Editing your daily habits to create your writing life
You Say You Want to Write a Book—But Do Your Daily Habits Agree?
When we want to achieve something such as writing the first draft of a book, our first inclination is to add more to our lives. We set ambitious goals and write extensive to-do lists, cramming them into our already busy calendar.
Our intentions are good, our motivation is high, so why is it that by mid-February, we’re struggling to maintain a daily writing habit?
One possibility is that we’re simply doing too much - a recent study shows that 52% of people who work a full-time job are exhausted. Women are particularly impacted as they take on the majority of the household responsibilities along with a day job.
Technology has led us to believe that it gives us back some of our time and in some cases, we are. ChatGPT can write social media captions faster than I ever can and I would be lost without my iPhone (literally).
Yet, in other ways, it’s captured our most valuable commodity with its distracting, addictive elements.
Last week, I was horrified to discover just how long I spent on TikTok - hours of pointless scrolling that left me feeling in a bad mood. I’m ashamed to say I could have written 10 chapters during that time.
So what if the answer is not to add more to our lives but to edit first?
To look at our current daily choices and assess what’s serving us and what isn’t.
To curate a lifestyle that is supportive and nurturing of our goals.
To leave room in our calendars to breathe, to stretch, and be creative.
My bad habit of scrolling doesn’t just take up time - it also takes up head-space, reducing the possibility of new ideas or relaxation.
Writing your first book isn’t just about finding the time or understanding the writing process; it’s about creating a lifestyle that nurtures creativity.
This blog post will show how small, daily choices—like endless scrolling, neglecting self-care, or surrounding yourself with unsupportive people—silently kill writing dreams.
More importantly, it will highlight how small shifts in mindset and environment can turn “someday” into now, whether you're writing a nonfiction book, novel, short story or memoir.
If writing a book is important to you, it’s time to look at the choices that might be holding you back.
The Hidden Habits That Keep You Stuck
Scrolling instead of writing
The average person spends 2 hours and 31 minutes per day on social media. That’s enough time to write 500+ words every day.
Waiting for the ‘perfect’ time
Life never slows down. If you’re waiting for an open stretch of time to magically appear, you’ll be waiting forever. The best way to write a book is to simply start.
Listening to your inner critic
Constantly comparing yourself to other writers only leads to self-doubt and it will slowly chip away at your motivation.
Not prioritizing writing
We’re often guilty of putting everyone’s needs before our own which can lead to resentment - give yourself permission to pursue something that’s important for you.
Being disorganized
Make writing easy for yourself by being organized with your work - save your manuscript in an easy-to-find location and keep all your notes and ideas in the same place. Also, plan dedicated writing time in your calendar when you know you're not going to be distracted with Zoom meetings or a phone call.
Watching TV over reading
Good writers read voraciously. Consider reducing the amount of TV and read a few pages of a good book instead. As Stephen King says: "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot."
Editing instead of writing
This is one for all my fellow perfectionists out there. The temptation to edit as you write is huge but pausing to fix minor errors or fine-tune main characters interrupts your flow and hinders your word count. The editing process uses a different part of your brain to writing so write first, edit later.
How to Align Your Daily Choices with Your Writing Goals
Now we know what isn’t working (and in my case, how much time they take up!) we can look at replacing them with new habits that will help develop your writing skills and finish your book.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, emphasizes that success isn’t about massive action—it’s about small, consistent habits that compound over time.
If you want to finish your book, your habits need to align with that goal.
Here are a few easy, effective ways to start:
Set a timer for just 15 minutes a day to write—small, daily progress beats waiting for a big breakthrough.
Replace 15 minutes of social media scrolling with writing time.
Join a community or find a partner who keeps you motivated.
A good way I find is to pair writing with something enjoyable like writing first thing with my morning coffee - it sets the tone for a great day.
Alternatively, what do you currently do in your lunch break? This can be a useful specific time to get into the habit of writing.
Read or listen to an audio book on your commute and get inspired by a personal story.
A lot of new writers use a writing coach or writing templates on a regular basis to help them fast-track to a book deal.
Carry a notebook as you go about your day and jot down a good idea when inspiration strikes.
Prepare everything you need for writing the next day - much like laying out your gym clothes the night before, setting up your writing space and tools in advance helps make the habit easier.
Create a ritual around your creative process - light a candle or use your favorite notebook and pen.
The Fastest Way to Make Writing a Daily Habit
Changing habits takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. The easiest way to make good writing a natural part of your life is to have a clear structure, support, and accountability.
Do your daily choices reflect your writing dreams?
If not, it’s time to make a change.
The right system can help you become a good writer, stay on track and finally bring your book to the finish line.
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