How to Build Writing Habits

Writing can be a pleasure but it can also be very difficult to commit to doing.  Writer's block is a real thing and is very tricky.  Over the last six months, I've found a little sweet spot with writing.

First, set yourself up with the right conditions for content to flow freely and to have fun with the process:

1. Carve out a regular window of time.  Have at least one dedicated writing session carved out every week. Pick a time that you are at peak performance.  I love weekend mornings. Most weekends I have at least one writing session during my son's nap time. I've got morning energy and creativity is high.  The limited amount of time I have helps to create a wonderful urgency that drives my creativity even more.
2. Create your canvas.  Figure out what communication method you want to have.  Do you want to use a blog, a notebook, a Word document, etc.  I use a blog so that I can collect all of my writing in one place, work on it when I want to, and be able to easily copy and paste later when I am ready to craft my blogs into a book.  Also I can consistently get some little bits of information out there while improving my writing.  Win, win, win!
3. Find your method.  Discover what steps you can take to get you in a mode where writing is easy and fun.  I always start a writing session by opening up a fresh browser screen and going to my blog to start playing.  

Then find the techniques that help get your creative juices flowing. I've got a few different modes that I switch between in each session:

• Creative Mode: For those times that I am at peak creativity, I don't edit my writing all.  I either jot down ideas on a piece of paper (my Daily Workbook) or create a new blog post.  The key is to let ideas pour out and get sloppy with them so that they just keep on coming.  I like to keep a collection of draft blog posts (I've got 34 right now!).  This helps me feel like I have a lot of options and reduces pressure on feeling forced to be creative  I always grab ideas that I have and save them as draft blog posts so I can easily play them later.
• Edit Mode:  I come back to my saved draft posts for a second review of the material on a different day.  I pick a post I feel drawn to and fill in what may have been left out and also clean up the overall message.  I then publish it on my blog ... The information being publicly available forces a different level of awareness and ownership.  That usually results in me finding new ways to improve the content. 
• Refine Mode:  Each writing session I review my most recent blog post and see if I can make any more improvements.  I always can.  I then share it on social media where it may be appropriate.  

Reading always sparks my desire to write.  Learning new things inspires me to share with others.  It creates a virtuous cycle of creativity, sharing, and fulfillment.