I have to credit my writing habits for bringing me this far. Without it, I doubt that I can write this many fiction books.

So, what are the writing habits that work great for me?

Well, here they are~

I write even if I don’t feel like it

I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Sometimes, I have a truckload of ideas that I can add in the novel I’m writing. With so many ideas pouring in, I end the chapter with a satisfying feeling thanks to me being in the flow.

But not every day is like that. There are days where I feel like nothing seems to flow smoothly no matter how hard I try to crack my head.

I don’t feel inspired at all to write anything.

Some of us will only write when inspirations hit them. But for me, I don’t think that’s the right way to do things.

After all, many successful authors don’t wait for their muse to come up before they start writing. They just sit on their chair and write. And they do it even if they don’t feel inspired at all to write anything.

Since I don’t wait for the inspiration to come, I just start writing. I couldn’t care less if what I write is just plain crap. Inspirations will come to me not long after I begin writing the first sentences.

Don’t fret so much about not writing because you don’t have anything that inspires you. Inspirations will only come to you when you start writing.

Writing when you feel inspired is only a myth. If all authors will only write when the muse comes to them, I’m sure that we have to wait for a couple of years just to get a new book.

Know when is the best time for me to write

I realized when was the best time for me to write when I tried to finish the chapter that I was writing at night. It took such a long time for me to get my point across. In fact, I got a headache by just doing that.

But when I continued where I left in the morning, not only I had a better clarity on how I wanted the chapter to become. But it didn’t take that long for me to convey what I needed to convey for that scene.

That was when I realized that I could only write better during the day. Because of that, I will always schedule my writing during the day. I also did the same for editing since it requires the same amount of concentration as writing the first draft.

Everyone is different when it comes to the best time for writing. Some authors can write much better in the middle of the night. And there are also some authors who can write better early in the morning when everyone is still asleep.

Find when is the best time for you to write and stick with it. You can finish your book faster when you write it during your best time.

Read more

As an author, reading more is just as important as writing more if you want to improve your writing tenfold.

Reading doesn’t just help with improving your writings. But it can also fuel your inspiration, which is crucial if you’re writing a novel.

You can argue here that inspirations can come from pretty much anywhere. But when you’re stuck, reading can sometimes help with getting the inspirations you need.

You don’t have to go crazy with reading books. If you can only finish one chapter in a day, then that’s good enough.

I always make time for it no matter how busy I am. I never say that I will pick up the book, manga or light novels when I have the time. I know well enough that the free time will never come unless I make time for it.

I prefer to read before going to bed. I realize that it helps with making me to fall asleep fast and allows me to sleep soundly.

Which leads me to my next point…

Have enough sleep

I realize that nothing will ever flow smoothly if I feel groggy for the rest of the day. I knew that beforehand because I couldn’t convey what I need to convey when I felt so tired physically.

I envy people who can sleep like a log in any situation. So, if you have a difficulty to fall asleep just like me, then try reading before heading to bed.

Apart from reading, I also drink chamomile tea to calm my monkey brain.

If you prefer a natural alternative to sleeping pills, then try Native Rest by Dr. Al Sears. What I love about Native Rest is it only uses natural ingredients and it’s simple to use. All you need to do is to spray it under your tongue and swallow it.

Dr. Al Sears also offers an auto-delivery option for Native Rest as well. So, if you find Native Rest works wonder for you, then you can opt for the auto-delivery option. With the auto-delivery option, they will ship your Native Rest supply every three months.

Exercise

I also notice that my writing becomes much better after I exercise. One of the reasons could be because my mind became clear after my workout session. Thus, writing will become much easier for me when I have a clear mind.

Just like most people, I wasn’t being consistent with my exercise routine. I only began to make it a priority when I was writing my first book, The Diary of Modern Cinderella. At that time, I had a feeling that I would be sitting all day long.

So, it makes sense that I need to do something physical since I’ve been sitting all day long.

My favorite way to exercise is Pilates. So, I’ve been following along Blogilates by Cassey Ho for quite sometimes already. I won’t deny that most workout videos by Blogilates can be intense for most people. But there’s a workout calendar for beginners if you’d like to give Blogilates a try.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to do anything vigorous when it comes to exercise. Even going for a walk is already good enough since our goal here is to move our body.

If walking doesn’t excite you and you prefer to do something indoor, another way for you to do that is to take a fitness program like Dr. Al Sears’ PACE exercise.

Not only the exercise program is perfect for the seniors, but you can also finish the session in less than 30 minutes without ever leaving your house.

How you can build your writing habits now

In case you’re wondering, none of the writing habits that I mention here comes naturally to me. Well, except for the sleep part since I love sleeping. And I know how important sleeping is in my life.

But if you’d like to start building any of the writing habits I mention here, my suggestion is to take one step at a time.

Once you start building the habit, you can add more.

If you have any other writing habits that work for you, feel free to share them in the comment below. I’d like to find out if there’s anything else that I can add to my existing writing habits.