I Wrote For 6 Months Daily, Here’s What Happened
The most difficult part of my daily routine when starting anything new is building habits. It’s not that it’s impossible, but it’s easy to slip back into familiar patterns, even with the best intentions—like New Year’s resolutions. So, If you want to turn ideas into a book, whether it's finishing a manuscript that’s collecting dust on your computer or pushing through the final hurdles of a creative project, you’ll have to create a new set of habits.
For me, using words has always been my way of expressing emotions. Later, as I ventured into consulting, my writing expanded into communicating with clients and subscribers. Yet, when I need to pour out my feelings, it’s through writing that I find the most relief.
When my husband, Alan, passed away last summer, I turned to journaling as a lifeline. At first, it was just for myself—a space to process the grief. Over time, the notes became more personal, and I decided to share snippets on a dedicated Instagram page. I then made a decision to journal every single day, no matter what, for an entire year.
I call it "Diary of the Writer’s Wife":
Personal notes from the journey of life after loss. A space for thoughts, lessons, and inspiration from behind the scenes of a writer’s life.
The truth is writing daily isn’t always easy. Some days are just uneventful — kids, chores, and the daily grind. Other days can feel more eventful or meaningful. But as I committed to this habit, something unexpected happened, I couldn’t stop writing. I craved it. Even on uneventful days, the words found their way onto the page.
This journey was a powerful reminder of two things:
While starting a new habit is hard, consistency turns it into second nature after about a month.
Having a vision of your destination is essential, but you also need to remain flexible enough to adapt as that vision evolves.
Whether your goal is creating a writing habit, publishing your book, or simply holding your finished manuscript in your hands, the process starts with consistent, small steps.
For me, my vision for my writing is very specific, and I am excited to see it’s started to take shape; more about that in another email. But of course, a vision needs practical support: time, effort, income, connections, and the discipline to sit down and work. But once you align your vision with practical steps, you set off a chain of events that brings opportunities closer to you.
So, how did I build my daily writing habit?
Here’s What Worked for Me:
I simply decided to Journal daily
I made a firm decision to journal daily about my life events and emotions. No excuses.I Chose a Practical Time
For me, end of the day worked best. With kids waking up early and a busy daytime schedule, the end of the day is when I can take a quiet moment to reflect.I Just Wrote
I have not set a specific word count or time limit. Some days, I wrote for 15 minutes; other days, to an hour. The only rule was to get my thoughts on paper.
What Happened After 30 Days of Writing?
By the end of the first month, I couldn’t stop. Writing became second nature—a craving. Now, six months later, I have half a book’s material written.
Here’s the important part: Your first drafts don’t have to be perfect. In fact, they won’t be. But you can always edit and refine a rough draft. You can’t edit a blank page.
If writing is the habit you want to build, I encourage you to commit to just 30 days. Write something—anything—every day.
If you want to work on book marketing, dedicate yourself to daily efforts for 30 days.
If you need to edit your book, set aside time every day, and you could have it ready for publication in a month.
Building a new habit is important to write, and consistency will help you build this new habit.
Remember, readers love new writers. They want new voices. They want stories and tales of triumph. They are probably waiting to read your book.
Is your manuscript ready to be published? I can help you publish your book HERE
Does your manuscript need additional work? Editing or partial ghostwriting? I can help you HERE
