consistency of publishing good written content very seriously and have given serious thought to the process necessary to ensure that I stay on my publishing schedule.
Establishing The Habit
Recognizing how crucial my writing and publishing schedule is to my future business plans, I have set myself on a publishing schedule.
It is quite formal.
I keep a spreadsheet with the following fields:
- Topic
- Title
- Date – Draft 1
- Publish Date
- Actual Publish Date
The “topic” field in this spreadsheet is usually filled out at least a week in advance. In other words, I have at least 7 blog post topics in my spreadsheet that have yet to be published.
Why The Topics?
Not knowing what you will write about from one day to the next is the quickest way to get frustrated with writing and quit.
Find a system for recording blog post topic ideas even when you are away from a computer. Carry a pen and notebook if you have to… or buy an iPhone and record your ideas using Voice Memo or some other app.
Regardless of the technology… find a way to capture these ideas when you have them or they will be gone from your mind. Guaranteed.
Beware Of…
Another thing to be aware of is that transitions in your life will break habits. You have to be extremely careful when you are moving, starting a new job, you have a child, or your mother-in-law moves in with you — or whatever it is.
When life throws things your way… remember to stick to the plan.
Human beings as a whole are creatures of habit — learn to leverage it to keep your online and offline writing on schedule.
Russ,
Everything you said is so true! If one is serious about writing it is very important to put time aside. I love the idea about carrying something with you at all times so that you can always take notes. You may hear many things in one day that may strike you as creative and inspiring and tell yourself that you will write it down when you get home, only to forget what you were supposed to write down when you get home.(I say that from experience.)
Your spreadsheet concept reminds me of a comic strip writer I met years ago that used a similar concept, and had several strips ready at any given time.
Russ,
Thanks for the reminder…as with all things we want to accomplish, a plan, written down, is like ” cool whip” on the jello!
Thoughts become plans and written plans become reality. What I find amazing is that when we write down specific things we want to do..they most always seem to get done!
As for habits…they are the “man power behind the man” ….the action….
Russ, you really know how to bring out the content and that seems to be “one great habit of yours!
Jennifer
Good advice, Russ!
I wish I could discipline myself so well.
Another way to be sure the writing gets done is to schedule it like we would a business meeting, appointment at the doctor’s office, social event – even a writer’s group meeting!
Put it on the calendar and block out the time.