“How to Write Every Day…”

So, you reckon it’s about time to start taking this writing thing seriously?

It’s time to get your writing done in a more disciplined way.

Well, my friend, it looks to me like you’ve finally got yourself to the point of needing to habitualize this whole skill set.

What you need is a routine.

A ritual.

A habit.

Consider this: You and I are meat suits or a bag of bones driven by a set of conflicting wants, needs, and desires.

And habits.

These wants, needs, desires, and habits move us to take action or get us to the point of inaction (until an external force or hunger or passion acts on us).

Now, habits are those nasty little things that can sabotage us and keep us from getting the things we want in life – the things we do automatically that can negatively impact our health and wreck our chances of living the life of our dreams.

Alternatively, habits are those wonderful, joyful things we jump out of bed to get going with – those things we do automatically that can positively impact our health or set us up for success… or at least give us the best darn possibility of being successful.

Whatever success might mean for you, the thing that will get you there is not motivation or a goal. Having a goal is lovely and all… but it’s akin to wishful thinking if you’re not taking DAILY action to get there. Motivation is ok, I guess. But it’s the same as having a goal if you are not taking that DAILY action.

Stop short-changing yourself. You don’t need motivation or a goal.

The thing that WILL bring you success is a neat little habit.

A consistent, daily habit.

That thing you do automatically, without having to force yourself into doing it. Even on days when you simply don’t feel like doing the thing. In your case: writing.

“But Jason, I’m naturally lazy!”

Bullshit!

You’re not lazy. You simply haven’t installed the right habits.

Or rather, you’ve installed a habit or habits of not getting things done. Like writing.

Or at least not WRITING EVERY DAY.

You ain’t lazy. You need that habit of daily writing.

Everyone is Lazy

And now, I reserve the right to contradict myself. I’ll put this another way: everyone IS naturally lazy. It’s the default mode.

You are not alone.

Phew!

There you go Buttercup… quit beating up on yourself.

Also, stop excusing your lack of getting shit done for this supposedly immutable characteristic you can’t seem to do a damn thing about.

You see, you too can do something about it. Anyone who has ever achieved anything on a grand scale had to find some way of getting over their ‘natural laziness’.

And you can too…

Let’s imagine you are exactly like Elon Musk… or Kobe Bryant… or Stephen King… or J.K. Rowling.

How is it that they have gone on to achieve these incredible successes in their fields and you’re sitting in your underwear, snacking on Cheetos, reading this in the hope of some form of salvation?

Habits. Habits. Habits. Habits.

Sure, Musk might be more intelligent. Bryant might be taller. King might be more imaginative. Rowling might be a better wordsmith.

These natural abilities have come in handy to assist them in their chosen pursuits.

Each of them at some point in their lives installed habits that assisted them with their natural abilities.

They overcame their default mode, they got beyond that human tendency towards slothfulness. And you can too.

I have no way of knowing what your natural abilities are. Maybe you’re a tall, intelligent, imaginative wordsmith. Maybe you’re a short, intelligent, imaginative, wordsmith.

Maybe you’re neither.

^{_{Well… you’re clearly intelligent. Intelligent and so very, very attractive. You’re here, reading this blog post after all. That’s a clear sign of intellect, attractiveness and possessing a discerning taste. (Even though you might be sitting in your underwear, snacking on Cheetos, reading this).}}

Regardless, it’s time you start installing some new habits.

If you’re not writing every day then it’s time to upgrade your output and get that butt in your writing seat and begin churning out words.

Start with creating a 5-minute block of writing time. EVERY. DAY.

Make it sacrosanct.

If you’re brave bump that up to 15 minutes or 30 minutes. 

If you’re psycho-insane, a glutton for punishment and prepared to commit… then do an hour or more.

If you’re already writing daily, that’s excellent. Go ahead and bump up the amount of time you spend on your writing.

Internalize the habit.

Turn it into something you do every day, preferably at the same time.

Write, write, write!

“But Jason, I can’t! I’ve got a life and responsibilities…”

No excuses, Buttercup!

Cut down on your Netflix binge fests and your mindless Instagram/Facebook/Twitter scrolling (or whatever time-wasting guilty pleasures you have). They aren’t serving you no matter how you try to justify them.

Wake up an hour earlier. Go to bed an hour later.

Skip over the housework… or postpone it for the duration of your writing session.

Isolate yourself during your lunch break and stow yourself away somewhere to write.

I don’t know your life situation or where you’ll be able to steal a block of time each day to write. What I do know is that it’s possible to do so. I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t have a sliver of time they can take from something else and dedicate it to writing.

This whole writing thing is important to you, right?

You wouldn’t have read this far or even discovered this secret corner of the internet if it wasn’t.

I give you permission to be selfish about your writing. You have permission, if that’s what you need, to take a chunk of time from something else… anything else… and dedicate it to establishing your daily writing habit.

_{^{(Just don’t jeopardize your source(s) of income. Your boss won’t like that. Neither will your significant other. Or your kids/pets. And don’t get me started on your bank manager or the taxman. They won’t approve either. You have so many people depending on you. Keep those sources of income flowing steadily).}}

Keep the job and write in the gaps.

Now my friend… set yourself free… and write, write, write.

(originally published November 19, 2021)