Use Small Steps to Get the Writing Done

       The most common strategy to get yourself to write when you are not
       writing is to commit to small amounts of time. Five or fifteen minutes seem
       to be favorites for many writers. This does not mean that you will only
       write for five or fifteen minutes. It means that you promise to write for at
       least five or fifteen minutes per day or per writing session. You can write
       more if you want. But five or fifteen minutes is the minimal amount that
       you can write.
      
       This habit usually taps into the principle I mentioned earlier in a
       previous blog that writing begets writing and not writing begets not
       writing. If you can trick yourself into writing a little, that trickle often
       creates a much bigger flow of output over time.
      
       The important thing for you to decide as a writer is the minimal amount
       of time you are wiling to commit to your writing each day or week? What
       is a realistic small amount of writing (number of words or number of
       pages) you are willing to commit to writing each day or week? Once you
       decide on the number, you must commit to this number of words in order
       for it to work.
      
       The best way of deciding on a number of pages or words to write each
       day is to determine a realistic number for yourself, given your  work
       schedule, family and life goals. Determining what a realistic amount is for
       you may take a few tries. You may discover that you once thought that you
       could do a lot more than you really can. Or you may discover that you
       can’t do as much as you said you would. Either way, it is okay to do as
       much as you can do without feeling guilty. Just doing any writing is better
       than no writing at all.
      
       Since the human mind often works better with a limited and achievable
       finish line, I recommend that you make limited time commitments for your
       writing as well. Decide you’ll write every day for a month, or that you will
       write three ties per week for two weeks. If it works for you and is
       producing the writing you want, you can recommit or commit to a longer
       period of time.
      
       So writers, I urge you to set a limited and achievable writing goal for
       the next month. And you will be developing the habit of writing. There is
       no better feeling of confidence than that.  You will be so glad that you did!

Irene