You Should Be Writing Right Now

The idea that it takes 21 days to turn an action or behavior into a habit originated from a self-help book written by cosmetic surgeon, Dr Maxwell Maltz. Within the pages of “Psycho-Cybernetics: A New Way To Get More Living Out of Life”, Maltz describes a process that involves changing one's routine until the desired behavior becomes automatic.

Although this theory has been disproven (it is now believed that it takes a minimum of 2 months or possibly more depending on the task), the technique of developing an efficient system to achieve one’s goal is something that is still examined today.

In 2012, Charles Duhigg wrote the New York Times best seller, “The Power of Habit”. He describes achieving any goal relies on how well one utilizes habits. The process is broken into three stages: cue, routine, and reward. The cue is the trigger that initiates a behavior. The routine is the steps taken in order to achieve the goal and rewards are given at specific milestones, such as reaching a certain weight or completion of an assignment.

What I am about to put forth next is where I struggle the most: the reality of being a writer is that we should be writing whenever and however we can. We should be constantly writing and creating content. I’ve come across this fact several times while reading interviews or articles about the writing habits of well known authors. If you are not, then it is time to start getting into the habit of writing something every day.

How do I Create a Schedule for Writing?

I have found that it helps to know what you need to do and when you need to do it. It goes without saying, a schedule can help you stay organized and on task.

It’s important to keep in mind that your writing schedule will change as your needs change. You may find that a full-time job means less time for writing, or that a demanding family life means more time for writing. Whatever your needs are, it’s important to be flexible with your schedule and make adjustments as needed.

Example Writing Schedule:

Monday: 8 am - 10 am: Work on article 1

Tuesday: 8 am - 10 pm: Work on article 2

Wednesday: 8 am - 10 pm: Work on article

keywords: routine schedule, writing schedule template

What are the Benefits of Having a Writing Schedule?

A writing schedule can be a powerful tool to help you manage your time and get more done.

There are many benefits of having a writing schedule, but the most important one is that it helps you to be more productive. It also lets you stay on top of your deadlines, which is important for any writer who wants to make a living at their craft.

Could it be easier to return to the keyboard or the page after writing consistently for 30 or more days? James Clear, the author of a more recent and well known book on habits, Atomic Habits (2019), has a website where he includes “The Daily Routines of 12 Famous Writers”. It’s inspiring and worth a look.

I have the above poster framed and placed where I can see it everyday. You can purchase and download it immediately from Etsy here. Wishing you productive new habits and lots of writing!