Writing doesn’t at all need to be a massive chore. In fact, thinking like this takes all the fun out of writing!
The key to completing any writing project is to develop a simple structure. Something easy to follow and fits within your busy schedule. Within this structure we can build a simple strategy, consistency, and achievable goals and milestones set to guide your writing project. This applies to any type of writing that inspires you.
One of the first things to do when you decide to write a book will be to create a writing schedule. So many people tend to skip this step and prematurely jump straight into the writing itself. Understandably you are very excited at the prospect of creating your written content but without proper planning and scheduling, you run the risk of burnout quite early in the process.
Another important aspect of this scheduling involves taking time out to decide what goes into your book and what will be left out. There needs to be adequate research and a proper outline needs to be set in place. This scheduling is quite similar to what is obtainable in event planning. For example, a musician going on tour will have to first all map out the exact locations he wishes to tour and figure out the route and times. Without this planning, everything turns out to be a mess.
So how do you create a writing schedule?
At the core of this is your strategy. And you need to infuse this strategy into your day-to-day so it becomes second nature during the writing process. This strategy will set you up for achievement even during the days you are not particularly up for it or days you find yourself with more obstacles than you planned to deal with.
First of all, you want to come up with a draft. This is a very important part of your writing. The first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. It is simply a rough estimate and representation of what your final work will look like after refining and editing.
Secondly, you need to figure out how many words you are comfortable writing per day. It is very easy to assume you can achieve outrageous numbers until you try it out and set limits for yourself. Whatever figure you come up with must be achievable daily.
Lastly, you want to be realistic in how much time you can allocate to the project per day. Figure out how much time you have available and how many resources you want to set aside for it. What measures need to be put in place to make it a success? Make these necessary resources available to see yourself through the entire project.
The general idea is to have the end goal in mind and work backward. Break down the overall project into smaller achievable bits that do not seem so insurmountable. Set out a plan and figure out what works for you without unnecessarily over-exerting yourself. See it as a marathon and not a sprint and strategize accordingly to cross the finish line.
