For the second installment in my series on How to Write Your Novel I’m focusing on what is probably the most important part of being a writer: good habits. This is something I get asked about all the time—and that I’m equally fascinated in hearing from other writers about—when do I write? For how long each day? What do I drink? What are my snacks?
Last week, I addressed the importance of motivation, which is a key factor in getting you through those first few weeks while you’re making the time to write. But as you go, habits become more important because they will save you from needing to be motivated every single day which is unrealistic. The repetitiveness of habits takes the thinking out of the act of writing; it makes writing an automatic part of your day. In the beginning, writing in the morning felt like a practically heroic act of discipline; now my day just feels wonky if I don’t do it.
Writing is more grind than glory and motivation is a limited resource, especially right now in the midst of a pandemic when most of us are so drained. The first day you sit down to write your novel will be an exceptional day and you’ll hopefully be feeling really excited. However, as the process continues, what follows are a whole bunch of regular days where writing just feels like work, not magic.
The most important thing about your writing habits is that they’re sustainable for you personally. Absolutely feel free to disregard dogmatic advice such as “You must write every single day!”; “You must write 1000 words a day, no exception!” I’ve heard a lot of writers give this flavor of advice and they’ve almost always been older male authors who I suspect are lucky enough to have a wife managing the kids, dog, and the electric bill without ever disturbing the art monster in his office to ask him about any of it. (The dream!)
But most of us do have life obligations that more of less constantly intrude on whatever time we have to write, especially this year with homeschooling children and working-from-home spouses and all manner of chaos going on around us.
Now, again, I’m never here for one-size-fits-all writing advice, but I do want to make the case for writing in the mornings.
Last week I talked about how I became a Morning Person™ when, motivated by deep existential fear, I started getting up early to write before heading into my day job at Random House. I have such happy memories of that summer; I would walk around the block to get my Dunkin’ Donuts and sit at my desk for an hour by myself before going off to work. I quickly came to love my morning writing sessions. I felt clear-headed and productive as I got my day’s writing out of the way. I was writing before I got distracted by, well, being a twenty-five-year-old in New York City.
I know many writers who are into mornings, but also some who somehow are able to do it at night after their kids are asleep. I can barely read a book at that time of day but god speed.
While it’s great to develop a writing regimen, it also pays off to be flexible. Just as life demands we balance our days between work, family, friends and writing, it also demands we deal with sudden changes of plans. (Hello all of 2020!) So, don’t be discouraged every time life gets in the way of writing and for 2020 specifically, just expect everything to take twice as long. Seriously.
Think about your schedule and figure out where you could carve out just a little time for writing. Could you get up earlier in the morning? Stay up later at night? Could you write during your lunch break or over the weekend? Even if it is just for half an hour, you can get a lot done if you take yourself and your time seriously.
So many first and second and third novels have been written by people who have capitalized on life’s in-between moments. One of my favorite stories is that Claire Cook, author of Must Love Dogs, famously wrote her best-selling novel while waiting for her kids to finish up their sports. In fact, if you want good advice about adding writing to a busy life just ask literally any author who is also a mom.
This week’s exercise: Pull up your calendar for the next week and schedule four or five thirty-minute blocks for your writing. And then… write!