Set a daily writing goal: time, word, page, scene…it doesn’t matter. Just set one and then don’t stop writing until you achieve it. There is a lot to be said for showing up every day and doing the work. That’s the only way a book ever gets finished. But how do you know what ‘the work’ is? By defining it.
That definition could vary by the day. Mostly, during my first draft, I aim for a word count. But some days, my goal might be to start and finish a specific scene. By defining what I hope to accomplish, I keep the draft moving forward. And my work doesn’t finish that day until my goal is met.
Create a ritual. This is mine: I make a shot of espresso that’s a little more coffee than you’d think and a little less water. I sit down at my desk with it. I drink it. I start writing. That’s the deal I’ve made with myself.
On days I really don’t want to write, I put on a mantra band bracelet that says, ‘She believed she could, so she did.’ As long as I wear it, I’m not allowed to do anything else but write. Your ritual can be whatever you want it to as long as it makes your brain understand that it’s time for you to write.
Give a thought to housekeeping. I’m not talking about computer folders or the numbering of drafts. I’m talking about your actual house. Here’s what happens in my house: every 2 weeks, it gets cleaned. Every couple months (okay, twice a year) it gets dusted. (Seriously – what is the point of dusting? It just all comes floating back.) If you’re going to make time for writing, then you’re going to have to take time from something else. In between cleanings, I’m still spraying down kitchen counters and wiping out sinks, but vacuuming? Cleaning the stove? Let yourself off the hook and put that time to a different use. And while you’re at it, why are you cooking every night? Leftovers are my favorite meal. It doesn’t matter what kind they are. I cook dinner once and then eat it at least twice.