How to Develop Discipline as a Writer

“You can live with me in this house I’ve built out of writers blocks.”

― Pete Wentz

This is probably my favorite quote on writer’s block — I think my house is most certainly built out of “writers blocks.” Sometimes, you might want to take a lighter approach to work through your fatigue as a writer. You can simultaneously be productive and give yourself a creative break.

If certain topics or genres feel easier to work on than others, work on the ones that come more naturally.

For example, sure, you might feel like you have a more pressing need to work on your blog. But if you’re as blocked as a freshly built brick wall, see if working on a different type of writing gets your pen moving. If you want to write poetry, then go ahead, write poetry.

It may not be the top thing on your to-write list (the most insidious of to-do lists) but if it can bring the spark back, it’s worth your time. Plus, once you get moving again, you’re reinforcing your sense of discipline. After you indulge yourself with something that is truly fun and freeing to write, going back to what you really need to work on might be easier.

Find a writing routine that you can realistically do consistently.

I've made the mistake of setting pie-in-the-sky goals, falling short, then feeling like a failure. We writers are often emotional little things and can be far too hard on ourselves.

One thing I've learned from doing an MFA in fiction and going to dozens of craft talks post-graduation is that there is no singular "correct" writing routine. There are hundreds of New York Times bestselling authors who all got their books done with different processes and different routines.

The key thing is finding the time and amount of days that slots into your life. It could be morning pages. It could be evening writing. The important thing is trying out different approaches, finding what works, and setting a realistic goal for how many times aw eek you want to sit down can do it.

Try every last productivity and motivation hack known to man.

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to ­music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem.”

― Hilary Mantel

And when you run out of those, look for more. There’s so much pressure to work more, hustle more, do more. The silver lining to this is that there are thousands of people finding solutions to brick walls of motivation and fatigue.

When you’re stumped, search for what works for others. You’ll get a whole wealth of suggestions — everything from going for a walk, trying something like the Pomodoro Technique for time management, or treating yourself to a good cup of coffee. Try everything. You never know what will stick and become a pleasant part of your routine.

Remember your core reasons for writing.

This is the most tried and true way to break through writer’s block and continue to be an active writer. It’s almost most likely the last solution you want to hear. However, writers like Stephen King didn’t become prolific because he kicked back and ate chips when he had novels to write.

There’s a time and a place for relaxing and rejuvenating if you’re truly burned out. But if you’re just not in the mood to write and that’s why you say you have writer’s block, then it’s time to try methods like these for working through your fatigue. You’ve got to become disciplined and write more consistently.

Tough love is the backbone of consistency.

“Discipline allows magic. To be a writer is to be the very best of assassins. You do not sit down and write every day to force the Muse to show up. You get into the habit of writing every day so that when she shows up, you have the maximum chance of catching her”…

― Lili St. Crow

This isn’t the advice you want, but it’s something that we all need to hear. Myself included — I’m writing about working through fatigue because I am incredibly fatigued right now, and I need to sharpen my discipline as a writer. It’s the only way I can keep going.

Fill your cup, just often enough, and with different things.

You are a creative being as a writer. That means you do need to get out there; into the worlds of books, out into nature, into art galleries, whatever sorts of things give you inspiration.

And when those sources aren't sparking anything, try different ones. Explore different kinds of media. What about a story-focused video game? Or a work of interactive fiction? Even if you're not in a major city, doing something like checking out a community theater production can be a wonderful way to fill your creative cup and plant the seeds of new ideas in your head.

The good old accountabilibuddy can take you far.

Writing may typically be a solitary activity, but that doesn't mean we need to be alone all the time. It is hard to find writing friends; it took me into my 30s to find a noveling buddy with the same aspirations as me who's down to exchange pages often.

There are so many reasons to get involved in the writing community and just as many ways. It could be as simple as commenting frequently on a fellow writer's works. It could be putting yourself out there in a workshop environment. It could even just be entering contests and finding writers with the same goals and values as you who are also showing up.

And even if takes you a long time to find someone you can chat weekly writing goals with, think about if there's anyone in your life who you feel comfortable and safe talking about writing with. I started sharing the most basic aspects of my writing life with my day-job colleagues a few years ago. They haven't read any of my work. But every once in a while, during those water cooler conversations, one of my white collar colleagues will ask how the novel is going. And the fact that they remember does remind me I'm a writer and need to keep writing.

You need to be able to produce even when motivation isn't there.

The true backbone of developing discipline as a writer is finding something to work on, even when you’re unmotivated. It’s showing up and still writing, no matter what.

Become comfortable with the crappy first draft. Give yourself permission to fling words onto the page, even if they aren't perfect. Every masterpiece starts with a draft.

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

― Philip Pullman