How can you develop a writing routine that doesn't interfere with your personal life?

developing a writing routine is a personal process, and it may take some experimentation to find what works best for you. Consistency and balance are key elements in creating a routine that enhances your writing productivity without negatively impacting your personal life.

Two things -- writing fiction and writing professional stuff. Regarding writing fiction, literary giants like Marquez set great benchmarks. They follow a rigorous writing routine, only to be paused by brief breaks for lunches or dinners. Latching on to the current work, say a short story, and a page or two every day would help finish it in a few days. Writing every day would help in keeping up the flow well. For professional stuff too, one needs to set apart blocks of 1-2 hours on a certain work every day. It helps. For both these pieces to happen, one should be reading books/articles in the respective areas. Reading opens up the world, and enhances the horizon. Read, write and read. For professional work, on

Luego de establecer un objetivo de escritura (escribir una publicación en LinkedIn al día, por ejemplo) es preciso realizar una planificación. De esta forma, te aseguras de ser constante con este hábito a lo largo del tiempo, fijando el momento exacto en el que vas a realizar la tarea en tu calendario. Para no quedarte sin ideas, lo ideal sería crear un calendario con base a tres pilares de contenido fundamentales. De estos pilares puedes extraer subtemáticas e ideas de contenido que te permitirán generar textos diferentes y atractivos. Mide y ajusta tu estrategia, según el feedback recibido y los resultados que tú mismo(a) has analizado.

Write something everyday. Don't concern yourself with its quality or whether it's good or bad. You're not obligated to share it with others, just make sure to write consistently without exception.

Establish a balanced writing routine by setting clear boundaries and dedicated time slots for writing. Prioritise tasks, focusing on key objectives during designated periods. Learn to say no to non-essential commitments and embrace effective time management techniques. Create a dedicated writing space to enhance focus and separate work from personal life. Establish realistic daily goals to avoid overwhelming yourself. Regularly reassess and adjust your routine to maintain a healthy balance between writing and personal life commitments.

Pick a time and place that works best for you to do your writing. Consider your daily schedule and figure out when you're most alert and focused—maybe it's early in the morning or late at night.

Find out the time you are most comfortable for writing and stick to it. A time with less disturbances and distractions. Be consistent till it becomes an habit.

Tap into your sacred place and hour. Not many writers love writing in the morning. Some are creative at evening or night. Not many writers need a silent room. Some like to be surrounded with people around them. It's up to you to choose a sacred hour and place. There's no rule or routine to this. Stick to what works for you.

Identify when your commitments (e.g., work, time with family, etc.) take place, and consider the time around them. Everyone works best in different times and places. I have found that I am most productive in the evenings, particularly after work. I work well in my room; however, I must ensure there are no distractions on my computer. I often use relaxing music and keep social media tabs closed. Try a range of environments and times to see what works best for you.

Treat writing like eating and sleeping. Make it a part of your daily routine. I've recently started to do this and it's working for me. I need to be more consistent, though! - Have a non-negotiable 30-60 mins for writing every day. - Write at the same time, same place, and same duration every day. - To avoid staring at the blank page or writer's block, have a set of ideas beforehand. - Whenever you get ideas, make a note of them on a note-taking app on your phone or a piece of paper. - Use your writing time to build on your ideas when you sit to write. Get yourself out of your way. Stop making excuses. Start writing.

Plan out your writing sessions ahead of time to make the most of them. Look at your schedule and figure out when you can realistically fit in writing without causing conflicts with your personal life.

There are some handy ways to plot out your available time. Tools like Sectograph sync with your Google calendar to block out parts of the day and dedicate it to work, or study, or something else. Writing should be one of those blocks. Even if you write for a mere half an hour a day, it adds up over time. Little by little, you'll fill the basket.

One way to remain consistent is to do it the Haruki Murakami way by intertwining activities you are passionate about with your writing routine. Murakami's dedication to both early morning writing and long-distance running demonstrates the profound impact of incorporating personal interests into one's creative process. Much like Murakami finds inspiration for his writing during the solitary hours of the morning and the meditative rhythm of running, writers can identify activities that resonate with them on a personal level. Whether it's a morning walk, painting, or playing a musical instrument, integrating these pursuits into a writing routine can enrich the creative well and provide a holistic approach to the artistic journey.

Make sure to balance your writing with other activities in your life. Don't let writing take up all your time; it's essential to maintain a healthy balance. Integrate writing into your daily routine by finding pockets of time between other activities.

A wordsmith knows willpower alone can't fuel brilliance. Creativity is too complex. We need flow. That state of soaked-in inspiration is no random blessing though. Study your own energy rhythms and play to their ebb and flow. I track when my zones of genius seem most active. Often early mornings with a fresh post-meditation mind or walking outdoors letting ideas percolate. I build sanctions around daily writing only within my peak window. Rather than numbly hammering the keyboard into exhaustion. Progress can't be rushed or forced. Authors and influencers inspire because their content feels real, not forced to chase trends. That means balancing creation with taking care of self. Can’t only consume, but also must live life, you feel?

Instead of carving out dedicated "non-writing" segments, try weaving small, restorative activities into your writing routine. Like taking a 5-minute walk after a tough scene, stretching your fingers between edits, or blasting a quick dance break before diving back in. These mini-resets can prevent burnout within your writing session, leaving you energized and ready to tackle the next challenge. Imagine it as a writer's "active recovery," keeping your mind and body primed for creative flow. It's not about sacrificing writing time, but infusing it with micro-bursts of self-care that enhance your focus and well-being.

Don't be afraid to seek feedback and support as you develop your writing routine. Share your goals and progress with friends, family, or writing groups who can offer encouragement and constructive feedback.

One thing I found helpful is feedback from friends and colleagues. It's also important to join a writing group.like they say, iron sharpens iron. That will give ample opportunity to learn from others and also improve one's writing skill

You often have to directly ask for feedback and constructive criticism: it is rarely given to you unprompted. It might sting a little at first, but I promise that anyone who offers constructive criticism wants you to improve. I received a comment from someone in my audience that my article titles were not captivating enough, and from there on out I considered how I could make them more appealing.

Make sure to reward yourself as you stick to your writing routine. Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, whether big or small. Consider setting up a reward system for meeting your writing goals, such as treating yourself to a favorite snack, taking a break to do something enjoyable, or indulging in a leisure activity.

The very first thing you should do is understand that there’s no such thing as writers block. It’s a convenient excuse for not doing the writing you should be doing every day. When it comes to the best times to write, every writer is different. A.m. or P.m. whatever works best for you and fits into your lifestyle and schedule. Just because your favorite novelist writes at 3 am it dose mean that you need to? The writing muse never sleeps. Some writers spend a great deal of time creating the perfect environment or Location to write in. Like a café in Paris. (I wish) writing ideas pop into our head 24 hours a day, write them down there very fleeting. Your phone is a great place to write those fleeting ideas. Can you tell I talked this in?

Discipline is the only answer. Set a rule. Prioritise. Focus largely. Focus again. Perseverance will help. I finished my novel in the span of 8 months. I reframed it innumerable times. Got tired. Felt like giving up, I was amateur. Now, I know if I want to work on my next novel, how much time I need to devote to my work out of 24 hours.

Practice learning to work under difficult conditions and at different times. Concentration is key. Master working around distractions. When I was a Red Cross man in Vietnam, I learned to write case narratives under battlefield conditions. Served me well later when I began pursuing creative writing.