writing plan | Called to Write

Ask the Coach: How Can I Build a Consistent Writing Routine? – On Script Mag

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article I’m answering a reader question about how to build a consistent writing routine, even while managing work and family.

This is the high level view of the 7 tips I shared to help writers start to establish a consistent writing routine and rhythm. Each tip is described more fully in the article, but here’s the list to get you started:

Begin with sustainability in mind.
Study your own “resistance threshold.”
Explore your optimal time of day for writing.
Trim time from less fulfilling activities.
Design a writing schedule.
Build in writing associations or triggers.
Implement and refine.

In order to be consistent, a useful strategy is selecting a sustainable level of effort for each of your writing sessions.

Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag:
Ask the Coach: How Can I Build a Consistent Writing Routine?

If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.

Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels

Ask the Coach: How Much Should I Plan My Writing Time? – On Script Mag

Welcome to the latest installment of my “Ask the Coach” column on Script Mag! This month I’m addressing a reader’s question about how much (or whether) to plan writing time:

“How much should I be planning my writing time vs. just showing up to write each day?”

Much like the answer to most writing-related questions, it depends.

Here are some things to think about:

1. Showing up to write consistently is one of the most consequential actions you can take as a writer.

Whether you plan or don’t plan, showing up to write consistently and regularly throughout the year is the best way to see your body of work building over time.

Writing regularly has other benefits as well: According to a study by researcher Robert Boice, writers who write daily are twice as likely to have frequent creative thoughts as writers who write when they “feel like it.”

Writing consistently is also the best way to “find” or develop your voice, something writers often ask about too.

I typically advise most writers to aim to write 5 to 7 days each week, leaning to daily for newer writers or writers getting back on track after time away. Longer gaps between writing sessions make it harder to restart.

On the other hand, “just writing” without any kind of plan won’t necessarily help you see a script (or other writing projects) through to Done. Yes, ideas and voice development, as well as personal growth and insight are valuable. But planned writing leads to completion. At the same time, you can design it in such a way as to allow for flexibility. [more…]

While you certainly can be detailed in your day’s planning, I recommend working within the context of a well-structured goal and overall plan and setting up daily average targets in terms of time, page counts, and/or to-do’s.

Read the article on Script Mag:
Ask the Coach: How Much Should I Plan My Writing Time?

If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.

Ask the Coach: How Can I Build a Consistent Writing Routine? – On Script Mag

Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels

Ask the Coach: How Much Should I Plan My Writing Time? – On Script Mag

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Join Called to Write