When I first started trying to write consistently, I had this idea in my head that I needed long, uninterrupted blocks of time to do it right.

Like a full morning where nothing else was going on, my brain was clear, my coffee cup was full, and I could just sit down and knock out a few thousand words.

That almost never happened.

Most days, what I actually had were small pockets of time between other things. And even when I did have time, I didn’t always have the focus or energy to use it well. So I kept putting it off, telling myself I’d get to it when things slowed down a bit.

They didn’t, of course. And after a while, I realized the issue wasn’t really my schedule. It was that I was treating writing like something that required ideal conditions, instead of something I could fit into the reality of my day.

Once I started adjusting for that and working with the time I actually had, writing became a lot more consistent.

Hopefully, I can help you do the same today.

Here are the tips that worked for me… in no particular order.

1. Lower the bar so much it feels almost too easy

One thing that helped me more than I expected was simply lowering the expectations for what I counted as a “writing session.”

For a while, I had this idea that if I sat down to write, it needed to be productive, focused, and worth the time. And if I didn’t feel like I could hit that standard, I’d just skip it and try again later.

Eventually, I started treating writing more like something I just needed to show up for, even if it wasn’t going to be great. Some days that meant writing for ten or fifteen minutes and stopping. Other days it meant getting a few rough paragraphs down that I knew I’d probably rewrite later.

But once I removed that pressure, it became a lot easier to start.

2. Decide what you’ll write before you stop

Something else that made a bigger difference than I expected was deciding, ahead of time, what I was going to work on next.

I used to sit down to write and spend the first chunk of time just figuring out where to begin, which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it adds friction. And when you’re already a little resistant to getting started, any kind of friction is often enough to slow you down or stop you entirely.

Now, before I wrap up a session, I’ll usually leave myself a note or a rough starting point for the time I write. Sometimes it’s just a sentence. Sometimes it’s a bullet list of what I was about to say next.

3. Pay attention to when your brain actually works

For a long time, I thought writing time was just about finding open space in my day. But there’s a difference between having time and having usable time.

There were stretches where I tried to do most of my writing late at night, because that’s when things were quiet and nothing else was competing for my attention. The problem was that I was usually tired by then, and even though I technically had the time, I wasn’t doing my best work.

Eventually, I started paying more attention to when I felt the most clear-headed, even if that window was shorter. Writing during those times, even in smaller chunks, ended up being far more effective than trying to force it into hours where I wasn’t really all there.

4. Treat writing like the first thing, not the leftover thing

For a while, writing was something I did after everything else was taken care of.

Which sounds reasonable, but in practice, it meant writing was always competing with everything else on my list, and usually losing. Because there’s always one more thing you could do first.

What worked better for me was flipping that around and trying to write earlier in the day, before things started piling up.

5. Realize the resistance doesn’t really go away

This was something I didn’t expect.

I assumed that once I got into a consistent rhythm, writing would start to feel easier and more… I don't know, automatic. And in some ways it does, but that initial resistance to sitting down and starting doesn’t disappear as much as you’d think.

There are still plenty of days where I’d rather do something else.

The difference now is that I don’t read too much into that feeling. It’s not a sign that I’m stuck or doing something wrong, I just know it’s part of the process. If anything, I’ve noticed that the sessions I resist the most are often the ones that end up being the most useful once I get into them.

6. Forget about the “perfect” time

Many aspiring writers think that writing requires serendipity. People otherwise dismissive of flights of superstitious fancy find themselves waiting for the planets to align and for the “feeling” to be right before they sit down and write a sentence.

This idea that you have to wait for the time to be perfect or to feel inspired is one that stops great books from being written. Forget about the “perfect” time. There's no such thing. Finding time to write is work. Writing itself is work. And waiting for the right time will cause the years to pass as your half-finished manuscript molders on your hard drive or in your desk drawer. 

Don’t wait for writing time to fall in your lap. Work to create that time, even if it’s only one day a week. It’s a start. 

Here's a great quote that sums this up:

“Amateurs write when they are inspired. Professionals are inspired when they write.”

-Michael Hyatt

7. Make a schedule and stick to it

Once you realize there's no “perfect” time to write, it's much easier to create a schedule and stick to it. Without a writing schedule, procrastination creeps in and puts creativity in a headlock. After all, you schedule all the other important events in your life, so why should writing be any different?

It's important to strike a balance of realistic expectations and a no-excuses attitude. Take a look at your current schedule and find out how much time you can carve out to write.

If you're just getting started, expecting to sit down and write for an hour or two may not be the most realistic plan. Instead, use these tips to determine the right goal for you:

• Start with a 30 or 45-minute writing session. 
• Determine a word count goal — say 500 words to start off with — or whatever you think you can accomplish in the time allotted.
• Try to keep your writing sessions around the same time every day. 
• If your schedule is hectic, you may have to schedule your writing practice at different times every day of the week. That's fine — whatever works for you.

8. Trade down time for writing time

If you've taken a hard look at your busy schedule and still don't see how you can squeeze in a writing session, something needs to change. Writing often takes sacrifice — meaning you need to trade some down time for writing time.

This could mean writing on your lunch break or before you go to work in the morning. More likely, the time you need to set aside for writing will be found in your entertainment time. Instead of watching that show, sit down to write for half an hour. Instead of scrolling social media, put the phone down and work on your writing project.

