How To Treat Your Writing Like A Job

After a full day of class, a full time job, or taking care of your family, the last thing you probably want to do is put every last ounce of brain power you have into writing. I get it… you’re tired! On the other hand, if that continues day after day, you’ll never finish that book you’ve always dreamed of writing. 

I had that problem for years. I would start book after book, push out a few thousand words, and then get too busy to bother looking at it again. 

“I’ll get to it later!” 

“I don’t have time!”

Finally, I realized that if I make the time, maybe I could actually finish a novel. I started taking it more seriously and believing that it could actually happen! 

I decided I was going to go slow. I just had to keep moving! I started slow at only 500 words a day and that worked for me! Whether it was early in the morning, on a lunch break, or after work, I just had to manage 500 words. That’s it! It became a necessity every day and before I knew it, it became a habit. 

I made the time for it, and now, if I’m home, I’m writing, editing, researching, or working on a blog, or social media. I’m constantly working on something that can improve and further my writing career. I might be tired after an eleven or twelve hour shift at work, but one of my favorite things to say is… that book isn’t going to write itself!

Encourage yourself with mini goals and before you know it, you’re going to have a finished novel in front of you and you will be so proud!

On the other hand, if you’re really not feeling it, don’t force yourself. It’s good to push yourself, but don’t cross any lines. If you do, your writing will feel forced and that will be very obvious to your readers ( I know from experience!) I can definitely tell the difference in the flow of my own writing when I push myself too far. 

My biggest piece of advice… if you’re enjoying yourself, you’re doing something right! If you’re not, take a break, whether it’s an hour or a week! Treat your writing like a job, but don’t make it feel like one!

Harley Lyn