The one habit that separates successful writers from the rest

Funny how we often make assumptions about how things are based on little information. Take for instance the allure of the writer. There's this idea that writers lead intensely fascinating lives, when most of the time they're slogging away at an overheated computer.

As a young writer, I wanted to be like French author Marguerite Duras, who wrote The Lover. I thought that if I bought Gauloises (I have no idea what brand of cigarettes she smoked) and wore my hair like she did, then I could learn to write like her and also never apologize for being myself. Of course, those were mere fantasies of a girl who thought she knew what writing and existing as a writer was all about.

Although, perhaps writers themselves have perpetuated this allure through sharing their own personal quirks. As helpful as these writing hacks may be, they won't magically turn someone into a great writer. James Baldwin, author of Notes of a Native Son, wrote in longhand on a standard legal pad because (he said), “you achieve shorter declarative sentences.”

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami runs every day between writing as he believes that "physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity." While there are certain habits that writers possess that are uniquely their own, when it comes down to it, these aren't what make them successful. Having studied the routines of writers over several years, I can tell you that the one thing connecting them is consistency.

Take these writers as examples...

Raymond Chandler sat down every single day and concentrated. Even if he ended up not writing a single word, he did this.

Khaled Housseini, an Afghan and American novelist, follows a similar way of thinking:"To be a writer—this may seem trite, I realize—you have to actually write. You have to write every day, and you have to write whether you feel like it or not."

In our 24/7 plugged-in world, it can feel impossible to make time for writing. Yet short story writer and novelist Nathan Englander says there's no way around it. He recognizes the dangers of being plugged in to maintaining consistency, and cautions writers to do the following:

Turn off your cell phone. Honestly, if you want to get work done, you’ve got to learn to unplug. No texting, no email, no Facebook, no Instagram. Whatever it is you’re doing, it needs to stop while you write. A lot of the time (and this is fully goofy to admit), I’ll write with earplugs in—even if it’s dead silent at home.

Believe me, there are no magic formulas. If there were then I'd be doing them. Being a writer or completing a book project may seem luxurious and lofty, yet it's really about showing up regularly no matter what. Here are some things you can do to maintain that consistency when working on a book or other writing project:

1) Cut your cable or video game time. I don't have cable or a TV, however, I know that when I'm at someone's house who does, it tempts me like a moth to a flame. Not having a TV and also unsubscribing to Netflix (periodically) or another streaming service has meant more time for me to write and less time to watch.

2) Learn to say no. Often we say yes to people and outings because we think we should. When you begin saying no you'll find it liberating and you may not want to stop.

3) Carve out a time each day (preferably at the same time) to write--your memoir, novel, blog, web copy. Put it in your calendar. Lock yourself in the bathroom or scuttle off to a local cafe if you have to.

4) Tell others what you're working on. You don't need to tell them exactly what it is if you're not ready to. Though the more you mention it, the more real it will seem. Telling others in your peer group is often a great motivator for getting stuff done because you don't want to have to tell them you didn't do what you said you would.

5) Schedule your time with emails and social media. I've done this many times and then fallen off the wagon, only to have gotten on again. It's hard to form new habits, especially when it concerns something that you can access from anywhere and at anytime. I make a point of not looking at email when I wake up, and instead sitting at my desk to write. With social media I strive to spend no more than 30 minutes on it per day.

6) Organize writing weekends or retreats with other writers. It's a known fact that a supportive community helps you achieve your goals. Connect with other writers online and off. Commiserating is a great way to pass the time and feel less alone.

7) Delegate. As much as you may try, you really can't do everything yourself. If you have a little money to spare, hire someone to clean, take your calls, or complete tasks. Hiring people (or scheduling family members) to attack your to-do list, will free up space in your head for writing and give you more time to devote to it.

8) Move. Physical activity can motivate you to write. If I miss my workouts then my writing suffers. Engage in a physical activity such as yoga, running, dancing to your fav play list, weight training or tai chi. You'll be amazed at how it feeds your creative writing time.

9) Create a work plan. I talked earlier about carving out a set time to write. Well, one step closer to your goal of finishing would be to create a work plan that maps out when you'll work on your project and when you plan to finish.

10) Reward yourself. When I have a particularly good writing week, I pat myself on the back by getting a massage, going for a hike, or meeting up with friends. When you work hard and accomplish your goals, it's important to recognize this by giving yourself some love.

Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? Well, we all know who won, right? Small, incremental steps forward every day yield greater success than sporadic sprints once in a blue moon.

Copyright © Lissa M. Cowan