Want to Write Better? Build a Writing Habit

Many people enjoy reading. They may read books printed on paper or articles published online. Some become interested and decide to try writing themselves. Writing, however, is a very difficult task. Here are some tips for developing a habit of writing consistently.

One expert compared writing to going to the gym. If you wait until you feel inspired before going to the gym, you will never actually get there and work out. Likewise, rather than waiting for inspiration before writing, inspiration will come when you write consistently at a set time. Put it on your calendar or schedule and write for the allotted time. Even when writing becomes difficult, you must keep at it.

Also, vary your writing routine a little each time. As the human body adapts to repeated training, it changes so that it can perform the task more easily. Therefore, to become a writer, you need to learn by gradually varying the way you write. Sometimes you might complete a set amount faster than usual, while at other times you might increase your usual word count.

You also need to consume a 'balanced diet.' Building a healthy body through exercise requires attention to your diet as well. The same applies to writing. In writing, your diet is your reading material. To write well, you need to read a great deal across a wide range of subjects. Writers who do not read cannot write well. The more you read, the better your sentences become.

Set goals for each day, week, month, or year. For example, one goal might be to set a target word count to reach within that period. Writers must turn these goals into reality.

Finally, you need to remain detached. After finishing your work, steady yourself and put it out of your mind. If you have submitted a manuscript to a publisher or an assignment to a professor, avoid agonizing while waiting for a response. If you are told that revisions are needed, simply revise the content as requested.

[FamTimes = Reporter Lee Kyung-han]