How to Create a Consistent Writing Habit

One of the most common pieces of writing advice is to establish a regular writing habit, but what exactly does that mean and how exactly do you do it?

Implementing a writing habit means finding consistency in your writing routine, but this will mean a different thing for every writer. In this video, we cover how to determine the right word output for you, and strategies to stay consistent while you implement your new routine.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Setting realistic goals
2:27 - Find a goal system that works for you
3:33 - Don't skip two writing sessions in a row
3:35 - Find a consistent writing space
4:47 - Create consistent habits and rituals
5:20 - Track your 'wasted' time
6:09 - Treat writing like a meeting with another person
6:31 - Find a writing group or buddy
7:00 - Find a consistent schedule
7:33 - Engage with writing every day
8:25 - Work in a way that's natural for you

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[opheliawild]

You busted me. I was avoiding writing and watching this for probably the 3rd or 4th time. LOL.

[cwfcwfcwf]

Watching most of my YouTube channels is procrastinating but I have never thought that your videos have ever been a waste of time.

[mikalappalainen]

Watching your videos for ten minutes is more productive on the long run than writing for ten minutes.

[ammarif]

It's pointless to mention the obvious....but I'll mention that....you're amazing... you're amazing

[banerjeekaustav]

Hi Shaleen! Thanks for your genuine & enlightened tips for making a writing habit. This is the best video on writing that I have ever fortunately come across. The suggestions that you have given are realistically effective and I got hooked watching the first time only! So this is the "Hit" on the bell 🔔 for your channel in order to follow your future informative & valuable video!

[musicaddict]

I honestly just want to be able to write small stories on my new notebook. I don’t know what to write in it. So I came up with this idea.

[shmak]

I have really been finding your videos helpful. So here's an issue that I've had lately that I'd love to see you make a video on: How to avoid using the same words and phrases over and over. Especially when doing dialog. Ex:

"Character A speech." he said.
"Character B reply." she said.
"Character A continues." he said.

Or maybe just a video on how to write dialog/conversations in general. To write it in a way that reads naturally.

[madavi]

Thank you so much! This video was so useful for me!

[hatezis]

Great advices, especially the "don't fight it" part is something you don't hear everyday :)

[booksandauthorsindependenttv]

Shalin, please do a video on chapter beats and how they shape chapters? 🙏🙏😊💖 I'm not talking about plot beats as in milestones, Save the Cat, no. I'm talking about how one breaks down chapters with beats and how many seats do you think should be in a chapter. Thank you

[copester]

When calling yourself out, be mindful of the words you use in your self-talk. Tell yourself, "I want to work on my story" rather than "I have to go write now". Psychologists studying how well people keep New Year's resolutions like dieting and exercise saw significant improvement when people used positive statements. "I can't eat that" or "I have to go exercise" turn it into a self-inflicted punishment. Make it an affirmation of your choice.

[sripradhamp]

These are great! Thank you so much for the valuable tips.

[ktales]

You know, your hair is different in a lot of the videos -- since I've been watching things you filmed over the course of several years all back-to-back -- but I think this is the first time I've seen this look. It's really cool. As for writing habits, I'm very much in the write every day camp and I slot a particular time each day as my protected time... but because I need to ramp up my writing since I've starting to hit a slowdown with my current book, and having a harder time hitting my daily goals (partly because I'm trying to adjust my style, which involves finding ways around the things I normally do). It's tough, though, because I'm going from easily writing 3k+ words per day in 2-3 hours to sometimes not getting there with 4 hours. Given how much my speed had improved with my last book (and, up until now, each book I've been able to write faster and for longer periods), it's hard to see this as anything but backsliding.

And I also realized I have to go with daily goals because weekly and monthly goals lead to larger-scale procrastination where I save too much towards the end, which leads to discouragement.

Of course, the one thing I really need to get in the habit of doing is revision, since I'll finish a draft in weeks then months later I still haven't revised some things.

[mageprometheus]

I love practising the piano and bass and composing music. I have these as my top 3 priorities with writing in 4th place. Procrastination kicks in and I end up writing. It's sad my willpower is so weak I need to play mind games with my inner child.

[ExploreImagineDefineCreate]

Please do a video on writing an adventure story.
Many videos and blogs and such cover action and the generic hero's journey, but not actual adventure story writing.
Please and thank you.

[devanshigupta]

5:28 stop personally attacking me gawd

[sovietta]

Shaelin Shaelin Shaelin, the world needs to know you exist. That’s all I’m gonna say.

[sumayyahkhan]

Can you please do a video on how to write an adventure story

[juliesit]

I’m restarting my first novel because the first time I tried the pantser style. That didn’t work because I got to where I didn’t know what should come next. I’m going to do it this by the 3 Act story structure. But I have a question. What if I have more scenes or chapters between the plot points? Or am I suppose to? I’m new to this. Please help.

[juliesit]

Question? I’m trying to write my first romance novel and I have a question. My very wealthy heroine has a problem that she needs to solve which will last the whole novel her solving it. She has an antagonist who doesn’t want her to solve it. Also she needs help solving it which is where a love interest comes in because she would never be around love interest otherwise. There is also another antagonist to the love relationship. What is the trope, the character arc, and can a story have a romantic plot and a story plot? It gets VERY confusing!!!