I can’t emphasize enough just how important it is to establish a writing routine, if you haven’t already!

Years ago, while I was still a student attending writing workshops, I wrote whenever the “inspiration” struck. I’d sit at my computer and churn out sentence after sentence whenever I felt like it. And since I was still a student–and I had ample free time to do what I liked–this habit worked well for me.

Well, fast forward a few years.

Now that I’m married, I teach at two colleges, and I desire to lead a somewhat healthy social life, my writing has, at times, been placed on the back burner.

(My on-again-off-again workout schedule also plays a role in this, too! Ha.)

I thought something like, “Oh, I can get back to writing whenever–during the summer and winter breaks.” But as life goes, something always came up–trips to Disneyland or Vegas, or last minute dinner reservations, etc. And another year would pass this way, and I’d have very little writing to show for it.

I don’t regret the way spent my time over these past few years. I just wish I had established a writing routine into my lifestyle.

I have one now, which I sort of alluded to at the close of an earlier post.

I write for at least two hours, six days a week on my living room sofa, whether I read for leisure or not. The time I used to watch TV, or surf the internet, or button-mash video game controllers has been replaced with writing and reading. (For the most part, at least!) For another way of thinking about this, check out the following brilliant YouTube clip from Darryl Cross:

As people, we need to make time for the things we prioritize in life. As writers, writing should be one of them. A daily writing routine will help with this. If you haven’t already implemented a writing routine in your life, start one today.

Stay focused. Stay disciplined. And, above all else, write your heart out!

Photo credit: Helga Weber / Foter.com / CC BY-ND