5 Ways to Get You Writing More in 2024

1. Start small
   Do writing sprints every day! When you find yourself waiting in line at a coffee shop or waiting for the kettle to boil, pull out your phone and write for 30 seconds. Don’t edit or overthink, just get words out. So often we put off writing until the “conditions are right”: the perfect pen and the perfect cozy beverage, the perfect lighting and the perfect music. But let’s be real–a lot of us use these as stalling tactics. These quick sprints will make writing a part of your everyday practice and help form a consistent habit so you write more often!

2. Reconsider your daily writing goal
   Your daily writing goal doesn’t need to be Mount Everest. And it’s also not permanent! If you set the lofty goal of 1k words a day, and you find yourself constantly falling short (and more than likely being hard on yourself for not meeting that goal)--then drop the number! There’s no shame in having small daily writing goals. For instance, my goal is to write just 200 words a day. Sometimes, I’m on a roll and keep going another 600; other days it’s kind of shit…but at least I wrote that day! Keeping your goal at an achievable level for you is what sets us up to develop a consistent and productive habit!

3. Find a writing friend
   One of the things that keeps us moving is accountability. If you’ve promised to share pages with a friend, that can often be a more motivating factor to getting those pages written! Share your goals and set little rewards for when they’re reached! Look online for local or virtual writing groups, check out local classes or workshops, or search forums for other writers in your genre to share work!

4. Take a walk
   Not only can walking help with your mood, it can also spark creativity. Leaving the distractions at home and getting outside stimulates your brain. It also often leads to some of the best inspiration–a monotonous activity like walking, running, or biking, lets your mind wander and encourages creative flow. Take a small notebook or a voice recorder and get inspired!

5. Make writing fun!
   The reason most of us started writing in the first place was because it’s something we enjoyed. But often we can begin stressing over the weight of a project. So let’s make writing fun again. Play a literal game like story cubes or storymatic; turn your RPG campaign into a short story; or get inspired with a live storytelling event like Story Wars or your local improv night.

Happy Writing!