Make A Date With Yourself… And Keep It!

Some days I feel like writing is one of the most amazing parts of my life and I can’t wait to sit down at my computer and dig in. On other days I’d rather be getting my teeth drilled at the dentist. And then on other days, I feel like it doesn’t matter how much I love being a writer or how insanely inspired I feel to write, the demands of the day just don’t seem to allow for it.

I am not the Lone Ranger on this, many writers have the same experience. I only speak for myself when I say this:

If my life depended on it I could write every day, but sometimes I just don’t want to. 

• Sometimes I want to get outside on my bike or stand-up paddle board. 

• Sometimes I want human connection and go in search of a friend to grab coffee with. Sometimes my house is a mess and all I want to do is clean up. (Weird, right?) 

• Sometimes I want to just do NOTHING!

But here’s the thing, sometimes my brain feeds me a whole bunch of rubbish / lies / crap-ola about all the reasons today is not a day to write - even though it is! How do I know? Because if I can trick myself into just putting my butt in the chair for 10 minutes, often that 10 minutes becomes 20 minutes or an hour. Then, before I know it I’ve done my writing session and I’m out the other side! Yay!

So, here are six ideas from me about showing up for yourself, to honour your writing goals and dreams, one date at a time.

1. Build your writing routine

If you think about your writing habits, are there any regular writing times that work well for you?** If so, make it official - start scheduling that time into your calendar each week like you would any other appointment. Then, with your eye still on your calendar, where else could you schedule a regular writing date? By doing this you are starting to build yourself a writing routine. Just like any other skill, writing improves with practice. When your writing becomes a habit, sitting down to do the work becomes easier and feels more natural.

** Here’s my Writing Tracker, in case you need help understanding your writing habits

2. Make your writing time count

Okay, so you’ve scheduled your writing date and here you are with your butt in the chair, showing up for it. Brilliant! For the duration of this date, I wan you to wipe out any risk of distraction by silencing computer notifications, putting your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ (or at last Mute) and committing all of your attention to the task of writing. This will supercharge your productivity! Having a set period of time to write can be so motivating, you’ll want to make the most of the time you have, which will likely lead to more words on the page and more progress.

3. Take your writing seriously (ish)

Scheduling regular writing dates (and keeping them) signals to yourself and others that you are taking your writing seriously. Making your writing a priority will boost your confidence and build your identity as a writer. You’re affirming that your work is important and worthy, and greater confidence in your writerly self can then serve to fuel your creativity and manage the inevitable self-doubt.

4. Make yourself accountable

Whether you set personal deadlines or share your goals with a writing group or a friend, knowing that you’ve committed to your writing can help keep you on track. Accountability can be a powerful motivator, helping you stay disciplined and focused on days when you’re struggling to find your writing mojo.

5. Take it one step at a time

Writing a book, an essay or even a blog post can feel daunting when you think about the whole project at once. So, manage the overwhelm by setting smaller goals and objectives for each writing session. In other words, break down the project into manageable chunks, and show up regularly to get through it one step at a time. 

6. Be flexible but firm

Life happens, and sometimes you’ll need to reschedule or miss a writing session. Be kind to yourself and be flexible when flexibility is needed. The trick here is to ensure that you only reschedule or cancel your writing sessions when it is absolutely necessary. Also, if you can possibly make up for the session you’ve missed, then definitely do.

Whether or not you can say it out loud yet, you are a writer, and the time and effort you put into your writing is valuable. By scheduling regular writing dates and keeping them, you are sending a message to yourself and everyone around you that your writing is important. And it is! So, start blocking out your calendar with regular writing dates and watch how you flourish.

Write on!