Habits to Help You Write More in 2025
Consistency matters and even small changes can help us in our writing practice.
Thinking back over the last writing year is kind of fun. Definitely some highlights. Speaking at the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference was a blast and watching the Simply Write podcast and this Substack grow. Some low points? Stalled on a couple of projects, didn’t make as much progress on the novel revision as I had planned.
But, that’s just it, right? The ups and downs of the writing business. When it comes to creating a sustainable and resilient writing life, it comes down to habits and processes that help us keep getting the work done. And hopefully, having fun. Sure writing can be difficult, but even then it can be enjoyable.
Here are some of the habits and practices I think are super-duper helpful and important if we want to keep writing, having fun, and finding success while we are at it.
Establish a Daily Writing Practice: The foundation of any writing career is consistency. Create a writing schedule that works for you. Whether it's a set number of words per day or a time block, whether you write five days a week or one, make sure you know your process, when you are at your creative best, and do it.
Send Out a Pitch After Every Rejection: Rejection is part of the journey. Instead of letting it stall your momentum, use it as fuel. After each rejection, send out another pitch and reframe the rejections you get as all part of the writing process. Nothing more.
Keep Your Body Agile and Strong: Physical well-being supports mental clarity. Regular movement, whether it’s yoga, walking, or strength training, will help you stay energized and reduce the mental fatigue that can come with long writing sessions.
Sleep to Incubate Ideas and Maintain Health: Sleep is essential for both creativity and overall health. Your brain needs rest to form connections and come up with fresh ideas. Prioritize quality sleep to keep your mind sharp.
Ship New Work Each Week: Publishing and sharing your work — whether it’s a blog post, short story, or essay — helps you build your portfolio and stay productive. Make it a goal to ship something new every week, even if it’s just for your own website or a small publication.
Learn to Use AI to Support Your Productivity: AI can be a powerful tool for writers. From brainstorming ideas to editing drafts, find ways to integrate AI tools that streamline your process and make your writing more efficient.
Make Progress Each Day and Celebrate It: Even small progress adds up. Whether it’s writing 500 words or refining a paragraph, or jotting a few notes on a new idea, that’s all part of writing. Marking those moments boosts motivation and reinforces your commitment to your craft.
Start a Dream Project. Dream projects often get put off. We go with more pressing projects like those that will pay the bills or find a market. Still, most of us came to writing because of a special idea. Something that got us excited. Keep a dream project on the back burner. Touch on it every once in awhile. Write it for the sake of writing, without worrying about the outcome or the end date. Write it just because you love it and it’s fun. This will make you come alive as a person and improve your writing work overall.
Take Your Writing Seriously: If writing is your dream, respect it. Set boundaries, dedicate time, and work on your craft. Writing is not an embarrassment, nor do you need to defend your desire to write. It’s OK to declare it. Then do it.
Identify as a Writer: When people ask you what you do, make sure that being a writer is part of your answer. Own your identity. If you’re writing, you’re a writer — even if it feels hard to acknowledge.
Read, Write, Learn: The quickest way to improve is through practice. Read widely to understand different styles and techniques. Write regularly to hone your craft. And always seek opportunities to learn more, whether through workshops, books, or mentors.
Surround Yourself with Inspiration: Inspiration is all around us — you just need to know where to look. Find sources that energize you: read a great book, go outside and marvel at the world, or connect with like-minded writers who are encouraging, fun, and inspiring.
Incorporate these habits into your days and into your thought patterns and you’ll lay the foundation to get good work done.
Not only will you become a more productive writer, you’ll become a happier one.
Get after it writers. We’ve got stories the world needs.
Simply Write,
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May this year bring us all great stories, meaningful connections, and deep inspiration. Thank you for being here.