How to create a writing schedule for any project and stick with it

Everyone has that writing project that they want to see in print. But the actual getting the “writing” part of the project done is the hard part. Whether it’s a book you have always wanted to write or a series of short essays you wanted to share or the long poem you wanted to write down, you have to actually write it for the project to come to life. And the best way to do this is to create a writing schedule – and stick to it.

Creating a “Doable” Writing Schedule
Everyone has that writing project that they want to see in print. But the actual getting the “writing” part of the project done is the hard part. Whether it’s a book you have always wanted to write or a series of short essays you wanted to share or the long poem you wanted to write down, you have to actually write it for the project to come to life. And the best way to do this is to create a writing schedule – and stick to it.

Creating a “Doable” Writing Schedule
First, you need to be in the right mind for creating a writing schedule. Without first deciding to write more and committing to the process, the rest is a waste of time. Just like marriage, for it to work, you must believe it will work and commit yourself to the work and the consequences if you do not make it a priority.

Once you have the right mindset, then you need to be realistic about your time. If you have a full-time job and a lot of responsibility at home, you are unlikely to be able to dedicate 40 hours to writing a week. It is best to think about how much time you really have to dedicate to writing and go from there.

Then, when you know how many hours you have dedicate to writing, the next will be to decide what days and times you can most likely set aside for your writing project. For some, an hour in the morning before the rest of the household wakes is a great time to write. For others, an hour at night before bed works best. For those with less time to work with may find 30 minutes during lunch time works the best. Even if you can only shave a few hours over the weekend, committing to that time will start the writing schedule.

8 Tips on how to stick with you writing schedule
Once the schedule is created, the next step is sticking to it and making sure you are producing your end goal. There are several steps you can take that once the schedule has been set, that will guarantee a level of success.

1. Make the schedule visual – One best way to stick with your schedule is to write it down on paper or create an app that puts the schedule down as something you can see. Once it is out of your head, it becomes more real.
2. Create a writing space – If you can dedicate a corner table or side room for you to write, it will improve your chances of sticking to your schedule. The space will help your mind shift into writing mode and make you more able to be productive when you are on your writing schedule.
3. Don’t wait for motivation – As the saying goes, it is 10% motivation and 90% perspiration to get anything done. You need to find ways to counter when the great muse is off in the corner and not helping out.
4. Use writing prompts – Using prompts when you find yourself staring at a blank page will get the gears in the mind moving and once you have written something, you will find yourself less stuck and able to focus on the project at hand.
5. Pomodoro techniques – This technique is the process of writing for a period of time, such as setting a timer for 30 minutes and then taking a break to refresh. This makes the writing less like work and more manageable.
6. Word sprints – Another technique to use that keeps you on track and productive is word sprints. Here, you dedicate a time for your writing that you just write. It doesn’t matter if you write down the same word repeatedly, the idea is that you keep writing. In time, you would begin to write on your project and find the words coming easier. You might even find your best writing comes from this.
7. Give yourself slack – Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do not write 1000 words in an hour. Writing is a creative process and part of that process is working out how a scene will play out, what right word will describe an emotion and how best to convey a thought. The purpose is to be productive, so don’t worry if there is not a lot on the page.
8. Be consistent – If you miss a day, try to get right back on your schedule the next time. You are attempting to create a habit and you will find that the longer you stay on your schedule, the easier it is to write and be productive.

​Final Thought
Be sure you are enjoying the writing. It is hard, if not impossible to stick with anything you do not enjoy. Much like reading, if you don’t care for the subject or are engaged with the characters, you are unlikely to finish the book. So, create a writing schedule and enjoy the process.  Have fun and think about the end product – a piece of literature you want to share. Happy Writing!

Denise McKee is the founder and CEO of HireWriting, a copywriting service provider. When not writing about all things HR, she breaks away to create worlds of sci-fi and fantasy. Connect with her on LinkedIn or look her up on Facebook.