By Ty Weinert

If you have ever sought writing advice, chances are you’ve always received the same answer. The best way to become a writer, and to improve your craft, is to keep writing.

Everyday.

Set a daily word count to hold yourself accountable, whether that’s 500 words or 1000, and when you’re not writing, you should be reading. Both within your chosen genre and outside of it to broaden your literary horizons, devouring every text you can like some kind of gluttonous library monster.

While this routine has proven effective, with successful authors such as Stephen King endorsing the 1000 words a day model, it can also have a negative impact.

Life has a funny way of interrupting our plans, so juggling a self-imposed daily word count while also dealing with work, schooling, and a social life has the potential to be a nightmare. Outside of writing, we all have our hobbies, whether that’s watching movies, playing videogames, or even another creative endeavour. While devoting ourselves to our responsibilities and hobbies, writing can get pushed to the wayside.

Having a regular writing commitment dangling over your head can do more harm than good if one is too strict on themselves. Despite this, setting a daily word count can still be an effective strategy, if you allow yourself some leeway for the sake of your mental health.

If you miss a day or two or fall behind for a longer period, that’s fine. Just remember to find your way back to your craft when you are able, as many potential writers have been lost to the world due to never returning to their unfinished manuscripts.

So, what is the best way to achieving your desired word count?

Is it to take King’s approach and leap into your writing as soon as you’re awake, other activities put on hold until your words are down?

Or perhaps you would prefer to spend the day tending to your other commitments, allowing yourself time at night to be alone with your writing?

Maybe the best approach is somewhere in the middle, dividing your time spent writing throughout the day, allowing yourself time to relax your mind and unwind with other interests in between.

All these approaches have their merits, but only you can decide which works best for you.

In the end, writing should be something that you enjoy. You can’t force creativity, so if you’re ever feeling uninspired or lack the will to write, put your work aside for a moment and find joy in something else.

When you’re in a good headspace and enjoying yourself while writing, that will flow into your work and reach your readers. Inspiration will always find you eventually, so as long as you keep the door to your writing room open and visit it from time to time, you will be amazed by what you can create.