A New year... a new resolution? Writing regularly!

I could say I keep new year resolutions... but only for a day or two! "I will write something every day!" - and we don't. Then guilt sets in... and procrastination... and writer's block.

So how do you establish a better habit of writing academically? Should we write daily? Should we set a number of words per day? I do not find it works as structured as that. What if I said I would write 500 but then write 1600? The next few days I don't write anything. My average goes below 500 a day. So how do I set about writing?

It depends on what you are writing for. Is it a simple essay? a book review? a sermon? -a blog post! What if we are already in the middle of a PhD and writing the 4th chapter out of 8 or so. That is when persistence aids perseverance in creating a regular habit of reading, note-making, reference storing, and writing it into the real work.

Writing daily might form a habit after at least 21 days. Learning new skills probably takes more than 40 regular uses as in language learning. The problem I find is making time work for me, finding the time in the first place, and ensuring I keep the time allotted. Other things interrupt me. In learning a new language on an app, there are baits to keep going. Points are scored. Maybe we have to give ourselves points for so many words written, or a chapter written to a deadline.

There are many websites on how to write regularly. Some tips from them follow: -

1. Make time: not find time- Be more deliberate.

2. Find out when you are most creative.

3. Write anyway even if it is not good material. That's the advantage of computer editing facilities.

4. Write in a space you like being in - without interruptions! Some like changing the locations. Some try ignoring email alerts [I just got one - and had to answer though so it does get complicated!]. Turning the internet off doesn't help really as academic writers need their online libraries!

5. Brain train: set up habits of preparing a space, ensuring a drink is at hand, decluttering the space around the laptop, opening it up, finding the latest file, saving it to the latest date and commencing the changes with auto-save on. That way you have a back up of what was there - and what you have written 'today' will be saved to the new file.

With acknowledgment of the cartoon from - https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/07/the-psychological-benefits-of-writing-regularly/

Contact me if you need more accountability in the process. That is what tutorials with supervisors should be for but if they are not available, may I offer my experience of 20 years with students? adyerdon@gmail.com might find me faster than info@dyerlogic.com

Thank you for reading!