There are habits that are good for us, our mental health, our activities, our physical health and more.
On the other hand, there are habits that hold us back.
Ready to tackle and overcome writing habits that deter you?
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Table of Contents
1 No Research
Quite the opposite I hear the writing community announce. Winging it! Yes, the story comes from you however, there are a lot of outside influences that help to shape your story.
You can see a lack of research when reading a story focusing most of their words on conversation, inner dialogue and what actions these characters are doing.
Researching will give you:
- confidence in what you’re writing
- inspiration
- facts
- more detailed scenery
- fuller picture
- more depth
- understanding what your ideal audience responds to best
Look at it this way, there has been some kind of research you to do for every story you write.
2 Overcome Self Doubt
You write and write but you don’t like what you’ve produced. You judge and criticize.
Feeling like your work isn’t any good.
How to avoid this:
- invest time into learning skills of a writer to improve your confidence, check out experts courses on Skillshare
- write for the purpose of being creative and nothing else
- don’t hold yourself to a high standard- all you can control is writing, then editing and editing until you are happy with your piece
- change your mindset – focus on what you have done well and try to replicate the process that let you produce it.
3 Unrelatable Characters
So, you’ve created a character bio or just writing with the flow of how you think your character’s personality and interests will be. Whether they’re high strung and funny or timid yet spunky – there needs to be something the keeps the readers coming back for more. Something that resonates with the readers about your characters.
Otherwise, they become another generic character among the long list readers forget, who are striving for this and that outcome.
Not given enough interest to continue, you may lose readers.
How to ground stories, in reality, using character:
- pop culture references
- get input from ideal audience
- study characters that give the presence you want achieve for your own characters- how do they achieve these relatable characters?
- Use slang words at your own risk- these kinds of words go out of date easily and can spoil a story if not used wisely
Want full fleshed out characters right now? Try my Character Making Kit to create 3-dimensional characters your readers will connect to.
Feel like a chapter or scene is flat- needs more of “something” to engage your readers. Try my Story Editing Kit, repair those scenes in moments!
4 Not Observing Like A Writer
Observing like a writer encompasses all entertainment. By this, I mean criticising other books, tv-series, films, games and even real-life events.
This does not mean taking the joy out of these experiences. Yet putting on your writer’s eyes.
Analyzing what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, how they’re actions delivered it, how the story is plotted, why this scene is important before the next.
How can thinking like a writer while consuming entertainment help my writing?
- making judgements of how you could improve someone else’s work gives you practice for your own story
- enables you to see how others effectively carry out __ and how you can implement it in your own
- give you inspiration for your story
- noticing when words work and not
- better aids your editing skills
5 Not Setting Up A Space To Work
Working in any place for different amounts of time doesn’t always allow your creativity to thrive. Different places mean different distractions you’ll have to learn to avoid.
Avoid creatively draining places by:
- Choosing one or two places that you’ve been able to produce your best results in and write only in these places
- Find a time to go write in these places – this eventually sets your mind up better produce your story
6 Not Being Prepare For Distractions
It is inevitable that you will have distractions when you are writing. You pick up your phone to check that notifcation and forget what you were about to write.
You do have the power to limit a lot of the distractions you’re about to face.
How?
- Put your own out of sight/ out of mind OR on silent
- Set boundaries-Tell those in your household you need this hour, 2 hours undisturbed
- Write with the door closed
- Have a drink and snack ready to re-energize you
- Close other tabs
- Set an alarm to bring you back. Lets you feel able to stop writing when you think you can write more but have other things to do
- Use earphones
7 No Tiny Goals
Goals can help you see the bigger picture but the weight of them can be off-putting. Putting too much pressure on yourself can result in avoidance and stress.
But if I need goals but they’re too much to handle what can I do?
Break your goals into tidbits. Tiny tasks that are so small you think why not do them?
10 minutes feel fly by. What can you achieve in that time?
- 10 minutes of writing a day
- 10 minutes to plan a scene
- to edit
- to research
Psst… Setting a short amount of time to accomplish something can make us more productive. It lessen procrastination and boosts creativity.
Here’s a 10 minute task list for you.
8 Not Keeping Track
Goals are dandy but if you’re not tracking them, reminding yourself what is left to complete a task, a goal then its worthless.
You’ll write but how often? When will you fit in writing? When do you want to finish this? What are your expectations of this story?
It all gets lost when you don’t keep a track of it.
Merely tracking what you’ve done can motivate you to complete your goals. Why not do this quick step?
How to monitor my writing?
- Editorial calendar
- Word counts
- Goal setting timeline
- Deadlines
- Planners
What apps can I use?
- Trello
- Google calendar
- To-do lists
- Toggl
- Timebloc
- Repeat habit tracker
Why not try a book writing coach like Lisa Tener who can help you at every step in your writing journey.
9 No Practice
Writing a story isn’t something you can start one day and perfect the next. Every writer has moments that delete their work and dislike what they wrote.
Practice makes perfect better. Every writer will preach how they’ve written for so long and so hard. Eventually, they produced stories they wanted to publish, to show to others.
Daily practice is what people suggest.
With a busy lifestyle of today, don’t put unnecessary pressure of daily writing. 3-4 times a week is plenty. Once you’ve found the time, space and mindset.
Remember, there is always the option of hiring a writer, editor, ghostwriter and more on Fiverr for an affordable price to help you along on your writing journey.
Alternatively, try the 10-minute tasks and see how it goes!
Then decide if you’re ready for more.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Until then.
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Check out my Resources for FREEBIES and affordable planning/writing of your book. Take this discount code: HAPPYWRITER1 to grab more of a bargain!