Writing everyday for a month is no mean feat, so pat yourself on the back for getting to the end of the Write A Page A Day track. But now that the spotlight is off writing, does it mean you can/will slide back into non-writing days? Well, if you plan it well, you can stay consistent and write more. 

Writing consistently beyond Write A Page A Day

Being regular with your writing is what sets you apart, both in terms of work ethos and quality. Let's decide how we can get to the point where writing consistently is effortless. 

1. Set aside a time and place for writing

It sounds simple but is the most crucial part of habit building. You might have noticed that dedicating a time slot for writing is always a good thing. Whether it's morning or bed-time or your commute, knowing when you are expected to write makes the decision to write that much easier. And in a month of writing, you would have discovered that some places are better for you to focus. It could be your dining table when everyone is still asleep, or the swinging chair in the backyard, but once you find the spot in the house that works best for you, stick to it. 

You can read this post on different time management systems to find one that works for you.

2. Plan meticulously for flawless execution

The statement sounds a lot like a corporate project but it holds true for the simplest of life situations. If you can, plan your writing projects, plan your content, be it book chapters or blog posts or your social media posts and create a list of topics you want to write about. Planning takes you from a nebulous goal of wanting to write to a concrete, purpose-filled writing practice. 

3. Every day is different

We all have good, focused, productive days and also days when nothing seems to come together inspite of our best efforts. Embrace both kinds of days. What matters is your larger goal. Decide on your weekly or monthly word count. Or you may decide to finish a few chapters of your book in a month. Your progress may be fast or slow but appreciate that you are moving in the right direction. 

4. Have a back-up plan

Back-up plans help you fight contingencies. Know what things have the potential to turn into obstacles and plan to work around them. An unexpected social event, exhaustion at the end of the day, phone calls, internet, the temptation to research are some daily distractions that you can encounter. Think about what would get you back on track. 

5. Have an accountability partner

Unless there is someone out there to whom you are accountable, it is easy to slip. Find a writers group. Or create one. Ask your best friend to check up on your work progress. Make a WhatsApp group with your writer friends where you update your word count or time spent writing. Make a commitment and share it with the world. If you find that sharing progress with others is draining, log your writing milestones. Take out your journal and mark your daily writing progress there. Keep track of your time, if that's what you are measuring. 

6. Reward yourself

If you are doing it for yourself then you have the right to reward yourself to stay motivated. Get yourself another notepad for writing. Stationary, fancy pencils, a mug that proclaims you are a writer are some more ideas. 

With time, you will find that writing becomes a habit you would not want to break. Even a little writing everyday is significant when you are working towards a goal. And what's more, your writing skills will improve because of all the practice you are getting. 

PS: if you're looking for another month-long writing project, you can consider signing up for BlogchatterA2Z.