Writing routine
The Dance with the Keyboard, aka a Daily Writing Routine that Changed Everything
Steal my routine to write and publish consistently
So, you want to write daily?
Some people think it’s all about waking up early, grabbing a coffee, and sitting down with a laptop. And, then, ideas flow.
Some people are night owls and prefer to write in the evening when the kids sleep, and everything is quiet.
I am both.
People say that’s impossible. They also forget people are different.
Some mornings I get up early, and I have great ideas. But sometimes, I just want to stay in bed and have a good night’s sleep. Some nights, I burn the midnight oil because my head is bursting with ideas I want to capture. Sometimes, during my lunch break, I create outlines for articles. Sometimes, I go to a coffee shop for an hour because I need a change of scenery to be able to write.
I was trying to wake up early every day or write every night, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t sustainable for me.
Famous writers say we all need ‘sacred writing time’.
But do we?
They forget we are all different with our unique circumstances.
Do you have a writing routine?
I do.
But it’s different from other writers’ writing routines. I don’t stick to dogmas or the time of the day.
There’s only one rule I follow: I need to write.
Every. Single. Day.
I do my best to write 500 words every day. Some days are better, and I end up with 2000 words. I rarely write less than 500 words. I have multiple articles at different stages of the writing process, so if ideas don’t flow as they should, I jump onto a different story to beat writer’s block.
Where do I write? When do I write? What do I write with?
It doesn’t matter.
Once I stopped forcing another writer’s routine onto me, it finally allowed me to write more consistently. I just needed to understand how and why I write the way I do.
My writing routine (aka writing structure)
- Idea
- Keyword research
- Desk research
- Write headline & subtitle
- Outline
- Draft 1
- Draft 2
- Correct grammar
- Read out loud (rewrite if necessary)
- Let it sit for a day — Never post on edit day
- Create a hero image & other images to illustrate the points
- Publish
- Repeat
Write as you wish. Write however you want. It’s all about finding what works for you!
There’s one key secret here: just don’t put it off.
If you’re new to me, my name is Niki. I’m a part-time writer with a 9-to-5 job in tech. Writing about my solopreneur experiments and adventures is one of my favourite things to do. If you’d like to know more about me:
At one time, I really pushed myself to my limits. If you’re a writer, you’ll find this story interesting: