I once spent an entire afternoon trying to write, and after three hours I’d written seven words. I wasn’t staring at a blank page, I was revising, because writing is revising. What was the cause of such low productivity and how do you find your creative sweet spot?
There’s no such as the “perfect” writing routine. There is no right or wrong way to find that sweet spot. Pick what’s right for you.
Know thyself.
Sounds stupid, right? But take the time for some honest self assessment. Are you a fowl or an owl? Are there certain times of the day when your energy peaks, or when it dips? Do you have a full time job? What about family obligations? Other commitments? Because guess what, life happens. And contrary to popular belief, we can’t do it all.
Do you like to write in complete silence, is solitude your friend? Or do you like writing in a coffee shop, or at your local library? Do you write better with music, or must it be completely quiet, as silent as a tomb.
If you like writing to a soundtrack, what’s your favorite?
I’ve found that it depends on what I’m doing. If I’m writing scenes and need to think and imagine as well as write, that I do better with instrumental music. I use Spotify (the free version) and like these public playlists:
Classical Music for Reading
Classical Music for Studying
These work for me. You might want to try them for yourself, or try what works for you.
We should all have a good idea of our preferences, but don’t be afraid to experiment. You might be surprised at what you find out about yourself. For years, I thought that classical/ instrumental music was for a certain type of person. I’ve now found, that listening to it does something to my brainwaves. The point is, if I hadn’t tried it, I wouldn’t have known that.
Routines and flexibility
Let’s say that you’ve completed all your responsibilities, and you’ve met your commitments, and now is your time to write. Congrats. But it is easy to get frustrated. All is quiet, until it’s not. Until life interrupts. Be flexible. Avoid the “all or nothing” trap. You hoped to have an hour of productive word smithing, and you are called away (sick parents, work deadlines, soccer practice.)
It’s Okay.
Don’t compare yourself to famous author’s schedules. Those writers have full time jobs writing. Don’t ignore your natural rhythms. (Go back to step one- know thyself) and finally, don’t set unrealistic word counts.
Remember, writing your novel is not all about sitting at your desk typing away, it’s also about thinking. And thinking about your novel, about your plot holes, and character arcs, and imagining scenes can take place anywhere.
I like to use backs of envelopes or scrap paper to jot down ideas or reminders. Or I use the Notes app in my iPhone. It only takes a couple of seconds. And when I have more time, I can use those notes to move my writing forward.
Experimenting
Try different strategies. Try writing to music. Try silence. Whatever you try, try something new. And take note of what works or what doesn’t. Recognize that you may need to adjust for different phases of your writing – maybe drafting needs something different to when you are editing. For me, I need complete silence when I’m editing. If I’m reviewing and providing feedback for writers in my writer’s group, I can get away with a soundtrack of songs, or even a podcast.
Adapting
When I see on the calendar that I’m having out of town guests coming to stay, then I know that I won’t be writing. And that’s Okay. Holidays? It’s Okay to take time off from writing. Guess what? It will be there when you get back.
Now, what happens if your agent or editor has given you a deadline? The writing has to happen. Hopefully, you’ve been able to negotiate a time frame that is realistic. Finding your creative sweet spot when you are under a deadline is probably a post all by itself. I still think it may mean reverting back to step one- know thyself. Small confession here. I tend to do better when I have the pressure of a deadline. I may have to adjust and adapt my routine. For example, my playlist may be different, and I might need complete silence.
Making it Sustainable
The key to making a writing routine (whatever that looks like for you) sustainable is building that writing time into your existing routine. If your household is quiet early in the morning, perhapst that’s when you can get your writing done. Perhaps it’s only over weekends. Perhaps it’s late at night. Whatever it does, try and do it consistently. If possible, set boundaries with family and friends. Plan for obstacles and disruptions.
And make sure you take time for rest and for exercise. Take the time to go to the gym, take a walk, ride a bike, or go for a run. You’ll feel better, and your writing life will be better too.
That afternoon when I only managed to seven words, what caused that? Here’s my own honest self-assessment. My phone was too close to me. I looked at my social media feeds, and before I knew it, I’d lost myself in a Facebook/ Instagram rabbit hole. My solution? I need to have my phone relatively close by, but it mustn’t be in eye sight. It’s too tempting.
You will evolve, and that’s Okay. Start small, experiment, adapt, and be flexible.
Happy writing.
