How To Write Every Day

There are times that the words flow, and others when it feels as if every drop of inspiration has dried up faster than water in the Sahara. Hopefully, this article will be able to help you overcome those dry, dusty days.

The First Step:

Write, write about anything and everything that comes to mind. I can't count the times I've stared blankly at the computer, waiting for inspiration to hit.

The trick is not to wait. It doesn't matter what you write as long as you are writing something. Think of your brain like a rusty tool. It needs some WD-40 to get the gears turning.

By writing whatever comes into your mind, it will start the process. When I took my first creative writing course at university, my tutor had all of us keep a writing journal.

My tutor instructed us to take it everywhere with us. He advised having several—one for the house, one for the car, and another for a spare. You never know when inspiration will hit.

When Inspiration Hits, Don't Wait.

How many times have you been in the shower, and an idea pops into your head? You know the moment. The hot water will be beating down on those tired muscles, and you have just put shampoo on your hair. My hair is always filled with shampoo when it happens!

Don't be afraid to jump out and grab a robe. The shower will be waiting for you when you come back. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have lost so many plot bunnies by saying, “Oh, I will remember that and write it down when I get out.” You have to get that information down while it's a live wire running through your brain.

Another time to remember is bedtime. Keep that journal and pen by your bed. It's usually as you are dropping off to sleep when the best ideas hit. You will not remember them in the morning, do it at that moment. As you can probably guess, I have many regrets and have learned my lesson.

Write When You Wake Up

You may not think that your brain is working, but it's still churning over the dreams that you can only half remember. Use that subconscious. This is why the writer's journal is so important. You will be jotting things down you don't even realise.

Try to do this every day, and before you know it, you have created a habit. It is astonishing how much you will get down without thinking about it.

Don't forget to go back over what you have written. Not all of it will be gold; some of it will look like the ramblings of a mad person. That's normal; however, there will be nuggets in there that you can expand on.

Haikus:

You may not have done them since grade school, but they are great for helping with your word flow. All you need to do is remember the flow of 5–7–5. Three lines, the first five syllables, the second seven and the third five again.

As a bonus, you will now be building a repertoire of poetry to add to your medium portfolio. There are loads of publications that are on the lookout for new poets; that could be you!

What's Going On In Your World?

Many people may not realise it, but the everyday things around them are writing treasure. A conversation you had in passing, or something you saw that was anecdotal, could be your next fantastic piece.

Don't discount it because you think it's not worthy. Remember the adage, ‘that one man's rubbish is another man's treasure’? It's true. I have written complete stories from people watching.

Once, I saw a man sitting drinking a coffee and reading a paper. I was on a train, and he was at a station we were passing. I took that single image and turned it into a story. That poor innocent man became a vampire that was on a hunt for rogues. Unfortunately, the ones he was hunting were already in the station hunting him.

The whole battle played out in my head in moments, from that one image. Remember, the most mundane things can become a story.

There are multiple ways to pick up good writing habits, but it's essential to take the first steps. There are more than I've mentioned here, but what is important is to write every day, about anything as long as you write.

I hope that you have enjoyed this article and it has helped you on your writing path. I hope to one day be reading your work.