Tips and Truths with A.A.C. - Writing Schedules

By Melissa Cobb

 

Read this post to see how you can lasso in your writing times and learn a random truth about Wonder Woman!

Having a schedule for when you are going to write is a good way to make writing a habit and to help you get better at it. Here are some tips as you create your schedule.

1. Choose a time that does not interfere with work, school, or any other obligations that you have. The best way to figure this out is to write out the days and times for everything you do during a typical week, and see what times are available.


2. Pick at least one to three days to designate to writing. That way, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and if you happen to miss a day, it won’t be a big deal since you have one or two other days to work with. However, as you get more comfortable with writing, try adding a day every week or two weeks, the goal being to write every day. How fast you do this is up to you.


3. Think about what time of day you are most productive. Are you a morning, afternoon, or evening person? Doing this will help you best use the time you have to write.


4. Decide how many words you want to write per day. Start with a low number, such as three hundred words a day, and add fifty or one hundred words each week.


5. Think about how much time you want to spend writing per day. Start with thirty minutes each day so you don’t overwhelm yourself, and add time every week or two weeks, depending on what works for you.


6. Once you have a schedule planned out, pick a day for revision so you can look over the pieces that you have written during the week. Pick the two or three pieces you like best to revise.


7. Be flexible. While it is important for you to stick to your schedule as much as you can, it is also  important to realize events or problems may come up, and you may not be able to write that day. That’s fine. Figure out another time to write, and stick to that day.


8. Be patient. The first schedule you come up with may not work for you, and that’s all right. Readjust as much as you need to, and remember that writing is a very individual process. Thus, finding out what works for you may take awhile. But when you do find that perfect schedule, it will be worth it.

Happy writing!

Random Truth of the Week: Wonder Woman’s “Lasso of Truth” used to be called the “Lasso of Obedience”.