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Last week I reported that, after surveying this newsletter community, our #1 writing challenge is: Finding time to write.

If you missed that issue (read it here), my conclusion was:

While busyness affects us, it doesn’t have to own us. Even with demanding schedules, it’s possible to write more.

But how? This week I’ll explain 3 simple steps you can take to write more consistently.

Goals vs. Systems

As James Clear points out in Atomic Habits, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Simply saying “I want to write more,” while admirable, won’t get results. As an editor, I talk with well-meaning writers who say things like:

• I want to write a book someday.
• I should write more.
• I’ll write when life calms down.

Sadly, for most of these writers, their words never see the light of day. Maybe they start a blog and maintain it for awhile, but as life unfolds and distractions abound, they give up. In the end, they feel guilty, frustrated, and creatively stifled.

Have you ever felt this tension?

It doesn’t have to be this way. With a simple, intentional system, you can cultivate the habit of writing regularly, grow leaps and bounds, and watch your work benefit others.

Here’s a helpful starting point:

The most effective way to write consistently is to choose a specific time and place where you will practice.

Consistency starts with specificity.

Does this sound too simple?

Naaman thought so too, when Elisha instructed him to wash in the unimpressive, muddy Jordan river to be cleansed from his leprosy. He wanted a grander plan. Surely, he thought, my big problem demands a complex solution.

Don’t believe it.

Here’s 3 simple steps to create a system that will transform your writing habits.

Step 1: Choose a time and place.

The first step is to get specific and concrete about when and where you will write. Researchers refer to this as an implementation intention, which is a plan you make beforehand about when and where to act.

Fill in the following sentence:

“During the next week, I will write for at least 20 minutes on [DAY] at [TIME] in [PLACE].”

Once you’ve designated when and where you’ll write, put it in your calendar. Set a reminder. Tell someone about your commitment for accountability.

As James Clear writes, “Many people think they lack motivation when what they really lack is clarity.”

Once you have a plan, you’ve moved from the theoretical to reality. You don’t just have a goal; you have a system. Research proves you’re far more likely to follow through.

However, distractions are coming, so instead of being derailed by them, prepare for them.

Step 2: Defend your system from distractions.

Why is it that distractions like social media, email, news, sports, and YouTube seem so appealing in the exact moment when we’re trying to accomplish meaningful work? Alas, the digital age is a creativity killer.

Here’s how to defend your system from distractions:

1. Be dogged about your plan.

First, think of your system as non-negotiable. You will do this, no matter what. You will not allow other things to take precedent. Since you’ve set a realistic amount of time aside to write—perhaps 15, 20, or 30 minutes—there’s nothing so urgent it can’t wait.

James Clear explains how specific plans naturally weed out distraction:

”Not only do implementation intentions help you follow through with a habit, they help you say no to things that derail progress, distract your attention, and pull you off course. We often say yes to little requests because we are not clear enough about what we need to be doing instead. When your dreams are vague, it’s easy to rationalize little exceptions all day long and never get around to the specific things you need to do to succeed.”

Urgency and curiosity will creep up, especially when you’re trying to implement your system. Relentlessly guard the time you’ve set aside to write.

2. Curate your environment.

A second tactic is to work in an environment where distractions are less pervasive. For example:

• If you have young kids (as I do), work at home early in the morning or late at night. Or steal away to a coffee shop, your car, garage, porch, or backyard (I’ve done all of these to write!)
• Silence your phone. Better yet, exile your phone to another room.
• Use the full-screen or “distraction-free” mode in your writing software. This helps your eyes focus only on what you’re doing.
• When you’re struggling to write within your allotted time, pause and go for a brief walk, instead of checking social media or email.

Step 3: Practice in public.

The last step to create a writing system is to “practice in public.” That is, share your writing.

• Start a blog or newsletter.
• Submit your writing to established publications, online or in print.
• Read it aloud to a trusted circle of family or friends.

This is vulnerable, I know. But I’m convinced it’s a primary predictor of writers who realize their potential.

Effective systems include methods of reward. For writers, this usually means showing your work to others—for feedback and affirmation. While it’s satisfying to see solid prose on the page, the ultimate pleasure is the moment a reader tells you: What you wrote helped me in this way. Thank you.

If you commit to putting your words out into the world—blunders and all—eventually word will get back to you that it’s blessed someone. Each burst of encouragement is another log on the fire, keeping your passion well-lit.

Be generous and give your words away. Don’t stress about how profound or articulate they are. You’ll be surprised by the impact you can have. Practice in public.

Get Going!

Hopefully you’re now convinced that you do have time to write, and that stewarding your time pleases God, hones your gifts, and has incredible potential to bless others.

But here’s the thing: You need to start right now.

If you’ve ever fallen into the “I don’t have time” trap with your writing, it’s vital that you choose a day, time, and place immediately. Put it in your calendar right now.

Reason being: If you hesitate to implement a plan, you’ll default back to your old ways. We all do it.

I can’t wait to see the words you birth into the world.

I’m rooting for you.

Will

PS - June 10-12 I’m leading a writers retreat in San Luis Obispo, CA. We’re keeping it small, around 10 people. If you want to grow as a writer and learn how to get published, sign up here.