We all have certain habits that aren't necessarily good for our creativity. The trick is to turn those bad habits into good ones. Here's another quote to help you remember this tip:

“The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits. We can never free ourselves from habit. But we can replace bad habits with good ones.”

-Steven Pressfield

9. Dictate while on the move

Creative writing doesn't have to be done at a computer. Some writers find that they do some of their best thinking while in the car or on the train to and from work. They find that dictation is a great way to get ideas down and develop their writing skills.

There are plenty of ways you can dictate your story or your nonfiction book. You can use simple voice recording apps, or you can use speech-to-text tools like Dragon or Speechnotes. Google Docs, Windows, and Mac computers also have dictation features you can use.

10. Track your progress

Tracking the progress on your writing journey is incredibly important. Writing a book, an essay, or even a short story can take a while. And without tracking your progress, it's easy to get discouraged. The end may seem so far away, especially if you're struggling to get your words down.

But the simple act of tracking your progress — recording your word count goals — can help you stay on schedule and create time for writing. 

As you watch your word count climb and you mark off your goals on a spreadsheet or calendar, it's clear that you're making progress, which is a great way to keep you working toward your ultimate writing goal, whatever that is for you.

Goal tracker in Atticus.io

There are two types of word count goals: project-based goals and daily habit goals. Which one you use will depend on what works best for you, but I recommend a mixture of both. Daily habits will eventually make the process of writing much easier, but having those project-based goals as well can be super helpful. You can see an example of a project-based tracker in the image about from Atticus.

11. Reward yourself

Finding time to write consistently is all about creating a writing habit. And in order to turn it into a habit, you need to reward yourself for meeting your writing goals. Let's face it: writing is hard work, and you deserve to treat yourself when you get that work done.

So decide on little rewards for daily goals and bigger rewards for long-term goals. Maybe you can give yourself 30 minutes on X or Instagram for hitting your word count goals. Or if you're not a social media person, you can watch an episode of your favorite show or buy yourself a fancy coffee.

When you finish your book, perhaps you can buy yourself something nice you've been wanting for a while, or take a little vacation.

This type of positive reinforcement can help you go from “finding” time to write to living the writing life by making it a part of your normal schedule!

12. Stop in the middle

At some point during the writing process, every writer hits that part of the story where their creativity seems to be firing on all cylinders. The words come easily and the writing is fun, exciting, and doesn't seem like work at all. When this happens, it's hard to stop writing and easy to start up again during the next session.

Luckily, you can make this happen more often by stopping your writing session in the middle of a scene instead of finishing the scene or the chapter. This leaves an open loop in your mind, which will serve as inspiration when it comes time to sit down for your next session.

This little hack is a great way to help ensure you stay consistent with your writing habit. It's also a good way to ward off writer's block.

13. Keep it sacred

Another way to find writing time is by keeping the time and the space sacred. There are several ways to do this:

• Have a dedicated space where you do your creative writing. It shouldn't be used for anything else but writing, if at all possible. 
• It should also be a place with a door that you can close and, preferably, lock. 
• It should be comfortable and decorated with things that bring you inspiration.
• It should be your space, even if it's just a small table in the corner of the room.

This can help you get into the mindset so you can sit down and write on schedule, making the most out of your time.

Even if you're one of those people who likes to write at the coffee shop or in the middle of the kitchen, it's still a good idea to keep the time sacred. Many people do this by listening to music. Others do it by having that delicious cup of coffee at hand. Whatever works for you, stick to it so you can focus and make the most out of your time.

14. Make sure writing time is actually spent writing

Speaking of making the most out of your time, let's talk about distractions. There are about a million ways you can avoid writing during designated writing time. Most of them involve social media, but others involve “research” (cat videos don't count as research), checking email, or getting sucked into a news hole.

This is why writing goals are important — they keep you on track. But not everyone is good at staying focused, even if they do have a daily word count goal to hit. Luckily, there are many tools that can help ensure that your writing session is actually spent writing. These include website and app-blocking tools such as:

• Freedom
• SelfControl
• StayFocusd (Chrome extension)

15. Use an outline

We've all felt the pressure of a big writing assignment for school or work that we have no idea how to start. The project looms in our minds, even if it's just a self-imposed assignment like writing a book. When we think about it, the enormity of the project can be overwhelming, which can make us want to procrastinate.

But when you work from an outline, it's much less overwhelming. You know where you're going with the story, or you at least have a vague notion. This can make all the difference in finding time to write. It can also help you make more efficient use of your writing time.

So consider writing an outline before you start writing your story, blog post, or script. No matter how long or short the project, an outline is a great writing tool that can help make you a faster and better writer.

Where this usually breaks (and what actually helps)

If I’m being honest, this is the part where most people get stuck.

Not because they don’t understand what to do… but because life just keeps getting in the way, and writing keeps sliding down the list a little more each day.

I went through that for a long time. I’d tell myself I’d get to it when things settled down a bit, or when I had a clearer stretch of time, or when I felt more focused. And every now and then I did have a good writing day, but it wasn’t consistent enough to really go anywhere.

What changed wasn’t anything dramatic.

I just stopped treating writing like something that needed the right setup, and started treating it more like something I needed to return to, even if the timing wasn’t great and the session wasn’t going to be anything special.

Some days still feel like a grind. That part doesn’t really go away.

But if you keep showing up, even in smaller ways, you end up a lot further along than you expect.