Novel Ideas What works for you?

Your way is the right way, says Lynne Hackles

If you don’t know by now, let me tell you that every rule is made to be broken. The worst for me when I started out was the one about writing every day. I had a job and a young family with all that entails. I was lucky to find time to write a shopping list some days. On others I had several hours and would write.

A while ago I suggested sitting down to write at the same time every day. I do this but sometimes the writing consists of writing-related stuff, like answering emails and checking what others are doing online.

In Stephen King’s book, On Writing, he recommends writing 1,000 words a day. In Anne Lamott’s book, Bird By Bird, she suggests writing at the same time every day. Ray Bradbury said, ‘Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.’ And there is your answer. Who do you think Stephen, Anne and Ray’s friends are? I reckon they are professional writers. That’s who. Professional writers have books to turn out. Their job is to write. Many of you will have other things to do and have to fit writing into busy schedules.

So many of the experts we look up to emphasise that we need to write every day and for some of us that just doesn’t work. Don’t allow others who post about their 5,000 words before lunch get to you.

If you want more time in the day then do what James Clear (Atomic Habits) suggests. Instead of asking what you should do, ask yourself what you can remove each day in order to give you that extra space you need. You may find time to get in 1,000 words.