Welcome to June.
Considering it's now June 1st, I figured I might as well post the new daily challenge topic. However, I'll once again reference Magnus's guidelines and suggestions for these daily challenges (which remains good advice, etc)
Considering it's now June 1st, I figured I might as well post the new daily challenge topic. However, I'll once again reference Magnus's guidelines and suggestions for these daily challenges (which remains good advice, etc)
Welcome!
This is a thread open to anyone who wants to build a long-term writing habit! That could include writing, editing, research, or anything else that supports your writing, like self-care or just putting bread on the table.
By sharing your efforts here you'll get some accountability to help boost your motivation, and you'll be part of a community of fellow habit-builders who encourage and support each other!
Feel free to start the month out by stating your goals. When you report in, you can also take the opportunity to chat a little with the other participants, offering words of encouragement, ideas, or advice!
A few things I ask that you keep in mind:*
- To avoid clutter, please only post once per day.
- It's always nice to offer a few words of encouragement to others!
- But don't feel bad if you don't have the time or energy to interact with everyone.
- Please remember that no one is obliged to follow or even respond to any advice you offer.
- Ultimately, it's up to each person how they wish to participate!
GOOD LUCK!
/Magnus
*I am not an admin or moderator on these forums, so all I can do is ask nicely.
TIPS FOR BUILDING A (WRITING) HABIT
1. Set Achievable Goals
This is probably the most important part. Too often people set goals they have no chance of hitting, then get discouraged when they fail and give up. Be realistic. You need goals that you can reliably reach more often than not. Hitting a smaller goal will give you a confidence boost and set you up for success the next day, building momentum. A good goal is a little bit challenging but doesn't overwhelm you. If you find yourself failing your goal regularly, lower the bar.
A lofty long-term goal might be fine, but if you aren't currently getting much writing done, a goal to write 3000 words per day isn't something you can expect to achieve within weeks or even months. Start with something tiny, for example the goal to write a single sentence each morning after breakfast. The point is that each time you sit down to write at a specific time, you're strengthening the neural pathways for that action, making it easier to perform. And if you weren't getting any writing done before, then seven sentences per week is an improvement! Once you're hitting your current goal around 80% of the time, you can raise the bar a bit.
2. Experiment and Adapt
When things aren't working out, adapt them or try something new! You could change the way you reward (or punish?) yourself, or change the time of day you write, or alter your goals depending on the weekday, allow yourself skip days, and so on! Try to stick with new methods for at least a couple of weeks so you can properly evaluate if they work.
Not everything that works for others will work for you, and sometimes what works for you changes over time. Always be ready to mix things up! A good habit is one that works for you. Don't be afraid to experiment, even with things that seem 'out there' for you. I was thoroughly convinced I was a night person, but it turns out my most productive time of the day is in the early morning!
There is a plethora of books, blogs, and social media accounts offering advice out there. Here are some tips when sailing the treacherous Sea of (Writing) Advice:
3. Be Patient and Persistent
- Far from all the advice out there is good. Learn to be sceptical. (Yes, even to this very guide!)
- Even if a piece of advice is good, it might not be good for you.
- If someone claims they have a simple solution to productivity (or success), assume it's bogus. You will have to work for your progress.
- The more confident someone is in their idea/product/method, the more you should doubt them (and the more likely it is they are trying to sell you something).
It takes a long time to build a strong habit, and you can easily be blind to the progress you're making day-to-day. Keep at it. Sticking with the habit gets easier with time, but that being said; don't trust it to run on autopilot. It will always require effort. The difference is that with time, it will require less effort to get started and to keep going. If you stubbornly stick with it, your progress will be slow and steady. In my experience, it is the only type of progress that lasts. If you've been at it for a long time and you feel like you're treading water, look back a bit further in time. We tend to compare with the previous day or week. But aren't you doing a heck of a lot better than you were six months ago? (And if you aren't, look at point 4. Then go through 1-3 again!)
4. Accept Failure and Learn From It
Okay, I lied a little. This is probably the most important part. Even with a small goal you'll inevitably fail some days. The dominant culture teaches us that failure is something terrible to be avoided at all costs. It is not. Failing a task does not make you a failure as a person. It makes you human. Don't dwell on it. It is a natural and inevitable part of improvement. Try to figure out why it happened and use this information to improve your odds of success in the future. Don't stack your goals, but start fresh the next day. Try to learn from your misstep, then forgive yourself and keep going.
